Subversive Living. A Word to Wives

Transcription

1 Subversive Living Beaverton Foursquare Sunday A.M. 12/06/15 Colossians All for Him (Part 6) Pastor Randy Remington In our text this morning we will see the word; Lord no less than seven times. Some may be uncomfortable with the subversive language in our passage because it runs counter to our current culture. A very important thing to remember as we study this passage together is that before we can change the world structurally or politically, our hearts have to change Airst. Paul is sowing seeds in our/their lives that will eventually change hearts, cultures and even the world. But he begins in very practical areas like our family relationships, work relationships and more. 18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is 4itting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. 4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 3:18 thru 4:1) A Word to Wives 18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is 4itting in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18) Submit will be a very difaicult word for some. It s important to understand in that day and culture that women were seen as property to be owned. Both men and women were coming to Christ, where there are no distinctions between sexes, slaves or free, rich or poor, etc.

2 be owned. Both men and women were coming to Christ, where there are no distinctions between sexes, slaves or free, rich or poor, etc. Women who came to Christ were experiencing a freedom in life they had never imagined before. Paul is saying that you have a new status and you now have a choice, a person who wasn t allowed to make decisions is now a decision maker. Paul is calling wives to make a decision to not only submit to the Lordship of Jesus but to respond to a Divine Calling to submit to each other. In the midst of a newfound freedom, we re being called to sacriaicially give our lives to one another. A WORD TO HUSBANDS 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:19) Paul recognizes that in this day and time it was a radical concept to lay your life down for your wife. This was counter to the dominance culture that was being practiced during Paul s day. A home dominated by either the husband or wife will not be healthy. One area of responsibility is for husbands to lead their home in prayer, with their wives, kids etc. Don t just pray but pray out loud, it is a powerful dynamic. Husbands need to make sure that their wives understand that they are equals in every way. Beyond this that Husbands are sacriaicially laying their lives down for their wives. A marriage can die from a thousand paper cuts or thrive from a thousand small acts of love and kindness. A WORD TO CHILDREN 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. (Colossians 3:20) Show Respect (As young or as grown children) Don t underestimate your parents need to see themselves reproduced in you. (Don t hesitate to communicate this with your parents) Don t stereotype them give them room to change. Forgive them If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. (Proverbs 20:20)

3 darkness. (Proverbs 20:20) A WORD TO EMPLOYERS Be liberated from them. A WORD TO PARENTS 21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. (Colossians 3:21) Are you modeling for your children how to treat and love your wife or husband? Rules without Relationship = Rebellion. A WORD TO EMPLOYEES 22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism. (Colossians 3:22-25) Some may think Paul missed an opportunity to speak out against slavery. In this day and time there was an estimated population of 80 to 90 million people of those about 1/3 rd were slaves. This was different than a race based slavery that we have experienced in the last couple of centuries. Some slaves in that culture had tremendous freedom they were even property owners. Even so Paul was sowing seeds to destroy slavery by bringing real change in their hearts. For our study purposes we ll look at it not as a slave issue but an employee, employer matter. o Your work as eternal implications even if it does not have any apparent eternal value. o How you do your work is as important as where you do your work. o How you perform at work is as important as how you behave at work. o Putting your heart into your work allows God to bless your work.

4 A WORD TO EMPLOYERS Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 4:1) Character Care The bottom line question for us is: Is Jesus the Lord of your life as a husband, wife, employee, employer, etc.? Discussion Questions 1) As Pastor Randy began our teaching he pointed out that the subversive language found in our text would make some people uncomfortable. As you read over the text what was you initial response? Also please discuss the fact that real change in our culture and world begins with a change of our hearts. 2) As we considered Paul s Word to Wives what were some of the truths that stuck out to you. You may want to discuss: a) The culture they were living in and the freedom found in Christ b) Living in this newfound freedom as a decision maker who has choices c) That Paul was challenging wives to make a decision to not only submit to the Lordship of Jesus but to respond to a Divine Calling to submit to each other, to sacriaicially give our lives to one another. 3) Looking at Paul s Word to Husbands please discuss the contrast of a culture of dominance to what Paul was calling the husbands to, namely to sacriaicially lay their lives down for their wives. 4) Discuss what it means: a marriage can die from a thousand paper cuts or thrive from a thousand small acts of love and kindness. 5) As we weighed through a Word to Children, what were you challenged or afairmed with in the current stage in your life? 6) In the Word to Parents section what did the short passage in verse 21 say to you? 7) Lastly in a Word to Employees and Employers, how were you challenged as an employee or employer? 1

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