Spirit-Guided Relationships: Slaves and Masters

Introduction:

Previous lessons:

            Living by the Spirit’s Power
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Children and Parents

Today’s lesson:

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Slaves and Masters

Ephesians 5:18 NLT tells us to:
¹⁸ …  be filled with the Holy Spirit,

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.  (This theme is repeated from the two previous lessons.)

Ephesians 6:5-9 NLT
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Slaves and Masters
⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. ⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
⁹ Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 6:5-9 NLT
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Slaves and Masters 

⁵ Slaves,

Slaves – Servants – Bondservants

Bible scholars have estimated that about one-third of the population in the Roman Empire in Paul’s time were slaves.  One-third of the population in Ephesus would have been slaves.

• Bible scholars have estimated that about one-third of the population in the Roman Empire in Paul’s time were slaves.

Slaves were, indirectly, a part of the family (household).

Husbands/wives
Children/parents
Slaves/masters

These passages all involve relationships between people.

Galatians 3:26-28 NLT
²⁶ For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. ²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

There would have been Christian slaves under Christian masters.

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.

This passage is not approving of or condemning slavery.

Slavery was a fact of life in that culture.

This passage is addressing relationships that existed in the Roman Empire. 

obey your earthly masters 

• We are commanded to obey those who are in authority over us. (Repeated from previous lesson.)

Romans 13:1 NLT
Respect for Authority
^13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Colossians 3:22 NLT
²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. …

The principles taught here would apply to employee/employer relationships today.

Obey those in positions of authority over you.

We are to practice continuous, uninterrupted submission to those in authority. (as long as the expectations do not contradict scripture.)

• Obedience is the right thing to do.
• Obedience pleases the Lord. 

with deep respect and fear 

With:

Respect for their authority.

Sincerity.

A healthy fear.

1 Peter 2:18-23 NLT
¹⁸ You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. 

1 Timothy 6:1-2 NLT
6 All slaves should show full respect for their masters so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching. ² If the masters are believers, that is no excuse for being disrespectful. Those slaves should work all the harder because their efforts are helping other believers who are well loved.

Everyone should show full respect for those in authority so they will not bring shame on the name of God and his teaching.

• We are commanded to obey AND respect those who are in authority over us.

Romans 13:7 NLT
⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. 

Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 

Colossians 3:22-23 NLT (repeated)
²² Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. ²³ Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT
²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
for this is the right thing to do.  

⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. 

Not just when it is easy to do so.

1 Peter 2:18-23 NLT
¹⁸ You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel. ¹⁹ For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment. ²⁰ Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.
²¹ For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
²² He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.
²³ He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
    who always judges fairly. 

As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

Titus 2:9-10 NLT
9 Slaves must always obey their masters and do their best to please them. They must not talk back 10 or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

• Obey with obedience that comes from your heart.

• Obey because you belong to the Lord. (6:1)

 ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 

• The will of God is that Christian slaves honor Him by serving their human masters faithfully and with enthusiasm.

• The will of God is that Christian employees honor Him by serving their employers faithfully and with enthusiasm.

⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

⁹ Masters, treat your slaves in the same way.

With integrity and concern.

Mutual honor and respect.

Colossians 4:1 NLT
^4:1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves.

Paul speaking to Philemon about his slave Onesimus.

Philemon 1:16 NLT
¹⁶ He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

Application:

Teachers, treat your students in the same way.

Administrators, treat your teachers in the same way.

Don’t threaten them; 

More application.

Teachers, don’t threaten your students.

Administrators, don’t threaten your teachers. 

• Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. 

remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites. 

Romans 2:11 NLT
¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

1 Peter 1:17 NLT
¹⁷ And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.”

Galatians 3:26-28 NLT
²⁶ For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. ²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

With different roles.

God will fairly judge both masters and servants.

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.  (Repeated)
•  

“We will…tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord…
so that they should set their hope in God.” 

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Slaves and Masters 

Ephesians 6:5-9 NLT
⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. ⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.
⁹ Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.  (This theme is repeated from the two previous lessons.)

