THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. All men are invited to MAN NIGHT CHILI COOKOFF on February 10! This is an evening designed for men to connect, be challenged, and grow in their faith together. Whether you’re new to Ada Bible or have been part of our community for years, this is a great opportunity to build meaningful friendships with other men who are pursuing Christ. Bring a friend and join us for a night of encouragement, practical teaching, and community. Find more information and register HERE.
GROUP VALUES. Our value this month is GROW TOGETHER. God designed us to spiritually mature in community. We need each other to become more like Jesus. Consider how your group can grow in actively investing in one another’s spiritual growth. How can you encourage each other, challenge blind spots, celebrate progress and support one another through struggles? Growth happens best when we share life together.
GROW AS A LEADER. This week’s sermon addresses marriage, which means some in your group may find the topic deeply relevant while others feel disconnected. Create space for everyone by acknowledging different life situations and inviting all perspectives. Singles can offer valuable insights about relationships, and those who have been married for years can share wisdom gained through experience. Remember that gospel principles about sacrificial love and mutual submission apply to all relationships, not just marriage.
SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to the third week of our series, GROUNDWORK. This week, we explore what it means to have a gospel-shaped marriage and how God’s design for marriage reflects his character and transforms us to be more like Christ.
ICEBREAKER
What’s one piece of marriage advice (good or bad) you’ve heard from family, friends or popular culture?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read Ephesians 5:21-33 aloud.
What words or phrases stand out to you in this passage?
According to this passage, what is marriage meant to reflect?
How does Paul describe the way Christ relates to the church, and why does that matter for understanding marriage?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Aaron Buer continued our sermon series GROUNDWORK by exploring God’s design for marriage. As a group, recall some of the sermon’s big ideas and main points.
How does our culture typically define the purpose of marriage and how it should work?
From the beginning, marriage was meant to be a picture of Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). How does this connection to the gospel change your thoughts about what marriage is for?
Wives respecting and honoring their husbands is about willingly following godly leadership, while husbands loving their wives is about nourishing and cherishing them so they can flourish. Where have you seen this dynamic lived out well in a marriage you admire? What stands out to you about their example?
For husbands, the challenge is to give themselves—their presence, attention, and affection—to help their wives become everything God created them to be. How does this understanding of servant leadership align with or challenge your view of leadership?
God’s purpose for marriage is less about our happiness and more about our holiness. How does viewing marriage as a path for spiritual growth rather than just personal fulfillment change your expectations about what marriage should provide?
Believers are called to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21), which applies to all of our relationships. Who is someone you could more intentionally serve and honor this week, whether a spouse or another relationship?
What is one practical thing you could do to honor and serve that person this week?
WRAP UP
This week we discussed God’s design for gospel-shaped marriage. What from the sermon or this conversation challenged or encouraged you the most, and why?