Class Lesson May 14, 2017

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE 

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question all of us were asked as kids. And we responded with things like: “I want to be an astronaut.” “I want to be a doctor.” “I want to be a ballerina.” 

It’s interesting to think about that question in more depth. When we ask it of others, we’re typically talking about the work someone wants to do—what career they want to pursue. Yet we phrase the question by asking what a person wants to be. Hear the difference? 

It’s easy for our identity to get wrapped up in what we do— especially if we love our work. But what happens to our identity at the end of the workday, when we come to retirement, or if we lose our job? If we define our identity by our work, these transitions can become debilitating. 

The good news is that we’re far more than what we do for a living. For Christians, our identity is defined not by who we are, but by whose we are. Our identity is wrapped up in Christ. And that identity makes all the difference in our work.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Colossians 3:22 

22 Slaves, obey your human masters in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 

Since our identity isn’t found in what we do, but in whom we serve, God’s focus isn’t on what we do—it’s on how we do it. The apostle Paul addressed this by writing to those working to serve another person. 

Slavery has been an ugly and evil part of human history. Yet in Paul’s day, slavery wasn’t seen as a form of abuse. It was simply one way many people found work. Slaves frequently were highly skilled workers or artists; in some cases, they were far more educated than their masters. None of this is meant to excuse the practice of slavery, but simply to point out that slavery in the Roman world was very different from what occurred in America leading up to the Civil War. 

Of course, many slaves in Paul’s day hated their conditions and wanted freedom. Paul wasn’t opposed to freeing slaves, nor to slaves working to become free; he simply remained focused on the mission he’d been given. He wrote elsewhere: “Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity” (1 Cor. 7:21). 

Paul wanted slaves to work not for their masters, but for Jesus. He understood that a slave’s identity was founded not in his position as a slave, but in his position with Christ. Slaves were free in Christ; thus, they were free to serve Jesus with all their hearts. They could demonstrate that service to Jesus by serving their masters with integrity and faithfulness. 

Workers today aren’t slaves; we have bosses instead of masters. But we still work to please Jesus. Therefore, we’re called to work wholeheartedly and with obedience, integrity, and dependability. 

Colossians 3:23-25 

23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism. 

Do you remember the excitement of getting your first job? Most of us were thrilled when we landed our first “real” full-time job. Over time, though, that excitement and enthusiasm can morph into a daily grind—maybe even into boredom or drudgery. 

So how do we maintain enthusiasm? I’ll admit it: some jobs are just plain boring. But that doesn’t mean our attitude has to match our circumstances. Paul told us, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.” A heart centered on Christ makes all the difference. 

In the early years of planting a church, I had to take an additional job to support my family. I was thrilled when a local private school hired me as a teacher, but two months into working, they told me the salary they had offered me was incorrect. They had made a mistake, and they would have to reduce my pay. My family was on a tight budget, and I wasn’t happy. I couldn’t afford to quit, so I finished the school year—but with a terrible attitude. When I resigned at the end of the year, I wrote a scathing letter. 

Years later, I was convicted about my bad attitude. I made an appointment to go to the school and apologized to those who had worked with me. 

What changed? My motivation was different. No matter what I do— and no matter what you do—we’re to do it enthusiastically, since we’re really doing it for Christ.

Paul mentioned several things that can fuel our enthusiasm for work, including the following: 

• Christ’s reward. “Knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord.” This surely appealed to slaves who had no reward or compensation in this life. 

• Christ’s lordship. “You serve the Lord Christ.” The sovereign Lord who loves us deeply is the One we truly serve. 

• Christ’s justice. “For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.” God will reward obedience and will justly deal with disobedience. 

Who I am in Christ—my identity in Him—is seen by all when I do my work enthusiastically for Him.

Colossians 4:1 

1 Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven. 

I’ve been the employee many times in my working career, and I’ve been the boss. Both roles have their benefits, and both have their challenges. Being the boss, supervisor, or employer generally means more responsibility as well as more pay. Historically, those with the better positions and bigger paychecks also get better treatment. Even today in America, we are aware of CEOs and corporate “big dogs” in the news who seem to get better deals in the judicial system than those who are poor or have less influence. 

Two thousand years ago, slaves had virtually no rights, while masters had almost every right. Most clerical work and manual labor was performed by slaves, and 80 percent of industry and retail work was carried out by slaves. As noted earlier, many slaves were treated well, but not all. Many slaves were considered inanimate objects, which meant the masters were usually allowed to do whatever they wanted with them and to them. 

In this passage, however, Paul commanded Christian masters to do as Jesus would do. Even masters had “a Master in heaven”—the Lord Jesus Christ—and He would hold them accountable for how they treated their slaves. Culture may favor the boss with the power, more pay, and greater influence, but when we stand before God, He won’t play favorites. 

When Jesus spoke about judging others and our treatment of them, He said, “For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use” (Matt. 7:2). Those are critical, practical words. We should be mindful of looking harshly on others, lest God use the same harsh standard on us when we face His judgment. 

On the London subway, every time you enter and exit the subway, you hear the phrase, “Mind the gap!” Americans would say, “Watch your step.” They say that because there’s a gap between the train and the platform; if you don’t “mind the gap,” you could fall in. 

In a similar way, disciples of Jesus should “mind the gap” we’re often tempted to create between others and ourselves. As Christians, we’re called to do what’s right for others—to treat them “justly and fairly”—just as Jesus so faithfully does what’s right for us. 