• Bible scholars have estimated that about one-third of the population in the Roman Empire in Paul’s time were slaves.

• We are commanded to obey those who are in authority over us. (Repeated from previous lesson.)

• Obedience is the right thing to do.

• Obedience pleases the Lord.

• We are commanded to obey AND respect those who are in authority over us.

• Obey with obedience that comes from your heart.

• Obey because you belong to the Lord. (6:1)

• The will of God is that Christian slaves (Christian employees) honor Him by serving their human masters (employers) faithfully and with enthusiasm.

• Masters, be just and fair to your slaves.

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.

 

Introduction:

A brief look at two of Redeemer Day School’s four core values.

Redeemer’s four core values:

Christ-Centered
Teacher Directed
Academically Challenging
Mentoring Relationships

Two of our Core Values talk about obedience.

Christ-Centered

Nurturing students in displaying obedience.

Teacher Directed

Respect is fostered through listening and obeying.

Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Children and Parents
^6:1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Children and Parents

Previous lesson:

Living by the Spirit’s Power
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

Today’s lesson

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Children and Parents

Next lesson:

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Slaves and Masters

Ephesians 5:18 NLT tells us to:
¹⁸ …  be filled with the Holy Spirit,

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.

^6:1 Children, obey your parents

Both parents.

because you belong to the Lord,  

Additional scriptures:

Ephesians 5:21 NLT
²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Colossians 3:20 NLT
²⁰ Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. 

Proverbs 6:20 NLT
²⁰ My son, obey your father’s commands,
and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
²¹ Keep their words always in your heart.
Tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
When you sleep, they will protect you.
When you wake up, they will advise you.
²³ For their command is a lamp
and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
is the way to life. 

for this is the right thing to do. 

As if obeying the Lord Himself.

• Obedience is the right thing to do.
• Obedience pleases the Lord.

² “Honor your father and mother.”

Additional scriptures:

Exodus 20:12 NLT
¹² “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Deuteronomy 5:16 NLT
¹⁶ “Honor your father and mother, as the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Honor is more than obedience.

Hebrews 12:9 NLT
⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

Proverbs 1:7-9 NLT
⁷ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
⁸ My child, listen when your father corrects you.
Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.
⁹ What you learn from them will crown you with grace
and be a chain of honor around your neck.

Honor is more than obedience.

Honor shows respect.

Honor displays a right attitude.

Honor is an act of submission. 

• Honor is more than obedience. Honor recognizes the importance or value of obedience.

This is the first commandment with a promise:

This might not actually be the first commandment with a promise.  (See Exodus 20:6)

Exodus 20:6 NLT
⁶ But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.

This might not even the greatest commandment. (See Matthew 22:37 – Mark 12:30 – Luke 10:27)

This is a commandment of primary importance for children.

 ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” 

Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, disobeyed Eli and ….

1 Samuel 2:12 & 25
¹² Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord …

²⁵ … But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death. 

1 Samuel 4:10-11 NLT
¹⁰ So the Philistines fought desperately, and Israel was defeated again. The slaughter was great; 30,000 Israelite soldiers died that day. The survivors turned and fled to their tents. ¹¹ The Ark of God was captured, and Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were killed.

• The environment in a home (classroom) is more pleasant when obedience is being practiced.

Jeremiah 7:22-23 NLT
²² When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. ²³ This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’

Isaiah 1:19-20 NLT
¹⁹ If you will only obey me,
you will have plenty to eat.
²⁰ But if you turn away and refuse to listen,
you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.
I, the Lord, have spoken!” 

⁴ Fathers, 

The head of the family, responsible for disciplining the children. 

do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them.

Colossians 3:21 NLT
²¹ Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

Not excessive
Not harsh
Nor unjust
Domineering and thoughtless acts will discourage children.

Loving and gentle
No unreasonable demands, petty rules, or favoritism.

• Fathers (parents) do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. 

Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Disciple

Teach by example.

