Oct. 19, 2025

Pastor Dave's sermon begins at 29:21 min into the video. The music "God Is Good All The Time", "Way Maker",  "Great Is Thy Faithfulness",  "Thank You Jesus For The Blood",  "King Of Kings", and "White As Snow" are licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

In 1 Peter 3:1-7, Pastor Dave explored what it means to live in harmony within marriage, addressing both wives and husbands with practical, biblical instruction. The central theme: when both spouses follow Christ's example of submission, obedience, and servant-hearted love, homes become filled with joy, fulfillment, and peace. He opened by acknowledging the sensitivity of the topic, sharing how his aunt and uncle's 63-year marriage had profoundly shaped his own, and reminding us that God addresses issues in our lives precisely because they don't come naturally to us—like forgiveness, or in this case, godly marriage roles.

Instructions to Wives: Submission, Conduct, and Trust

Pastor Dave began with wives, explaining that submission means yielding to God's plan and placement, willingly following a husband's loving servant leadership. He clarified that wives aren't inferior—they're equal image-bearers of God with different roles. The passage says wives should be submissive "even if" their husbands aren't obeying the word, whether they're unbelievers or believers struggling in their faith. "Even when your husband is not behaving well," he said, "he can be brought to obedience to Scripture by your good conduct." This isn't about giving the silent treatment—it's about letting actions and attitudes speak louder than words, avoiding persistent fault-finding or nagging.

He shared a heartbreaking story about a man who'd secretly accepted Christ but told Pastor Dave, "Don't you dare tell my wife," because he feared her rule-laden response. It illustrated how a wife's conduct—not just her words—can either draw a husband closer to God or push him away. Pastor Dave emphasized developing inner beauty over outward adornment: "a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." He pointed to Sarah, who trusted God even when Abraham made questionable decisions—like claiming she was his sister or nearly sacrificing Isaac. "Even that misbehaving Abraham," he noted, wasn't always easy to follow, but Sarah honored him and trusted God to work things out.

Instructions to Husbands: Dwell, Understand, and Honor

Turning to husbands, Pastor Dave kept it simple but weighty. "Dwell with your wife," he urged—be present, engaged, and home, not hiding at work or on the golf course. "Dwell with them with understanding" means studying your wife: know her needs, desires, strengths, weaknesses, and fears. He joked about how he could raise his wife Pam's blood pressure with just two words, illustrating how husbands must be mindful of their wives' sensitivities.

He shared about his father-in-law, a German Marine not known for being touchy-feely, who never let his wife's gas tank run empty and took her out every Saturday night. "He served his wife in simple ways," Pastor Dave said, showing that love is often expressed through consistent, practical acts. Husbands are called to honor their wives—treasure them as precious gifts from God, protect them, and treat them as co-heirs of grace. "You're married to one of God's daughters," he reminded the men, adding that if things aren't right at home, prayers will be hindered. The assignment: treat your wife so well that she'd gladly follow you anywhere.

Conclusion: For God's Glory

Pastor Dave closed by urging couples to do it all for God's glory, encouraging husbands to review the bulletin's 10 helpful marriage hints (see YouTube Video Description) with their wives this week. He left us with two questions: "What's God saying to me by His word and through His Spirit? And how am I going to respond?" It was a convicting yet hopeful message, reminding us that Christ-centered marriages require intentionality, humility, and a commitment to serve one another—even when it's hard.