Let’s never lose sight of the value and importance of the people who work with us and for us. Let’s see them as Jesus sees them—and let’s treat them accordingly each day.

LIVE IT OUT

How will your work reflect your relationship with Christ this week? Consider the following suggestions: 

• Be positive. Employees often speak disparagingly about their employers and companies. Choose to stand out in your workplace by being consistently positive in your speech. 

• Encourage. Take a step to encourage someone you work with this week. Be open and direct about your desire to offer support as an act of obedience to Christ. 

• Pray. Think of a person who is confrontational or difficult to work with. Pray for that person each day. Seek opportunities to be a witness for the love and grace of Christ as you work. 

There are many of us who still don’t know what we want to “be” when we grow up. But all of us will need to work even as we seek our dreams. Therefore, all of us have the opportunity to reflect Christ and the values of His kingdom in the work we do.

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Teacher Notes

IDENTITY

Christian    Mom/Dad    Your Job

Why is it that for so many of us that our work becomes our identity? And is this a bad thing?

·       It’s easy for our identity to get wrapped up in what we do — but what happens to our identity at the end of the workday, when we retire, or if we lose our job? If we define our identity by our work, these transitions can become debilitating.

·       We are far more than what we do for a living. For Christians, our identity is defined not by who we are, but by whose we are. Our identity is in Christ. That identity makes all the difference in our work.

“When you make your work your identity…if you’re successful it destroys you because it goes to your head. If you’re not successful it destroys you because it goes to your heart—it destroys your self-worth.” – Tim Keller

 

   

In a national survey of 180,000 American workers, 80 percent indicated a dislike for their jobs. Why would that be?

There is an old story set in the Middle Ages during the construction of one of the great European cathedrals. A nobleman was walking among the workers, asking about their labors. The stonemason explained the care involved in raising a plumb wall. The glass worker pointed out the details of a leaded glass window. The carpenter spoke about the wooden frame which provided the support for the whole building. Finally, the nobleman spotted a peasant woman with a broom and a bucket cleaning up the trash. He asked her what she was doing. She replied, “I’m building a cathedral for the glory of God!”

This woman understood the biblical doctrine of work. Why?

Colossians 3:22-25

3:22 Slaves (Employees), obey your human masters (Employers) in everything. Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but work wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

3:22 Servants (Employees), do what you're told by your earthly masters (Employers). And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. 23 Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, 24 confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. 25 The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn't cover up bad work. The Message

EPHESIANS 6:6-8  

6 Don’t work only while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

As Christians, what should be our attitude about our work?

·       Since our identity isn’t found in what we do, but in whom we serve, God’s focus isn’t on what we do—it’s on how we do it. In work relationships, we are to be faithful to fulfill our obligations to our employer.

How does the way you work reflect on Christ?

·       The way we do our work is a reflection of our attitude, spiritual disposition, and relationship with God in Christ.

1.     God takes our work seriously. (3:22)

Work is not something out of God’s concern. It is a major part of human life that God takes very seriously. Work has intrinsic value—it is inherently worth doing. Why? There are two reasons:

1.     God is a Worker. God first reveals Himself in Scripture as a worker. He created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1) and called this activity work (Gen. 2:2). The fact that God called what He does work and calls it good means that work must be significant, that it must have intrinsic value.

2.     God created people to be His coworkers. Man was created in the image of God and since God is a worker, man—created in God’s image—must be a worker, too.

God ordains work. All legitimate work is an extension of God’s work.

2.     The Bible does not differentiate between secular and sacred work. (3:22-23)

It’s clear in this passage, by using the words everything (v. 22) and whatever (v. 23) that Paul is not differentiating between secular and sacred work. Paul made no distinction between secular and sacred. We must shelf the idea that secular vocation is a step-child to sacred calling.

3.     Our work is done for the Lord. (3:22-23)

·       Some people work for money. They are the living embodiment of the bumper sticker that reads: I owe, I owe, so off to work I go.

·       Others work for opportunity. Advancement and ambition drive them. Someone once told me, “The reward for a job well done is a better job.”

·       Others work for respect. Many want the admiration that good jobs bring. They think that having power and authority on the job will win them the attention from acquaintances and friends at home.

But what happens when the money dries up? What happens when the opportunities stop? What if people don’t like you? What if there is a downturn or downsizing? What then?

If God is a worker and He calls us to be coworkers with Him, then our work must be for Him.

4.     We must give our best at work. (3:23)

We may not have the most glamorous or the best paying job in the world, but we can still give that job the best we have to offer. If we are coworkers with God, and God does His best, then we too must do our best. When we serve our employer well we serve the Lord well. He can use us in our position just as he used Joseph as Potiphar’s overseer and Pharaoh’s Prime Minister, Daniel as the king’s advisor, and Nehemiah as cupbearer to a king. Working with all our heart means being the sort of employee who knows what it is to work for the King. Why do we work with all our heart, giving our best? Because Someone is watching. And that Someone is God, who rewards our efforts.

5.     Our work will be rewarded. (3:24)

Paul reminded us that those who do their work faithfully, recognizing that ultimately we serve the Lord, will “knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord” (Col. 3:24). As far as God is concerned, a slave’s labor in the wheat fields, when done in faithful submission to God, is worthy of a crown as was Paul’s preaching at Rome. It is something for which he, too, will receive a reward.

This thought challenges and comforts me. As a Christian I receive not only a paycheck but also the promise of a heavenly reward far greater than any salary.