Reflect on the Lord’s discipline.

Hebrews 12:5-11 NLT
⁵ And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children?  He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
⁶ For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
⁷ As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? ⁸ If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. ⁹ Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

• The Lord disciplines those he loves.

 

• There are numerous scriptures that are amazing similar to Ephesians 6:1-4 directed to us as adults.

Remember, we are children of God.

As children of God:

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 NLT
^6:1 “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, ² and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. ³ Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
⁴ “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. ⁵ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. ⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ⁸ Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ⁹ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. 

Deuteronomy 11:13-21 NLT
¹³ “If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, ¹⁴ then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil. ¹⁵ He will give you lush pastureland for your livestock, and you yourselves will have all you want to eat.
¹⁶ “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship other gods. ¹⁷ If you do, the Lord’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the Lord is giving you.
¹⁸ “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. ¹⁹ Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, ²¹ so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 

The Biblical principles found in Ephesians 6:1-4 certainly apply to adults as well as to children.

They applied to Jesus.

Philippians 2:8 NLT
⁸     he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

We are commanded to obey those in authority.

Romans 13:1 NLT
Respect for Authority
^13:1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live. 

“We will…tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord…
so that they should set their hope in God.”

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Children and Parents 

Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT
^6:1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.
• Obedience is the right thing to do.
• Obedience pleases the Lord.
• Honor is more than obedience. Honor recognizes the importance or value of obedience.
• The environment in a home (classroom) is more pleasant when obedience is being practiced.
• Fathers (parents), do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.
• The Lorddisciplines those he loves.
• There are numerous scriptures that are amazing similar to Ephesians 6:1-4 directed to us as adults.
• A Spirit-controlled (Spirit-Guided) life is necessary for living the life God has planned for us to live.

 

 

 

Jesus, the True Vine

From Redeemer’s web page (www.redeemerdayschool.org):

Our Mission

To provide a Christ-centered, teacher-directed, academically challenging school for Atlanta’s children while mentoring parents in Christ-centered child-rearing.

A brief summary of one of Redeemer’s Core Values.

Core value (under Christ-Centered)

Nurturing students in love for the Lord by learning the Bible is Truth.

Redeemer Day School teaches that all Scripture is truth.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God (God breathed) and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Either you believe that everything from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21 is truth or you don’t.

We, at Redeemer Day School, believe all of scripture is truth.

We may not understand everything we read in scripture, but we know that it is truth.

Our Mission

To provide a Christ-centered, teacher-directed, academically challenging school for Atlanta’s children while mentoring parents in Christ-centered child-rearing.

The words of Jesus clearly address the importance of Christ-centered lives.

Redeemer’s school verse.

Psalm 78:4-7 NLT
⁴ We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.
⁵ …
He commanded our ancestors
to teach them to their children,
⁶ so the next generation might know them—
even the children not yet born—
and they in turn will teach their own children.
⁷ So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles
and obeying his commands. 

One of Redeemer Day School’s primary reasons for existing is to share Biblical truths from both the Old and New Testament with all of the students. (verse 4)

At some point in their lives:

We want our students to learn to set their hope on Christ (God) and not on themselves. (verse 7) 

We want our students to come to understand Psalm 127:1 

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. — Psalm 127:1.

We want our students to live Christ-centered lives.

Our goals are clearly contrary to the goals of secular humanism and the modern paganism that goes with it.

A look at some of the Words of Jesus.

John 15:1-17 NLT
Jesus, the True Vine
^15:1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
⁹ “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 

Examine the Scriptures:

John 15:1-10 NLT

This passage of scripture may have been directed to the disciples, but the principles of this passage apply to all believers.

^15:1 “I am

the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 

This is the last of the seven “I am” statements.

I am:

The bread of life
The light of the world
The door
The good shepherd
The resurrection and the life
The way and the truth and the life
The true vine 

² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.  

• God, the gardener wants branches (people, Christians) who bear fruit (much fruit).

• We, at Redeemer Day School, want our students to be “Fruit bearers” – those who produce much fruit.

