“Biblical manhood and womanhood enrich human flourishing in all its dimensions. God instituted marriage as the union of one man and one woman who complement each other in a one-flesh union that ultimately serves as a type of the union between Christ and his church. This remains the only normative pattern of sexual relations for humanity. Husbands are to exercise headship sacrificially and with humility, and wives are to serve as helpers to their husbands, willingly supporting and submitting to their leadership. Together these complementary roles bring joy and blessing to each other and display the beauty of God’s purposes to the world. Single men and women are no less able to enjoy and honor God and no less important to his purposes. They also are to give expression to God’s image in distinct and complementary ways, flourishing as his image bearers and bringing him glory in their singleness.”
“Marriage, Sexuality, and Singleness” in We Believe: A Statement of Faith
“It is in part through biblical manhood and womanhood that the life-transforming effect of the gospel is on full display. I think the most effective apologetic for the complementarian position is marriages and families and singles that radiate the beauty and wisdom of God’s plan for a man and a woman. And when a church is devoted to teaching and practicing and honoring God’s design, it testifies powerfully to the beauty of the truth.”
C. J. Mahaney, “Application: Preserving our Future” in Continue in What You Have Learned: Sermons from C. J. Mahaney that Shaped a Family of Churches
“Why did God create us male and female?
Answer: God makes us male and female as part of the beauty of his created order. Men and women are equal in dignity and worth, yet we reflect and represent God in distinct and complementary ways.”
The Sovereign Grace Catechism, Question 20
“Men, our call is to be the first to start and the last to leave the communities our covenants create. We learn this pattern from Christ and from our heavenly Father. Christ takes the initiative to pursue his bride. In the wonderful words of the hymn:
The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is His new creation,
by water and the word.
From heav’n He came and sought her
to be His holy bride;
with His own blood He bought her,
and for her life He died.
This is why an engagement period should start with the man asking his bride for her hand—take initiative from the very first moments of your covenant relationship. And men, what you initiate you are then called to build up . . . and building takes work. Whether in the family or the church, a man’s role of building requires effort, intentionality, perseverance—all the things we associate with the task of building something.”
Josh Blount, Complementarianism: The Glory of God’s Created Design, coming Fall 2026
“Our God is not only passionately opposed to pride; he is decisively drawn to humility. The omniscient One is aware of all things—nothing escapes his notice—yet he actively searches for one thing. His attention is uniquely drawn to humility: ‘This is the one to whom I will look.’ The humble man will receive grace, and not opposition, because his motive is to glorify God, not himself. God will always support and extend favor to a humble man who pursues God’s will.”
C.J. Mahaney, “Humility: Pursuing True Greatness” — Our Shaping Virtues, Sovereign Grace Journal (October 2022)
“Servanthood is a distinct virtue born of gospel doctrine, and produced in our lives through the active work of God the Holy Spirit… It would seem clear that it is impossible to yield to Christ’s lordship and follow him whole-heartedly without servanthood being evident in our lives. The less we’re inclined to serve, the less like Jesus we are.”
Greg Dirnberger, “Servanthood: Let Me Be as Christ to You” — Our Shaping Virtues, Sovereign Grace Journal (October 2022)