When we work for ourselves or for others, we have nothing beyond a paycheck and the material goods it can buy. These cannot ultimately satisfy. But for believers the thoughts of standing one day before Jesus and hearing him say, “Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!” (Matt. 25:23) drive us on. That will be far greater than any Oscar, Pulitzer, Nobel, or Grammy prize that the world offers.

God wants us to see work as His gift to us. Why don’t we?

·       It is not a result of the Fall. God gave Adam and Eve the job of cultivating the garden and exercising dominion over the world before sin entered the world. We were created to work, and for work. 

·       Being happy in our work doesn't depend on the work, it depends on our attitude. To make the most of our job and be happy in our work is a gift God wants to give us!

·       Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift!

Work is God's gift to us. 5 major reasons why work is valuable:

1.     Through work we serve people. Most work is part of a huge network of interconnected jobs, industries, goods and services that work together to meet people's physical needs. Other jobs meet people's aesthetic and spiritual needs as well.

2.     Through work we meet our own needs. Work allows us to exercise the gifts and abilities God gives each person, whether paid or unpaid. God expects adults to provide for themselves and not mooch off others. The Bible tells us, "If one will not work, neither let him eat!"7

3.     Through work we meet our family's needs. God expects the heads of households to provide for their families. He says, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."8

4.     Through work we earn money to give to others. In both the Old and New Testaments, God tells us to be generous in meeting the needs of the poor and those who minister to us spiritually.

5.     Through work we love God. One of God's love languages is obedience. When we work, we are obeying His two great commandments to love Him and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.10 We love God by obeying Him from the heart. We love our neighbor as we serve other people through our work.

We bring glory to God by working industriously, demonstrating what He is like, and serving others by cooperating with God to meet their needs. In serving others, we serve God. And that's why our work matters to God.

  

LIVE IT OUT

Work is God-ordained. God gave the first man a work assignment, not as punishment, but as a divine partnership. One Bible commentator described work as an act of worship. “To work in order to bring pleasure to God is sufficient motivation to be faithful stewards of our talents and opportunities.”

We need to give our work our best because in doing so, we are giving God our best. And as others view us taking our work seriously, they can also see evidence that our work is more than a job; it is a reflection of our relationship to Christ who gives life meaning and purpose.

Solomon said, “After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot.”

Ecclesiastes 5:18-19, The Message

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan

Class Lesson May 7, 2017

HOME. For most people, that single word can generate a good feeling—a sense of comfort, security, and even longing. After all, “there’s no place like home.” 

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No matter where we live or in what season of life we currently find ourselves, home is that place where we can let our hair down and be, well, at home. It’s when we’re at home that we reveal who we really are and demonstrate what really matters to us. We might pretend to be a Christian at church, but it’s impossible to fake it at home. Home is the place where the people we love the most have a front row seat to our lives. 

Whatever your situation looks like at this stage of life, Jesus wants you to be the best member of your family that you can possibly be. Thankfully, He hasn’t left you alone to figure out what that looks like. As disciples of Jesus, our identity is in Christ—and that identity can be seen in a home environment of Christ-centered love, submission, and obedience.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

Ephesians 5:22-24 

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. 

Paul began with these words: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Contemporary culture laughs at such wisdom, calling it ancient and out of touch. You may even cringe as you read this passage. Our society has gone to great lengths to paint a negative stereotype on any submissive person. 

Yet God intended these verses as an invitation to a blessing. 

Just as God has blessed the church with Christ as its Leader, God wants to bless every family with a leader. For families with a husband in the home, God has assigned him to be the leader. The text is as clear as our culture is confused. God’s design for the family has always been and will always be to have only two hands on the wheel. It would be disastrous to have four hands on the wheel—or none. 

Let’s first look at submission in a broader context. As Christians, we’re all called to submit to Christ. To be a Christian is to be someone who has submitted to and acknowledged the lordship of Jesus. Therefore, a wife who submits to her husband has simply submitted her marriage to Christ. That’s why Paul said wives are to submit to their husbands “as to the Lord.” 

Submission isn’t a natural behavior for us. It’s never easy, but it is expected. Wives who willingly submit to their husbands are entrusting their marriage to God. That doesn’t mean the wife places her faith in her husband; rather, she places her faith in Jesus to lead her husband.

In the same way, submission does not mean silence. I rely on my wife as a source of wisdom and a sounding board for what I am thinking. I look forward to her opinion and greatly value her thoughts and insights. I married an amazing woman, and I would be a fool not to listen to her advice. 

As the church submits to Christ, so too “wives are to submit to their husbands in everything.” To submit “in everything” doesn’t include things that are wrong. God never expects a wife to be complicit in sin. If the husband’s desires, choices, or demands are wrong, it’s the wife’s duty first and foremost to be obedient to Christ. 

In this way, submission is never a passive action. It’s a choice to live a life of obedience to Christ. As we’ll see, Jesus is the leader and supreme Head over all—especially husbands.

Ephesians 5:25-28 

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. 27 He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 

For me, becoming a husband was easy. However, becoming a godly husband has been the greatest challenge of my life. And I’ll be clear up front: I haven’t always been a godly husband. My wife has endured my selfishness and has seen the very worst of me. 

Even so, we’ve celebrated over 20 years of marriage. How did that happen? Our marriage has not only survived, but it has thrived because of one simple truth: I learned to die to myself.