God does what is needed to make the vines produce fruit.
Pruning produces fruitfulness.

Most of us desire the same thing for our children, our students, and ourselves.

We pray for this.

Paul prayed for this

Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

Another of Paul’s prayers:

Philippians 1:9-11 NLT
⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. 

Instructions from Jesus. (For our children, our students, and for us.) 

⁴ Remain in me, (abide)           

What does it mean to remain, or abide, in Christ?

 Accept Jesus as Savior.

Believe the truth of the Bible.

Obey God’s commands.

Committed to serving Jesus and obeying His Word.

John 8:31 NLT
³¹ Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. (We need to know the scripture.)

Colossians 1:21-23
²¹ This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.  

1 John 2:24 NLT
²⁴ So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father.

John 14:21 NLT
²¹ Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
²³ Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 

• Jesus instructs us to remain in Him.

and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 

• A branch out of contact with the vine is lifeless. 

⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. 

For apart from me (Christ) you can do nothing.  

Apart from Christ people do become doctors, lawyers, teachers, professional athletes, successful entrepreneurs, 

What is it that we can’t do without Jesus?  We can’t produce the fruit Christ wants us to produce. 

What does it mean to produce much fruit?

I can be the person God intended me to be.

I can live the life God has planned for me to live.

I can do everything God wants me to do.

I can bear the fruit God wants me to bear.

I can have the impact on others that God intends for me to have.

• Apart from Christ we can do nothing. 

• Our goal is for all of our students to learn to set their hope on Christ (God) and not on themselves. 

Gold, silver, and jewels vs. wood, hay, and stubble.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 NLT
¹⁰ Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
¹² Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. ¹³ But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. ¹⁴ If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

Unless the Lord build …

Psalm 127:1-2 NLT
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of Solomon.
¹ Unless the Lord builds a house,
the work of the builders is wasted.
Unless the Lord protects a city,
guarding it with sentries will do no good.
² It is useless for you to work so hard
from early morning until late at night,
anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones. 

• Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.— Psalm 127:1 ESV 

• Are we teaching our students to build on wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and jewels? 

⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
⁹ “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  

• Obedience and love go together.

 What does this look like?

Psalm 1:1-3 NLT
¹ Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
² But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
³ They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do. 

Colossians 2:6-7 NLT
⁶ And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷ Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

Psalm 92:12-15 NLT
¹² But the godly will flourish like palm trees
and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
¹³ For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.
They flourish in the courts of our God.
¹⁴ Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
¹⁵ They will declare, “The Lord is just!
He is my rock!
There is no evil in him!”

A final thought.

Philippians 4:13 NLT
¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

I can be the person God intended me to be.

I can live the life God has planned for me to live.

I can do everything God wants me to do.

I can bear the fruit God wants me to bear.

I can have the impact on others that God intends for me to have.

 

Jesus, the True Vine

John 15:1-17 NLT
^15:1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. ³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. ⁷ But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! ⁸ When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
⁹ “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. ¹⁰ When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

• Our goal is for students to learn to set their hope on Christ (God) and not on themselves.
• God, the gardener wants branches (people, Christians) who bear fruit (much fruit).
• Jesus instructs us to remain in Him.
• A branch out of contact with the vine is lifeless.
• Apart from Christ we can do nothing.
• Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.— Psalm 127:1.
• Are we teaching our students to build on wood, hay, and stubble or gold, silver, and jewels?
• Obedience and love go together.

Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

Introduction:

Verses 22-24 are directed to wives,
Verses 25-32 are directed to husbands.
One is not dependent on the other.

Ephesians 5:21-33 NLT

²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰ And we are members of his body.<BR>³¹ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” ³² This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 5:21-33 NLT
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands

Previously: Instructions for holy living.

Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
Living by the Spirit’s Power
¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Without being filled with the Holy Spirit, it would be impossible to live up to the expectations of today’s passage of scripture. 

Verse 21 is addressed to all believers. 

²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Spirit-controlled believers are to submit to one another.

