What's Next?

Whether you heard the message from Sunday or are part of one of our “What’s Next” groups at Venture, here’s a way for you to go deeper.

this week's next steps

I will take the relationship survey this week

Choose to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ"

I will register for the marriage conference on February 13-14

Say yes to Jesus - click here

This week's Bible reading plan

This week's fill-in notes

Join us for one of our year-long Bible reading plans

This week's study

As we reflect on our two-week marriage series, Tighten the Knot, we are reminded of the importance of mutual submission. Ephesians 5:21 encourages us in our marriages by saying, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This is the foundation on which we should build our marriages – not our own selfish desires. The relationship of marriage is also described inscripture as a “yoke.” Animals, often oxen, are yoked together side by side – not one in front of the other, and the load rests equally on all shoulders. Yokes were a common symbol in the ancient near east and something that the people of that region could understand. Yokes were used to link two animals together, side by side, and only worked if both animals submit to the yoke. While yoked together, they do not choose the direction alone. Progress in their (working) relationship was made when they moved together.

But what happened when one individual pulled ahead or stayed still while their partner pulled ahead? Well, the yoke twists and wounds both animals. The work of the team becomes incredibly difficult or nearly impossible. Both partners must be on board for the yoke to operate as designed. They both must submit to their partner! This mutual submission is not about hierarchy or power; it is about humility. Just like an ox in a yoke, a husband and wife must submit to each other and willingly accept the restriction and operate in humility for the good of the team. Marriage only works when you both submit to the yoke! Marriage is lifelong work. It isn’t easy. And it isn’t suddenly going to be easier if you are married to someone else. It is human nature to put our own needs andwants first. But mutual submission says, “I will put your needs first!” It is God’s design that we submit – first to him and then to our spouse.

Questions to Consider:

Consider Ephesians 5:21. How is the foundation of your marriage?
When you think about the analogy of the yoke representing marriage what comes to mind? What do you picture?
Are there areas in your marriage where you can see where you are at different speeds and are getting twisted? How can you fix that? How do you get back to mutual submission?
How can this design of marriage be translated to other important relationships?