I learned about dying to self by studying the life and death of Jesus. Any man who desires to become the husband God wants him to be needs to study and imitate the life of Jesus. The apostle Paul commanded husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.” Jesus loves us and desires the very best for us. For Christ, the very best for us meant His death on the cross, because through that sacrifice we gained forgiveness and eternal life. 

Christ submitted Himself to the Father and to death for our benefit— to bring us back to Himself and make us “without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless.” What an incredible sacrifice for us! In the same way, the husband is to sacrifice himself to ensure that his wife can become everything God means her to be. When husbands love their wives they way Christ loves, they surrender their own desires in favor of what’s best for their wives. Ultimately, this is submission to Christ, because the husband is placing the needs of another before his own. 

When a husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church, he models submission for his family. Husbands are to submit to Christ, and wives are to submit to their husbands. Husbands cannot lead their wives to a Christ-honoring behavior they are unwilling to demonstrate themselves. As I submit to Christ, my wife trusts me. By leading out in submission, I encourage her submission. 

The love and submission Paul lifts up in verses 22-28 not only benefit the couple, they also influence others who see their relationship and actions. And no one is more impacted than their children. After all, children don’t just learn to do what parents say; they learn by watching what their parents do. 

Ephesians 6:1-3 

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, 3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land. 

As a child, I didn’t understand many of the rules set down by my parents. I responded to virtually every one of my parents’ commands and requests with one word: “Why?” 

My parents often responded with, “Because I said so!” 

It’s natural for children to ask the “Why?” question, and good communication is a big part of effective parenting. In the end, though, children have a responsibility to obey what their parents say. The command is not to obey because parents are perfect, but because Christ is. 

Sure, obedience to parents is commanded for the children at home, but what does that have to do with us? We’re adults now! Our parents’ desire was to help us grow into mature men and women who live independent and responsible lives. When we reach that point and we’re out on our own, our relationship to them changes—but our charge to honor them does not. Honor never goes out of style. 

The decision to honor our parents isn’t without its benefits: “so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.” Paul reminded us that God will bless us when we honor our parents. 

What does such honor look like? It’s more than a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day card. It’s more than flowers on their graves. Rather, we show honor in our attitude toward our parents. It’s seen in what we do when we’re with them—how we talk to them or respond to their advice, and how we talk about them. 

As we seek to live out our identity in Christ, we cannot do so by simply being a husband, wife, parent, or child. We do it as followers of Jesus—and we live out our submission to Christ in how we live at home.

LIVE IT OUT

How will you live out your identity in Christ at home in the days to come? Consider these suggestions to get started: 

• Submission. Begin each morning by actively and intentionally submitting to Christ. Verbally acknowledge Him as your Lord and Master. 

• Love. Be on the lookout for an opportunity to demonstrate self-sacrificial love to someone important in your life—your spouse, your friend, your neighbor, and so on. Express your love both verbally and through action. 

• Honor. Even as adults, we’re still called to honor our parents. Identify a practical way you can express that honor to one of your parents this week. 

There certainly is no place like home. It’s likely the place where you feel most comfortable—most like your true self. For that reason, make sure your home reflects your identity as a disciple of Jesus.

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Teacher Notes:

What did you like most about your family growing up?

What do we do with the decline of the home? 

I. Wives Submit       Ephesians 5:22-24

Why does Paul say that wives are to submit? And What does this mean?

What does “submit” mean? What does “submit” not mean?

• Submission does not mean to give in to the husband’s every whim, to be trampled underfoot, to be treated disrespectfully. Instead, wives give up control by placing themselves under the influence of their husbands. 
• Submission is a matter of the heart— a voluntary action. How does a wife submit to her husband? By allowing the husband to take leadership in the relationship. Authority is not domination but responsible headship in the family. This action includes listening, encouraging, cultivating a calm and gentle spirit, and respecting. Such behavior is not one of weakness and inferiority but of humility and prayer. Matthew Henry said it best: “The woman was made out of Adam’s side. She was not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.” 
• Submission is like traveling to a foreign country with a friend who has made all the arrangements, planned the itinerary, made the reservations at the hotels, knows the transportation schedule, and how to get to all the sites with you in mind. All you have to do is follow their lead, enjoying the trip. The stress-related details have been taken care of. Why fret? Why not follow their lead? The friend has your best interest in mind (as we will discover next) and wants nothing but the finest for you. 
• Too many of us, men and women, feel like we have to be number one, like we have to be in control, like we always have to have our way. Submission recognizes that many matters aren’t as important as we think. Like the subtitle of the popular book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: “And it’s all small stuff.” It takes a strong and mature woman to be submissive and a loving and selfless man to exact Christ-like influence—one who loves his wife. Ephesians 5:22 would be harder if it weren’t for 5:21.

In what ways can faith in Jesus fuel a wife’s submission to her husband?

How is submission a godly value all Christ-followers should embrace?

Submission is an important issue in relation to marriage. Here is the plain biblical command: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22–24). Even before sin entered the world, there was still the principle of the headship of the husband (1 Timothy 2:13). Adam was created first, and Eve was created to be a "helper" for Adam (Genesis 2:18–20). God has established several types of authority in the world: governments to enforce justice in society and provide protection; pastors to lead and feed the sheep of God; husbands to love and nurture their wives; and fathers to admonish their children. In each case, submission is required: citizen to government, flock to shepherd, wife to husband, child to father. The Greek word translated “submit,” hupotasso, is the continuing form of the verb. This means that submitting to God, the government, a pastor, or a husband is not a one-time act. It is a continual attitude, which becomes a pattern of behavior.