Christ’s example.

Matthew 20:28 NLT
²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

• Submission to others is not expressed out of fear or desire for personal gain, but out of reverence for Christ.

• No believer is inherently superior to any other believer. In their standing before God, they are equal in every way.

Submission does not mean inferiority.  Submission is recognizing God given roles.

Submission is accepting the role God has given to you, and respecting the role God has given to others.

• Submission results out of reverence for Christ and a recognition of God given roles.

Submit to others according to the order and authority established by God.

Examples:

Romans 13:1 NLT
Respect for Authority
¹ Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 

Ephesians 6:1-4 NLT (Next Lesson)
Children and Parents
^6:1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” 

Ephesians 6:5 NLT
Slaves and Masters
⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.

Today’s lesson:
Wives and Husbands

In each of these relationships the first partner is commanded to be to be submissive or obedient. The second partner is also to show submissiveness by his care and concern for the first partner. 

Note: The word obey does not appear in scripture with respect to wives, though it does with respect to children and slaves.

To submit (the way it is used in this passage) means to yield one’s own rights.

As educators a review of the following may help us better understand this passage.

In a school setting things go better when students submit to their teachers.
That does not mean that teachers are smarter or better than their students.
It does mean that the role of the teacher is different than the role of the student.
The student needs to respect the role of the teacher.
The teacher needs to love the student and have a desire to help the student learn and mature and develop into the person God intended them to be.

²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 

Instructions given to wives.

Other related scriptures:

1 Corinthians 11:3 NLT
³ But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Colossians 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 NLT
¹¹ Women should learn quietly and submissively. ¹² I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.

Titus 2:4-5 NLT
⁴ These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

1 Peter 3:1-2 NLT
¹ In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over ² by observing your pure and reverent lives. 

• Wives submit to your husbands out of reverence for Christ. (v. 21)

• Submission is something wives should willingly and lovingly offer. It is not something for the husband to command.

Out of obedience to the Lord, a wife submits to her husband regardless of his personal worthiness or spiritual condition. 

²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

• Husbands have a God given role of leadership in the family for the health of the marriage relationship. 

²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives,

• Husbands are commanded to love their wives.

Instructions given to husbands.

Paul uses 9 verses to address the husband’s duty.
Paul used 3 verses to address the wife’s duty.

Other related scriptures:

1 Peter 3:7 NLT
Husbands
⁷ In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 

Colossians 3:19 NLT
¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

1 Corinthians 11:3 NLT
³ But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 

Husbands are commanded to submit to Christ.

Husbands are commanded to love and honor their wives.
Husbands are to treat their wives with understanding, being thoughtful of their needs.
Husbands should never treat their wives harshly.

• Love and honor are things husbands should willingly give to their wives. It is not something for the wives to command. 

just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 

Husbands should love their wives with unreserved, selfless, and sacrificial love.

²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 

• A husband’s greatest desire for his wife should be that she grows in her relationship with God and becomes the person God intended her to be.

²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰ And we are members of his body.

A husband should provide for the needs of his wife.  “… feeds and care for …”
Numerous translations say “… nourishes and cherishes …”.

• Husbands should love, prize and cherish their wives. 

³¹ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 

Genesis 2:24 NLT
²⁴ This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.

In marriage, the husband’s life is so intimately joined to the wife’s that they are one.

“Joined” carries the sense of a permanent or indissoluble union.

³² This is a great mystery,

• The unity of husband and wife is a great mystery.

Two becoming one. 

but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 

Christian marriages become a reflection of the union and relationship between the Lord and the church. 

³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

• Christian marriages should be marked by love and respect.

Remember Paul’s (God’s) instructions for holy living.

Ephesians 5:18
… be filled with the Holy Spirit. … 

None of this is possible without God’s help.

Living by the Spirit’s Power

Introduction:

Good reminders of how we are to live.

Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
Living by the Spirit’s Power 

¹⁵ So be careful how you live. 

• Be careful how you live. 

• • Don’t be fooled by false teaching.

