What Is Submission In Marriage?

The word submission can feel heavy or misunderstood, especially when it comes to marriage. Is it about control? Losing your voice? Or something else entirely?

In this message, we talk honestly about what submission in a Christ-centered marriage really means and what it doesn’t. You’ll hear how God’s design for marriage is rooted in love, humility, and mutual respect, not power or hierarchy. Whether you’re married, dating, single, or just curious, this conversation is about building healthy, life-giving relationships that reflect God’s heart.

Marriage doesn’t fail because people don’t want it bad enough. It struggles because most of us were never taught how to practice it the way God designed it. In this message, we unpack a powerful and challenging truth: marriage is uphill. It’s hard. And the reason it’s hard isn’t just compatibility, personality, or communication — it goes all the way back to the very first marriage. When sin entered the picture through Adam and Eve, it pulled humanity away from God’s original design and placed us at the bottom of the climb. Getting back to what we were created for takes intentional effort, surrender, and a lifetime of practice. God’s vision for marriage isn’t vague or unattainable. His divine design centers on unity and oneness — a supernatural work that also requires daily commitment. The problem isn’t that God’s design doesn’t work. The problem is that we often try to experience the blessings of marriage without aligning ourselves with the design that produces them. Throughout this message, you’ll hear why all the divine blessings of marriage are found inside God’s divine design, and why rewiring how you see marriage is essential before you can live it well. This isn’t about trying harder or fixing yourself — it’s about letting God get behind the scenes and rewire your thinking, your expectations, and your practices according to His purpose. Rewiring takes cooperation. It takes agreement with God. It takes surrender. And it requires moving past yourself — past baggage, selfishness, emotional immaturity, and poor relationship habits that keep you stuck at the bottom of the climb.

Most of us treat our spiritual walk like a solo project, believing we can reach our full potential through personal study or by watching a service from a distance. We try to handle our struggles in private, only to find ourselves stuck in a cycle of resetting the same old habits without ever addressing the root cause. But real growth isn't designed to happen in isolation; it requires a specific environment to actually take root. True spiritual maturity is a team sport, not a solo pursuit. There are blind spots in our character, our marriages, and our careers that we simply cannot see or fix on our own. We need a biblical community that loves us enough to call us up to a higher standard and carry us through the heavy seasons when we feel overwhelmed. You might be just one honest, biblical relationship away from the breakthrough you’ve been praying for. Community isn't just an optional resource or a social club; it is the fundamental context where our faith becomes practical. God designed us to be sharpened by others so that we don’t have to drown in our own secrets. It’s time to stop trying to "one another" without others and invite the right people into your journey. Step out of isolation and let the real work of growth begin within the body of Christ.

Most of us treat prayer like a quick fix or a spiritual magic wand we wave to change our circumstances. We ask God to fix what is around us, and then get frustrated when the scenery doesn't shift. But real prayer isn't about changing the things around you; it’s about inviting God to change the things within you. It’s a significant renovation that requires a daily reset of prayer to turn off the noise and let God work on your heart.

Trying to fix your life by flipping "small switches" is exhausting when the main power is still off. We often spend our energy on Religion—trying to earn God’s approval through better behavior—while we are still spiritually disconnected. Real change isn't about being "good"; it’s about being made alive through Jesus. 

The Gospel is the "Reset Flip" that turns the main breaker on, bringing you from death to life by grace alone. Once the power is connected, the Holy Spirit begins moving room-by-room, turning the lights on in the places you’ve kept hidden.

Stop settling for the emptiness of Rebellion by keeping the doors locked to your private struggles. Choose Repentance today—a life fully surrendered to Jesus where He has access to every area of your house. It’s time to stop playing church and start living in the light. 