First, of course, we are responsible to submit to God, which is the only way we can truly obey Him (James 1:21; 4:7). And each Christian should live in humble, ready submission to others (Ephesians 5:21). In regards to submission within the family unit, 1 Corinthians 11:2–3, says that the husband is to submit to Christ (as Christ did to God the Father) and the wife is to submit to her husband. There is much misunderstanding in our world today about the roles of husband and wife within a marriage. Even when the biblical roles are properly understood, many choose to reject them in favor of a supposed “emancipation” of women, with the result that the family unit is torn apart. It’s no surprise that the world rejects God’s design, but God’s people should be joyfully celebrating that design.

Submit is not a bad word. Submission is not a reflection of inferiority or lesser worth. Christ constantly submitted Himself to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42; John 5:30), without giving up an iota of His worth. To counter the world’s misinformation concerning a wife’s submission to her husband, we should carefully note the following in Ephesians 5:22–24: 1) A wife is to submit to one man (her husband), not to every man. The rule to submit does not extend to a woman’s place in society at large. 2) A wife is to willingly submit to her husband in personal obedience to the Lord Jesus. She submits to her husband because she loves Jesus. 3) The example of a wife’s submission is that of the church to Christ. 4) There is nothing said of the wife’s abilities, talents, or worth; the fact that she submits to her own husband does not imply that she is inferior or less worthy in any way. Also notice that there are no qualifiers to the command to submit, except “in everything.” So, the husband does not have to pass an aptitude test or an intelligence test before his wife submits. It may be a fact that she is better qualified than he to lead in many ways, but she chooses to follow the Lord’s instruction by submitting to her husband’s leadership. In so doing, a godly wife can even win her unbelieving husband to the Lord “without words” simply by her holy behavior (1 Peter 3:1).

What happens when followers of Christ abandon submission? What does that do to a family? A friendship? The church? Our faith?

II. Husbands Love            Ephesians 5:25-28

Why does Paul say that husbands are to love their wives? And What does this mean?

• Interestingly, twice the space is used in Ephesians 5-6 to address the husbands as the wives. Love sums up the action and attitude of a husband. “Husbands love your wives.” The word used is the same as God’s love: agape. It’s a self-giving, self-sacrificing, self-denying love that puts the other’s needs ahead of one’s own. It’s a love that has no limits. 
• A marital questionnaire asked the question: “What do women love most about their husbands?” The leading answer was a “husband’s sensitivity and love for them.” For a husband to love his wife goes beyond merely being committed to the relationship. It is more than sending flowers, writing love notes, and taking her out to dinner (though she would appreciate these acts of love). Agape love requires an active commitment that entails sacrifice. This kind of love costs. It takes time, mental and emotional energy, and self-discipline. Such love denies self-centered desires and preferences and focuses instead on the needs of the wife. It might mean engaging in conversation when sitting quietly is preferred, or focusing full attention on her instead of watching a ball game, or listening to her frustrations after hearing coworkers complain all day. It definitely means praying with her and for her even when physically exhausted and sleep is needed, being committed to her spiritual growth, and engaging in her personal well-being. 
• A correct understanding of love makes submission possible. Too many husbands bang the drum of submission but don’t practice God-like love. In a family where Jesus is Lord, genuine submission can’t exist without sacrificial love. Or, the whole relational balance is upset and the possibility of damage is paramount. For the correct picture of love, study Jesus’ sacrifice. The strongest virtue a man can pass on to his children is to love his wife. The old saying bears repeating: The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. Love her openly. Love her deeply. Love her continually. Love her faithfully. 

Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. What are some characteristics of Jesus’ love?

• Submission should be a natural response to loving leadership. When a husband loves his wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25—33), then submission is a natural response from a wife to her husband. But, regardless of the husband’s love or lack thereof, the wife is commanded to submit “as to the Lord” (verse 22). This means that her obedience to God—her acceptance of His plan—will result in her submission to her husband. The “as to the Lord” comparison also reminds the wife that there is a higher authority to whom she is responsible. Thus, she is under no obligation to disobey civil law or God’s law in the name of “submission” to her husband. She submits in things that are right and lawful and God-honoring. Of course, she does not “submit” to abuse—that is not right or lawful or God-honoring. To try to use the principle of “submission” to justify abuse is to twist Scripture and promote evil.
• The submission of the wife to the husband in Ephesians 5 does not allow the husband to be selfish or domineering. His command is to love (verse 25), and he is responsible before God to fulfill that command. The husband must exercise his authority wisely, graciously, and in the fear of the God to whom he must give an account.
• When a wife is loved by her husband as the church is loved by Christ, submission is not difficult. Ephesians 5:24 says, “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” In a marriage, submission is a position of giving honor and respect to the husband (see Ephesians 5:33) and completing what he is lacking in. It is God’s wise plan for how the family should function.
• Commentator Matthew Henry wrote, “The woman was made out of Adam’s side. She was not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.” The immediate context of the commands to the husband and wife in Ephesians 5:19–33 involves the filling of the Spirit. Spirit-filled believers are to be worshipful (5:19), thankful (5:20), and submissive (5:21). Paul then follows this line of thought on Spirit-filled living and applies it to wives in verses 22–24. A wife should submit to her husband, not because women are inferior (the Bible never teaches that), but because that is how God designed the marital relationship to function.