Colossians 2:8 NLT
⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 

Mark 13:22 NLT
²² For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.

2 Peter 2;1-2 NLT
The Danger of False Teachers
^2:1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 

Be careful how you live. “The stakes are high.”

Matthew 7:13-14 NLT
¹³ “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. ¹⁴ But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

• • The stakes are high. 

Don’t live like fools, 

The word fool used here is not describing someone with intellectual limits, rather it is describing someone who does not believe the message of the gospel and is living apart from God and his Word. 

Proverbs 14:7 NLT
⁷ Stay away from fools,
for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

Proverbs 1:22 NLT
²²   How long will you fools hate knowledge?

Luke 24:25 NLT
²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.

Galatians 3:1-3 NLT
^3:1 Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. ² Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. ³ How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? 

Psalm 14:1 NLT
¹ Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.” 

• Don’t live like fools.

• • Fools do not believe the message of the gospel and are living apart from God and his Word. 

but like those who are wise.

Proverbs 1:7 NLT
⁷ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

John 6:29 NLT
²⁹ Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

If you need wisdom:

James 1:5 NLT
⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

• Live wisely 

 ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 

Colossians 4:5 NLT
⁵ Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 

Our time on earth is brief.

James 4:14 NLT
¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

Psalm 39:4 NLT
⁴ “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is. 

• Our time on earth is brief. Make the most of every opportunity. 

¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 

Spend time in the Word.

God’s general guidelines for life are found in the Bible.

God’s will for us is described throughout His Word.

Psalm 119:105 NLT
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

Romans 12:2 NLT
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Accept counsel from other believers.

Proverbs 11:14 NLT
¹⁴ Without wise leadership, a nation falls;
there is safety in having many advisers.

• Seek God’s will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

• Understand what the Lord wants you to do, and then do it.

Romans 12:6-8 NLT
⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 

¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

Do not get drunk on wine.

Galatians 5:16 NLT
¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Practical

Colossians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

• Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. 

 ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,

Corporately worship the Lord.

Psalm 22:22 NLT (David)
²² I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
I will praise you among your assembled people.

Psalm 100
A psalm of thanksgiving.
¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
²     Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation. 

and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 

Not just in public, but also worship the Lord in private.

• Worship the Lord both corporately and privately. 

²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6 NLT
⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 

• Give thanks for everything to God the Father. 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

John 14:6 NLT
⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

Romans 8:34 NLT
Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. (Interceding for us.)

Jesus intercedes for us.

• Jesus Christ is our mediator and representative as we approach God.

God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed

Introduction:

Again, Paul repeats himself quite a bit in this passage.

In this passage, Paul talks about his God given role.

Paul talks a lot about Paul.

When I think of all this …

I, Paul …

God gave me ..

I briefly wrote …

… revealed his mysterious plan to me.

… I have written …

… my insight …

I have been given …

… I am the least …

He graciously gave me …

I was chosen …

How can we apply this passage of scripture to our lives?

Ephesians 3:1-12 NLT
God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed
3 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . ² assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. ³ As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. ⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. ⁵ God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
⁶ And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. ⁷ By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
⁸ Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. ⁹ I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
¹² Because of Christ and our faith in him we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

 Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 3:1-12 NLT
God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed

^3:1 When I think of all this,

Briefly:
Review Chapter 2

¹¹ Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, …. ¹² In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. ¹³ But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. … (through the end of chapter 2)

This is a good description of each of us before we were saved.

We really were outsiders, lost and without hope, heading straight to hell. 

I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus

Repeated:

4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord …

6:20 I am in chains now …

Paul was a prisoner at the time he wrote this letter. (Likely in Rome)

Paul suffered imprisonment or confinement several times for serving Christ.

2 Timothy 1:11-12 NLT
¹¹ And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
¹² That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .  

Paul suffered imprisonment for preaching to Gentiles.

• Living a life that is honoring to God can be very challenging. 

² assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 

Paul’s primary God given role was to proclaim God’s grace to the Gentiles.

