Marriage in Christ

Written By Nicole Vollrath

RLC Home Group Handout | November 9th, 2025 

“Marriage in Christ”  | Ephesians 5:21-33

Recap

In Ephesians 5:21–33, we learn that marriage is a sacred reflection of Christ’s relationship with His church. God designed marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman — a promise of future love, not a contract of convenience. We’re called to reorder our priorities (“leave and cleave”), pursuing oneness and holiness as God uses our marriage to make us more like Jesus. Though sin distorts our unity and makes companionship difficult, the Spirit empowers us to love sacrificially and submit mutually. When we put each other’s needs above our own, we model the gospel. Even when our spouse fails, we draw from Christ’s perfect love — the power that sustains and renews our covenant. Marriage isn’t ultimately about our happiness but our holiness, and as we stay filled with the Spirit, our homes can become living pictures of Christ and His church.

References 

  • Matt 6:21 – Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

  • Gen 2:18-25 -  Men and women are equal in value but not equivalent in role and function.

  • James 4:1 -  Selfishness causes fights and quarrels.

  • 1 John 4:19 — “We love because He first loved us.”

Discussion Questions

Head

  • Is there anything that stood out or spoke to you in this week’s sermon?

  • Discuss how marriage is a covenant rather than merely an expression of love.

  • How is the husband the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church?

  • Why is mutual submission central to a biblical understanding of marriage?

  • What are the differences and similarities between the call on wives to submit and husbands to sacrificially love? 

Heart

  • If you are married, what cultural expectations from your family of origin did you bring in your marriage and how did they impact your relationship?

  • If you are not married, how did this passage and teaching reframe your mindset or expectations for marriage?

  • How can seeing our marriage as a tool for holiness rather than just happiness reshape our attitude toward conflict?

  • How do I balance love for my family of origin with the call to leave and cleave?

Hands

  • How can I set realistic expectations in my relationships this week?

  • In what ways can Jesus’ example of sacrificial love influence my ability to love and submit?

  • What does it practically look like to “submit” or “love like Christ” in my marriage? 

Nicole Vollrath
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Our Walk in Christ