III. Children Obey         Ephesians 6:1-3

• Children are to accept the leadership of their parents. They do what their parents say. Obedience is expected and rewarded. In fact, as Wayne Grant states in his book, Growing Parents Growing Children, “children feel more secure and protected when their parents set rules and regulations and enforce them consistently.” 
• As with submission, a corresponding benefit manifests with obedience: “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land” (Ephesians 6:3 ESV) or as the NIV translates it: “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the earth” (Ephesians 6:3 NIV). Who doesn’t want things to go well? And who doesn’t want a long life? Unfortunately, for many children life is difficult and short, dying too soon. 

The home is disintegrating. The moral fabric of families is unraveling. Houses are war zones. How do we teach our children to obey? By saying “no” with love, by setting boundaries with love, by spending time with them, by listening to them, by praying for them, by being there when they really need us, by praising our children, and by setting the right example. The best way, however, to teach obedience is to model obedience. Like many important traits obedience is more easily caught than taught. Children quickly learn from parents following scriptural teaching, most importantly: “Wives submit to your husbands . . .” and “Husbands love your wives . . .” Our children will learn to honor us as we honor our parents. Our children learn respect as we respect each other. Children don’t do what we say; children do what we do. They become what we are.

Conclusion

What are the benefits of a home marked by mutual submission?

There certainly is no place like home. For that reason, make sure your home reflects your identity as a disciple of Jesus.

Hope to see you on Sunday! 

In His Love, 

David & Susan 

Class Lesson April 30, 2017

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE

It was like standing at a fork in the road, except the road went in a dozen directions. I was preparing to graduate from college and was terrified because I had no idea what to do for the rest of my life. And that was because I had no real idea about who I was up to that point in my life. Throughout my 16-year educational journey, I had learned a lot of things about other people, but almost nothing about myself. 

All that changed when I found my identity in Christ. 

When I came to Christ, I came to His body, the church. My identity in Christ is wrapped up in my identity with other believers. That’s true of all who follow Christ. We find who we are in Christ, and we live out that identity through our involvement with other Christians. 

As you explore an important passage from 1 Peter 4 in this session, you’ll see that to love and serve the body of Christ is to love and serve the Head of that body: Christ Himself.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 

1 Peter 4:7 

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 

If we are connected to Christ, we also are connected to other believers. Scripture describes the church in several ways: the body of Christ (see 1 Cor. 12:27), the bride of Christ (see Rev. 19:7-9), and the family of God (see Eph. 2:19). All of these word pictures convey a key truth about the church: we need to work together. 

In our Scripture focus, Peter began by telling believers that “The end of all things is near.” This “end” refers to the end of time when all humanity will stand before Jesus (see Rev. 20:11-12). The last days were inaugurated by the death and resurrection of Christ; the New Testament frequently refers to this period between His first and second comings as the last days (see Rom. 13:11-12; 1 Cor. 10:11; Heb. 10:23-25). 

Considering the brevity of our time, Peter identified three ways believers can serve one another and, therefore, strengthen the church. First, we’re told to “be alert and sober-minded for prayer.” As a spiritual family, we hold on to each other and hold each other up through prayer. As a pastor, I can’t tell you how important this is for me. I need the prayers of other believers—and so do you. 

Jesus didn’t save us so that each of us could be an only child. He called us to love both Him and His family. If we love the church—the family of God—we will pray for her members. By praying for the church, we’re serving other believers. Prayer is dependence on God, and when we take the lives of others before God’s throne of grace, we’re laying their needs before the One who loves, cares, and can fully meet their needs. 

Part of discovering who we are is discovering that God made us to be prayer warriors. All believers have a direct connection to God because of our faith in Jesus. Let’s use that connection to bless the church with prayer. 

1 Peter 4:8-9 

8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 

Even in the best marriages, where two people love each other more than anything else, conflict happens. It’s inevitable. Conflict also happens in the church. And just like in a marriage, Christians are called to respond to that conflict with love. 

Peter has already told us that, in light of “the end of all things,” we should pray. For the same reason, the second way Peter taught us to serve our spiritual family was to be filled with a deep love for each other. This is the selfless, benevolent, agape love (or affection) that God bestows on His people. 

Such love isn’t automatic or easy. It takes work to maintain love in any relationship. Life among believers is no different—which is why Peter wrote, “Above all, maintain constant love for each other.” 

When we work to maintain love for each other, that love “covers a multitude of sins.” Peter wasn’t writing about our sins toward God. Our faith in Jesus Christ covers those. Instead, Peter was referring to the offenses we commit against each other. My love for others leads me to overlook their offenses against me. Love leads us to move past the hurt and see beyond one another’s faults. 

The church isn’t filled with perfect people; therefore, it must be filled with God’s perfect love. 

Peter gave us a picture of what love should look like. In doing so, he described the third way we are to serve our spiritual family: “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” To be “hospitable” means to be kind and welcoming to people. This is to be a hallmark of the Christian community, otherwise known as the church. 

Peter wasn’t the first to elevate the importance of hospitality in the New Testament. Paul called all Christians to pursue hospitality in Romans 12:13, and he listed hospitality among the defining traits of Christian leaders (see 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8). 

Such hospitality was especially significant in the early years of the church, when lodging wasn’t affordable for traveling Christians. The advance of the church’s mission in sharing the gospel was greatly aided by believers who were willing to open their homes to travelers. 