It’s exhausting trying to keep up with a "cultural algorithm" that tells us we have to constantly earn our significance and prove our worth to other people. We often feel the pressure to work for our identity, chasing status or approval just to feel valuable. This week, we looked at how God calls us to reset our identity. Instead of striving to earn love, we are invited to live from a place of being already chosen, redeemed, and fully accepted because of Jesus. You don't need to listen to a world that changes its standards every day; you just need to remind yourself that you are already sealed and secure in Christ. As you step into this week, try "turning down" the algorithm—maybe by ignoring the pressure to impress strangers online or just putting the phone down—and “turn up” God’s Word in your life. It’s the best way to start 2026 with confidence and peace.

It’s surprisingly easy to let life’s big moments slip by and forget how much has actually happened over the last twelve months! We often move so fast that we lose sight of how God has been looking out for us. This week, we looked at how pausing to remember isn't just a sentimental exercise—it’s Biblical! And it helps us gain peace and perspective, regardless of what's happening around us. Think of your phone's photo library as a modern version of a memory jar. When you scroll back through your pictures from 2025, you start to see the full story of where you’ve been and what God has done, even in the messy parts. Before the new year officially kicks off, take a few minutes to look through your photos, send a quick text to someone you’ve missed, and be honest with God about what you’re grateful for and where you still need some help. It’s a simple way to head into next year with a much clearer head and a lot more gratitude. Your 2025 year-end giving advances our Unshakeable vision as we partner with God to build an Unshakeable future. As you put God first in your giving, He continues to use your generosity to move His Kingdom forward. Thank you for continuing this journey with us. Together, we're seeing lives changed as people take their next steps with Jesus. Give online or mail gifts postmarked by December 31st. Get more details by clicking the button below. As we approach the end of the year, we praise God for all He has done through 12Stone Church and your generosity in 2025. Your year-end giving allows us to continue our Unshakeable journey and advance the gospel around the world. You can find year-end giving tips and ways to give at 12Stone.com/give At 12Stone Church, learn how to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose and Make a Difference. Visit our website at 12Stone.com for more information or connect with us at https://12stone.com/connect/

We often assume that if the news is bad, then God must be bad too. It’s easy to let a difficult season or a sudden setback poison your view of God’s character. We focus so much on the pain that we lose sight of the truth: your circumstances are not the evidence of God’s love for you—the cross is! 

God proved His character once and for all through Jesus. He is undeniably good even when life feels undeniably dark. Bad news doesn't mean God has left; He is actually near to the brokenhearted—He hasn’t left you. You don't have to hide your sadness or your messiest questions. God is a good Father who wants your honesty. But don’t stay stuck in the "why"—today, you can move from focusing on your circumstances to trusting in His character. He is good, even when the news isn't. 

We often trick ourselves into thinking that compromising on God’s Word and His way is just a shortcut to getting what we want faster. It feels harmless to cut a corner here or there to get ahead. But here’s the truth: compromise isn’t a shortcut; it’s like taking a chainsaw to the tree of your life. Compromise doesn’t help you grow; it cuts down the very life you want. Every time you choose the easy way over the right way, you aren't speeding things up—you’re doing damage to the things you love. The good news is God can heal broken things. When you stop cutting corners and depend on God, you can actually grow strong again. 🌳 At 12Stone Church, learn how to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose and Make a Difference. Visit our website at 12Stone.com for more information or connect with us at https://12stone.com/connect/

It is easy to feel like faith is just a list of restrictions designed to keep us from having fun, but what if those instructions are actually a map to get us out of prison? In this message, we explore the surprising connection between the ancient story of Passover and the true meaning of Christmas. We often find ourselves stuck in habits, addictions, or toxic patterns that we hate, yet we keep going back to them. We want to be free, but we don't always like the process required to get there. By looking at the story of the Exodus, we see that captivity isn't just about a physical place; it represents the things that trap us today. We discover that God gives us direction not because He is trying to control us, but because obedience leads to freedom. At 12Stone Church, learn how to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose and Make a Difference. Visit our website at 12Stone.com for more information or connect with us at https://12stone.com/connect/