• A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NLT
⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ^… 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Ephesians 2:10 NLT (Previous chapter)
¹⁰ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 

³ As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 

Paul’s understanding of God’s mysterious plan came as God Himself revealed it to him.

Galatians 1:11-12 NLT
Paul’s Message Comes from Christ
¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. ¹² I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

God revealed this mysterious plan to Paul by revelation on the road to Damascus and more fully at other times. 

⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.  

• As we spend quality time in the word God gives us (reveals to us) a better understanding of His will for our lives.

Romans 10:17 NLT
¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 

⁵ God did not reveal it (verse 6) to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.

“But now …” Paul is referring to NT prophets.

The role of the Holy Spirit is somewhat different in the NT compared to in the OT.

Beginning at Pentecost.

Prophecy here is not so much about predicting the future as it is speaking a special word from God.

⁶ And this is God’s plan:

This is what is being revealed.

Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Gentiles: anyone who is not Jewish.

Both … Both … both.

Jews and Gentiles, who believe the Good News, together are part of God’s family and heirs of God’s riches.

Jews and Gentiles, who believe the Good News, are part of the same body.

Jews and Gentiles, who believe the Good News, are united with Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:12 NLT
¹² Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.

Galatians 3:28 NLT
²⁸ There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

• As believers, we are part of God’s family and heirs of God’s riches. 

 ⁷ By God’s grace and mighty power,

Grace: Undeserved blessing that comes from God.

Mighty power:

Matthew 19:26 NLT
²⁶ Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” 

• God equips us to serve Him.

I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.

Would God treat Paul differently than He treats us?

(Keep in mind that the “body” has many parts.)

⁸ Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people,

God did not call Paul because he was a good person.

• God did not call us because we were good people.

he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 

Reminder: We are heirs of “endless treasures.”

• We have the privilege of serving God by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

⁹ I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 

¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 

The church is meant to be God’s showcase.

The ultimate purpose of the church is to glorify God.

• God uses people (us), His church, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.

¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

God’s plans existed from the beginning of time.

• God’s plans for each of us existed from the beginning of time.

¹² Because of Christ and our faith in him we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

Not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us, we can come boldly to the throne of God. 

Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
Christ Is Our High Priest
¹⁴ So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. ¹⁵ This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. 

• As believers, we can come boldly to the throne of our gracious God and receive His mercy and grace to help us when we need it most. 

 

Living in the Light

Ephesians 5:8-14 NLT
⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 5:8-14 NLT
Living in the Light 

⁸ For once you were full of darkness,

This is a description of everyone one of us.

We were all dominated by sin, ignorant of God and His ways.

Ephesians 4:17-19 NLT
Living as Children of Light
¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

John 3:19-21 NLT
¹⁹ And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. ²⁰ All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. ²¹ But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” 

• At one point in time we were all full of darkness. 

“But” 

but now you have light from the Lord.

Christians are changed people.

Christians are no longer part of the darkness, in which they used to live.

Colossians 1:11-14 NLT
¹¹ We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, ¹² always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, ¹⁴ who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 NLT
⁴ But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

• When we became Christians, we were rescued from the kingdom of darkness. 

So live as people of light! 

Believers live in fellowship with God, in whom there is no darkness.

1 John 1:5-7 NLT
Living in the Light
⁵ This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. ⁶ So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. ⁷ But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Philippians 2:15 NLT
¹⁵ … Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

John 3:21 NLT
²¹ But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” 

• Scripture tells us to live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Be noticed!  (I wasn’t raised this way.)

Redeemer Day School needs to be noticed. 

⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Light is productive.

Grow lights promote plant growth.

Light chases away darkness.

Jesus is the Light of the world.

John 8:12 NLT
¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Philippians 1:11 NLT¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

• The light within us produces only what is good and right and true.

We have a perfect resource living within us. 

¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 

Romans 12:2 NLT
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

Philippians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ … keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Our goal should be to please God.

Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. 

• Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 

¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 

• Love justice and hate evil.