It’s one thing to share a home or share a meal; it’s another thing to do it without grumbling. We can begrudge our own hospitality if we feel obligated to offer it. But if we strive to maintain an intense love for those who share our tables or lodge at our homes, we can be hospitable without complaining. 

Hospitality moves love away from an abstract truth. Indeed, hospitality is love in action.

1 Peter 4:10-11 

10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 

Have you ever wondered why God placed so many different kinds of people within the church? It’s because He has given each different person a different set of gifts. 

Every person in the church is a gift who brings gifts to the body of Christ in order to make it stronger. We need all of these members and their gifts, and they need us. 

That’s important. Christians know they need Jesus, but we sometimes fail to realize we need other Christians, too. We weren’t made for just ourselves; rather, we were made to serve Christ by serving His body, the church. 

For that reason, you are called to use your gifts to serve the Lord and His church. That phrase “Just as each one has received a gift” means you already have a gift from God. Each one who has trusted in Christ has received a spiritual gift—one that is purely a gift of God’s grace. All of these gifts involve serving and helping others, which is why Peter categorized them by a general function of speaking or serving. When we review the other passages where spiritual gifts are listed (see Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-10), each gift can be placed in one of these two categories. 

We don’t use these gifts in our own power or for our own benefit. Rather, we do so as people dependent on God. We speak “as one who speaks God’s words,” and we serve “from the strength God provides.” 

How has God gifted you? God will awaken you to these gifts by the power of His Spirit, and He often uses two avenues: 

1. From others. Many times other believers will see your giftedness before you see it in yourself. Christians around us will help us to discover how we can speak the truth and serve others. 

2. From action. God’s giftedness may become clear, not as we seek His gifts, but as we get our hands dirty and begin to serve. 

Every believer is called to service, but God will not enable the full potential of your gift until you surrender to Him. He hasn’t given us all the same gift, but He has called us all to the same service. Once you discover your identity as a servant of God in His church, you will understand so much more about who you are as a person—and who you are meant to become. 

LIVE IT OUT

How will you love and serve Christ through His church this week? Consider the following suggestions. 

• Pray. Make a commitment to pray each day. Prayer is simply talking to God. Pray for your church and those who lead it. Serve them by praying for them. 

• Practice hospitality. Identify a way you can show more love and kindness to the people in your church, in your community, and in your family. 

• Identify others’ gifts. Every member in God’s church is gifted, but many Christians don’t see themselves that way. Encourage others by pointing out the gifts you see in them. Bless each other with a word of encouragement, a note, a phone call, and so on. 

Whether you’ve been a Christian for years, or whether you recently discovered your identity in Christ—you have a vital connection to the church. Don’t miss out on that incredible gift. 

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Teacher Notes

LIFE IN THE CHURCH: Why are you here? Why do you come to church? 

What does the church mean to you and how is it different from a club, association or team of which you are a member?

• our identity – who we are, who I am – depends on the identity of God’s people: I am a member of Christ’s body; I am part of God’s people; I am a child of God called to love Him and His creation; I am a follower of Jesus because in Him I am fully alive and willing to serve.
• My identity in Christ is wrapped up in my identity with other believers. That’s true of all who follow Christ. We find who we are in Christ, and we live out that identity through our involvement with other Christians. 

What are some names for the church you read about in the bible?

1. The family of God (Eph. 2:19) How is church like family? 

2. The body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27, Rom. 12:5). How is the church like a body? Work together.

· I am connected in a living way to Jesus.

· I am part of a living organism bigger than myself.

· I have a purpose and function in that body.

3. The bride of Christ (Rev. 19:7-9). How is the church like a bride? Marriage covenant

One of the most radical distinctions of following Christ in our secular society is a commitment to serving one another. We do this in the church. 

Our society promotes the individual and for us to look out for ourselves. Christ compels us to respond to the needs of others with the love of God. The church distinguishes itself from the rest of the world by serving each other. Here needs are met, wounds are soothed, hearts are mended, and prayers are answered. 

Peter recognized that our time is short—either Jesus’ return or death is imminent—so he gave some practical guidelines for the church to practice. He’s going to talk with us about prayer, love and hospitality, and then the use of our spiritual gifts all of which is to serve one another.

You see, when we love and serve the church, we love and serve Christ.

I. Serve One Another Through Prayer 1 Peter 4:7 

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 

Peter begins by telling us that we need to Live with the end in view: “The end of all things is near.”

Why does Peter say this and how important is this to us today? How does reflecting on the end times affect the way you live – or does it?

All things are ready for Christ’s return, so don’t ignore or overlook it. Christians are to live godly lives in anticipation that Christ will return. Getting ready to meet Christ involves continually growing in love for God and for others.

Why is prayer so important to serving one another in the church?

• Praying for each other is one of the best ways we can serve one another. Not just saying we will pray, but actually praying for the needs, hurts, concerns, and hopes of those in our church. It shows that we believe in the power of prayer and the One who answers our prayer. 
• We hold each other up through prayer. Jesus called us to love both Him and His family. If we love the church—we will pray for her members. By praying for the church, we’re serving other believers. All believers have a direct connection to God because of our faith in Jesus.

II. Serve One Another with Love and Hospitality 1 Peter 4:8-9 

8 Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 

Peter is referring here to the sins or conflicts that arise in the church. He’s talking about how we should relate to different people, even those we don’t necessarily gel with. 

How does Peter say we are to respond to these “family members”? What does that look like?

