More Than Just Roses

“More than just roses”

Ephesians 5:25

We should see our relationships through the sacrificial love of Christ.

Sunday Morning Sermon

08.03.08

Intro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-lv8745InI

All of us have them – Good ones – Frustrating ones – professional ones – sometimes we have them because of marriage – If we are blessed enough – we can have this thing with one person for the rest of our lives. RELATIONSHIPS! All of us have them.

Four-year-old Suzie had just been told the story of Snow White for the first time in her life. She could hardly wait to get home from nursery school to tell her mom. With wide-eyed excitement, she retold the fairy tale to her mother that afternoon. After relating how Prince Charming had arrived on his beautiful white horse and kissed Snow White back to life, Suzie asked loudly: “And do you know what happened then?” “Yes,” said her mom, “they lived happily ever after.” “No,” responded Suzie, with a frown, “they got married.” Getting married and living happily ever after are not necessarily synonymous (Swindoll, Strike the Original…, 49).

On their 50th wedding anniversary, a couple summed up the reason for their long and happy marriage. The husband said, "I have tried never to be selfish. After all, there is no ’I’ in the word ‘marriage.’” The wife said, "For my part, I have never corrected my husband’s spelling."

Discussion:

Regardless if you are married or not – (Advance) We should see our relationships through the sacrificial love of Christ. Listen, if you want to improve any relationship you have regardless of the reason for the relationship – you will see them not through what you can gain or what they can do for you, or how they make you feel. Listen – you will improve your relationships when you see them through the sacrificial love of Christ. If you are married – this will improve your marriage – If you are not married, listen because this has application for you too.

Turn with me to Ephesians 5:25 (Read) (Advance)

There is only one command in our text this morning (Advance) – “Husbands, love your wives…” There is an example. (Advance) Normally I would start where the text starts but I’d rather start this morning were the story starts.

(Advance)

I. The Object of His Passion

a. Here’s story # 1 (I’ll read it – we’ll talk about it) – (Advance)

Mark 10:32-37, 41-45 –They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." 35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." (Advance)

41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

i. Background

Disciples are with Jesus – it says that they were astonished – while those who followed him were afraid. He takes the 12 off by themselves and he gives them a “hard teaching” – Basically says – Guys when we get to Jerusalem – I am going to be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law – they will condemn me to death – hand me over to the Gentiles -- they will spit on me, mock me, flog me and kill me – 3 days later…I will rise again.

We hear that – and GO – WOW…he knew what Jerusalem meant! He knew what the cross was going to be like. If you are just astonished by the teaching of Jesus – this right here would make you afraid. More than healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, changing water into wine – more than all of that stuff – (Let me finish the story)