Dick Sipley preaches on the proper roles for a husband and wife in marriage, emphasizing equality, unity, and diversity as ordained by God. He highlights the importance of understanding and fulfilling these roles to avoid problems in marriage, drawing from biblical examples of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, and Ahab and Jezebel. Sipley stresses the husband's responsibility for leadership and the wife's role of support and submission, with the ultimate goal of creating a harmonious and God-honoring marriage.

Gen.2:18 WHAT ARE THE PROPER ROLES FOR A HUSBAND & WIFE TO OCCUPY IN A MARRIAGE? 1. EQUALITY, Gen. 1:26-29 -The husband & wife stand in quality before God--in His image. They both can walk close to God. -They are commissioned equally by God--dominion over the earth, go into all the world to preach the gospel. -God gave equal provision for all their needs. 2. UNITY, Gen. 2:2l-24 One flesh - Mt. 19:6, "What God hath joined together..." One family - (Many problems caused by in-laws) finances, relatives, children, religion sex Only relationship God calls one flesh; when a couple comes together in marriage, that is to be the primary relationship in their lives. One mind - in heart & mind. 3. DIVERSITY, Gen. 1:27 -There is a difference between a man & woman--they don't think, act, or do alike. -Gen. 2:18 - man to keep the garden, name the animals. And then God was to make a helper. Adam had a certain role to fill in the creation where God had placed him, & now He is going to make a woman who understand equally by his side unified to him, one flesh, but who is also to fill a certain role in relation to him. God has ordained roles in marriage. -Ps. 8 - What is man...a little lower than the angels. -Heb. 2 - Jesus...a little lower than the angels, which means when He became flesh He was placed a little lower than the angels as to His role. -When it comes to the family structure God has ordained a role for the husband & wife in marriage, & if violated it brings problems into the marriage. The roles of husband & wife: Husband: responsibilities & leadership, primarily. Wife: support & submission (or follow husband's leadership), primarily. -First sin: inversion of roles in marriage, Gen. 3:6 - Eve gave to Adam; Adam was acting irresponsible, for he knew he was not to eat of that tree. Adam should have told Eve, no; he was not deceived (1 Tim. 2:13-14). -Gen. 3:17 - Adam, because you listened to your wife when it was your personal responsibility as to leadership, sin entered into the whole world. -Illus: Abraham said to Sarah, I need you to protect me, so asked her to lie about their relationship to one another (half-sister)--inversion of roles, instead of him protecting her. Promised a son--willing to let Hagar have a son, & then tragedy. 1 Kings 21:25 - none like unto Ahab...worked wickedness which Jezebel his wife stirred up. -The greatest thing a mother can do for their children is to teach them to respect their father. -Illus: A woman vowed to her dying mother that she would not put her half sister, who was mentally & physically impaired, in an institution; she was taking care of her, lifting her day after day, brought on internal hemorrhaging & her doctor said she would die if she didn't quit lifting her sister. Num. 30:3-8 - Can be released from a foolish vow. -Eph. 5:25 - Love your wife, as Christ...Husbands need to give of themselves to the needs of their wives. -Husband's responsibility to take the spiritual leadership of the home. -If a woman is planning to marry a man who does not take spiritual leadership, should not marry, until he fulfills his role. -Father's responsibility to bring up the children - Eph. 6:4 The leadership is not a place of autocratic dictatorship but it is a place of tremendous responsibility from God--to teach, nourish, protect, lead, guide & care for. Wife is to support him, encourage, follow his leadership, help with the children, sharing together. Col. 3:18-21, How far should a woman submit to her husband? As it is fit in the Lord (3:18) Titus 2:4-5 - A woman's main sphere of activity--the home. Prov. 31:10-31 - Role of a woman--the home is first priority. I Peter 3:1-9 - Instructions for a wife with an unsaved husband. God's standard of roles in a marriage--a wife can live a godly example to an unbelieving husband. Why do people reject God's standard of roles in a marriage? Because: 1. Ignorant of it, or 2. Knowingly, they are running into the same old problems of sin & selfishness, pride, a rebellious heart, lazy, irresponsible attitude, harsh, critical, unloving, & unwilling to fulfill the role that God has given to a wife & husband in marriage.