· Love one another. If we respond simply from natural impulses, we’d probably be nice when people were kind. At other times though, we would likely be vengeful, angry, or hurtful. Jesus clearly teaches us to love even when those around us seem unlovable. Look at how Christ loved: Romans 5:8 “Christ loved us enough to die for us while we were still sinners.” Surely, out of gratitude for what He did, we can love others. Love is something that we work at, just the way an athlete works on his or her skills. Love is not a matter of emotional feeling, though that is included, but of dedicated will. Blessings from loving one another: God is pleased and this should give us joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment; excitement and anticipation for how God will move in the relationship; there is an awareness that the Holy Spirit is working from within, enabling divine love to flow through a yielded human life. John 13:35 tells us of another important benefit: Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Since unconditional godly love is uncommon in our world, people will notice.

How does love cover a multitude of sins? Love heals…

· Medical doctor Bernie Siegel said, “I am convinced that unconditional love is the most powerful known stimulant of the immune system. If I told patients to raise their blood levels or immune globulins or killer T cells, no one would know how. But if I teach them to love themselves and others fully, the same changes happen automatically. The truth is, love heals. Remember I said love heals. I do not claim love cures everything, but it can heal and in the process of healing cures occur also.” And, when we love others it covers over or soothes the wounds that have hurt us. Love can change our hearts and in turn change our churches and ultimately change our world. When we have been wounded, and hurt by others to love them often will be a strain. We will have to work at it. It won’t be easy. But it will be worth it.

· Love is the basis for forgiveness. Even in the best marriages, where two people love each other more than anything else, conflict happens. It’s inevitable. Conflict also happens in the church. And just like in a marriage, Christians are called to respond to that conflict with love. Peter taught us to serve our spiritual family was to be filled with a deep love for each other. My love for others leads me to overlook their offenses against me. Love leads us to move past the hurt and see beyond one another’s faults. 

Peter gave us a picture of what love should look like: “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” 

What does hospitality look like in words? In actions?

· To be “hospitable” means to be kind and welcoming to people. Show hospitality to one another. God is a hospitable God, welcoming the prodigal home and the sinner to His side. Likewise, He expects His followers to show the same practice toward each other. In a time before hotels and motels, travelers had to depend on the generosity of their brothers and sisters when they needed lodging. Today we need to open our homes to those in our faith community to share in meals, laughter, and plans. 

What makes complaining so easy—even in the church? 

III. Serve One Another Through Your Spiritual Gift 1 Peter 4:10-11 

10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 

What is the significance of different kinds of people in the church? 

· Each different person has a different set of gifts. Every person in the church is a gift who brings gifts to the body of Christ in order to make it stronger. We need all of these members and their gifts, and they need us.

How do we discover and discern the gifts God has given us? 

God awakens you to these gifts by the power of His Spirit, and He often uses two avenues:

1. From others. Other believers will see your gift before you see it in yourself. Christians around us help us to discover how we can speak the truth and serve others. 

2. From action. God’s gift may become clear, not as we seek His gifts, but as we get our hands dirty and begin to serve. 

What is the purpose of a Spiritual gift?

· Gifts are to serve one another. Peter said, “gifts to be put to use in serving one another.” Believers have a spiritual responsibility to use the gifts to serve others. Spiritual gifts like the money we possess have been given to us by God. They are not ours. Our responsibility is to employ those gifts in service to others. As we serve others we are also serving God. The only way to serve God is by serving other people. 

· Christians, know they need Jesus, but we sometimes fail to realize we need other Christians, too. We weren’t made for just ourselves; rather, we were made to serve Christ by serving His body, the church. For that reason, you are called to use your gifts to serve the Lord and His church.

· Each one who has trusted in Christ has received a spiritual gift—one that is purely a gift of God’s grace. All of these gifts involve serving and helping others, which is why Peter categorized them by a general function of speaking or serving. When we review the other passages where spiritual gifts are listed (see Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:7-10), each gift can be placed in one of these two categories. We don’t use these gifts in our own power or for our own benefit. Rather, we do so as people dependent on God. We speak “as one who speaks God’s words,” and we serve “from the strength God provides.” 

· Every believer is called to service, but God will not enable the full potential of your gift until you surrender to Him. He hasn’t given us all the same gift, but He has called us all to the same service. 

Gifts of Service: Giving, Discernment, Mercy, Administration, Service, Hospitality, Faith

Gifts of Speech: Prophecy, Wisdom, Teaching, Knowledge, Exhortation, Evangelism, Leadership

· God grants to every believer a grace gift to be used for the common good.

· Believers are responsible to be faithful managers of the grace gifts they have been given.

· God gives us the message to declare and the strength we need for service.

· Whether we honor the Lord by speaking His Word or serving others in His name, He is the one to whom all glory is to be given.

Conclusion: Friedrich Nietzsche, the atheistic philosopher, allegedly stated, “Jesus’ disciples will need to look more saved if I am to believe in their Savior.” Nietzsche used the poor witness of some Christians as his excuse for not believing. He makes a good point: the world is looking for Christ’s followers who look like Jesus. The world looks at us not only for right belief, but also for a distinctive Christ-like lifestyle, a faith expressed through action. The world looks at Christ’s followers and says, “Show me your faith by the way you live and serve in this hurting world.” Service exemplifies the way Christianity is supposed to be lived. Believers who visibly and actively serve present Jesus to a watching world.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

In His Love,

David & Susan