Ladies Summer Bible Study 2014
The objective of this series of lessons is to explore some of different facets of biblical
womanhood. We will be taking an in depth look at the intended purpose, nature and
roles God designed for women. Additionally, we will try to gain a better understanding
of the attributes and actions of a Godly woman and how we can use the gifts and talents
God has given us to be of greater use for his cause.
Lesson Three: “One Flesh”
Glorifying God through Marriage
During our first lesson we set the groundwork by gaining an understanding of God’s
intention in creating men and women. We then examined the rest of the account of the
creation of women and what that account reveals about our nature and God’s
prescription for our sin. Last week we studied the character of a biblical woman. Today,
we will study the woman’s role in a Godly marriage.
A Beautiful Design: God’s Intentions for Marriage
9 Two
are better than one; because they have a good reward for their
labour.
10 For
if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is
alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again,
if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be
warm alone?
12 And
if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a
threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
God created marriage to be a beautiful partnership between man and woman; one that
reflects and glorifies Him. However, the above quote from the book of Ecclesiastes is a
far cry from the modern, “ball and chain” attitude regarding marriage. The question
should be asked, “What changed”?
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Lesson Three, “One Flesh”
Cathleen Hicks
How did God’s intended creation of marriage become so distorted?
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Romans 5:12
In the book of Hebrews, marriage is referred to as “honorable” (Hebrews 13:4). God
uses marriage throughout the bible to illustrate the relationship between the Christ and
the Church (“the Bride”).
Ephesians 5:22-33
Other verses throughout the bible describe marriage as intended to be good.
According to Ecclesiastes, how should a man live with his wife?
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Ecclesiastes 9:9
The book of Proverbs has two verses that speak specifically regarding wives.
Proverbs 18:22 says that wives are what?
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More specifically in Proverbs 19:14, Solomon says that a ________________wife is
from God.
Biblical marriage was distorted when sin entered into the world. Recall from our first
lesson that Eve chose to partake of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
When God made man (and woman) he put within him a free will – the ability to do as
one chooses. Sin entered into the world because of the choice that Adam made. So long
as we continue to allow our sinful flesh to reign, marriage will be a struggle and perhaps
seem to conform more to the worldly description of a “ball and chain”. As men and
women, we can control our actions, thoughts and feelings (remember the Christian
virtue of temperance?). If we as men and women seek to fulfil our roles in a way that is
Godly, we will experience what God intended – a relationship in which two people, as
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Cathleen Hicks
one flesh, work together for the glory of God and the betterment of each other; a
relationship filled with peace, love and joy.
Working as a Team: Understanding Our Role
The account of creation explains God’s specific purpose in creating woman.
18 And
the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I
will make him an help meet for him.
19 And
out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and
every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would
call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was
the name thereof.
20 And
Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to
every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet
for him.
21 And
the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept:
and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And
the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a
woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And
Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:
she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Why did God create woman?
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What did God create woman from?
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Matthew Henry expounds upon how God created woman, and why he chose to create
her in the way he did. He writes, “…the woman was made of a rib out of the side of
Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon
by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near
his heart to be beloved.”
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We learn, however, that because of Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden, woman’s desire is
made to be for her husband, and he should rule over her (Genesis 3:16). This
consequence, when accepted and embraced, does not have to be the cause of perpetual
sorrow and grief. Again, when God’s children seek to fulfil their roles in a way that is
Godly, they experience what God intended – a relationship in which two people, as one
flesh, work together for the glory of God and the betterment of each other; a relationship
filled with peace, love and joy.
As women, we must learn to take the “follower” position to our husbands.
The “S” Word
What does Colossians 3:18 teach us to do?
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Ephesians 5:22
What does “submit” mean?
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What would occur in a leader/follower relationship where the follower would not
submit to the will of the leader?
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As the leader of our homes, husbands also have and must take ultimate responsibility
for their families. Therefore, men will be accountable before God for all their actions
and decisions or lack thereof (James 3:1).
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What makes a good follower?
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How can we be submissive to our husbands?
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Is submission an action only?
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What does our submission show to our husbands? What will our submission gain?
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One Flesh: Leave and Cleave
“God’s revealed goal for a husband and wife is to become one in all areas of their
relationship - intellectually, emotionally, physically. The Covenant of Companionship
was designed to fill this need.”
–Jay Adams, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible
The idea of man and wife becoming one flesh, and leaving their father and mother to cleave to
one another, infers that this new established bond is stronger than even that which nature
produces. Adams explains, “The marriage union is the closest, most intimate of all human
relationships. Two persons may begin to think act feel as one. They are able to so interpenetrate
one another’s lives that they become one, a functioning unit.” Authority and dependence
transfers from one’s parents to one’s spouse.
The implications of leave and cleave apply regardless of one’s role in the situation. When young
and marrying, we must learn to leave and cleave. When older, after raising children, we must
learn to ALLOW them to leave and cleave.
Bringing it Full Circle: Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain
In our second lesson we focused on the Christian virtue’s God’s children to strive to
attain. We also read the Proverbs description of the ultimate virtuous woman. When
we strive for Godliness (emulating Christ in virtue and deed) and seek to truly glorify
God we will find true contentment in any state we are in. Keeping our eyes ahead and
fixed upon the Lord, we will find fulfillment in all we do.
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