Christian Marriage and the Family
As taught in the Methodist / Wesleyan tradition
The sanctity of the home as a place of spiritual formation and mutual love.
In the Methodist tradition, the home is not merely a private refuge from the world, but a vital 'domestic church'—a primary site of spiritual formation where the grace of God is both experienced and practiced. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, held a deep conviction that 'family religion' was the bedrock of a healthy society and a flourishing church. He believed that the holiness of a nation could never rise higher than the holiness found within its households. When we speak of the sanctity of the home, we are not suggesting that the family is an idol to be worshipped, but rather a covenantal space where mutual love, sacrificial service, and the 'means of grace' are woven into the fabric of daily life.
By the end of this lesson
- Define the home as a 'domestic church' using the Methodist lens of family religion.
- Explain the concept of mutual submission in Ephesians 5:21 and its practical application in marriage.
- Evaluate the Shema in Deuteronomy 6 as a model for holistic spiritual formation in the household.
- Identify the historical contributions of Susanna Wesley to the Methodist approach to parenting.
- Contrast covenantal marriage models with contractual and sacramental alternatives.
- Apply the household codes of Colossians 3 to mitigate conflict and discouragement in modern families.
- Develop a household 'Rule of Life' that integrates prayer and scripture into daily transitions.
Scripture
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