Amos 5:15 NLT
¹⁵ Hate evil and love what is good;

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NLT
⁹ When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. ¹⁰ But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. ¹¹ I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.
¹² It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. ¹³ God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

2 Thessalonians 3:6 NLT
⁶ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.
¹⁴ Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NLT
¹⁴ Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
¹⁸ And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” 

¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 

Merely talking about the things that morally and ungodly people do in secret can be morally and spiritually corruptive.

• Christians should not dwell on the evil that their lives (Christ) are exposing in others.

Example: Parents to children.
Positive proclamation of the truth in the light of the Word exposes all evil.

Proverbs 6:23 NLT
²³ For their command is a lamp
and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
is the way to life. 

How does this apply to parents? Teachers? 

¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 

• The pure and illuminating light of God’s Word exposes sin.

2 Timothy 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 

Psalm 119:105 NLT
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
and a light for my path.

Christ’s light shining on us and reflecting from us will expose evil intensions.

¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”  (Possibly Isaiah 60:1)

Christ shines on sinners with His life-giving light.

This is an invitation for salvation to the unsaved, in order that they may be transformed from children of darkness into children of God’s holy light.

 

Walking in Love

Introduction:

Practical examples of how Christians should relate to others.

This passage contains powerful lessons for us as well as powerful lessons to teach to young people.

Ephesians 5:1-7 NLT
Walking in Love
^5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. ⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do. 

Examine the scriptures:

Ephesians 5:1-7 NLT

Walking in Love

^5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 

• Christians are commanded to imitate God in everything they do.

This command is found throughout scripture,

Matthew 5:48 NLT
⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

1 Peter 1:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. ¹⁶ For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2 NLT
² “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.

Leviticus 20:7 NLT
⁷ So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God.

Luke 6:36 NLT
³⁶ You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Paul’s challenge:

1 Corinthians 4:14-17 NLT
¹⁴ I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. ¹⁶ So I urge you to imitate me.
¹⁷ That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

As a child imitates his parents, a child of God should imitate his heavenly father.

This is the purpose of sanctification.

1 John 3:2 NLT
² Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

• The Christian has no greater calling or purpose than imitating the Lord.

God chose his children to be like His son.

Romans 8:29 NLT
²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

The Lord makes us more and more like Him.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

• The Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

When Christ gave Himself up for us, it was the supreme act of His love.

• Imitate God by living a life filled with love.

Walk in love.                           ESV

Live a life of love.                   ERV

Be full of love for others        TLB

Romans 12:1 NLT
A Living Sacrifice to God
^12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 

² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. 

³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 

These are selfish, self-centered activities.

⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you.

These are harmful behavior.

• These self-centered vices in conduct and speech (verses 3 & 4) are the opposite of the self-sacrificing love we are called to practice.

Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.  

The speech of God’s people is to be characterized by thankfulness to God for all he has done, and is doing for us. 

⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

The things greedy people desire become their gods.  God is replaced by things.

Colossians 3:5 NLT
⁵ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT
⁹ Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. ¹¹ Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 

• Verse 5 is not a description of a believer. This is not who we are.  We have been transformed.  Therefore, it is not o.k. for us to practice an immoral lifestyle. 

• God’s people must have a holy lifestyle, avoiding the immorality common among the unbelievers. 

⁶ Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 

False teachers

2 Peter 2:1-3 NLT
The Danger of False Teachers
^2:1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. ³ In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

God’s view of sin should be taken seriously.

Colossians 3:5-6 NLT (verse 5 repeated)
⁵ So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶ Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming.

Romans 1:18 NLT
¹⁸ But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

• Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse sinful behaviors. 

⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do.  

• Christians must not participate in the sinful behaviors of unbelievers. 

 

Living as Children of Light (continued)

Practical examples of how Christians should relate to others.

Ephesians 4:25-32 NLT
Living as Children of Light (continued)
²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 4:25-32 NLT
Living as Children of Light (continued) 

²⁵ So stop telling lies.

Exaggerations, fabrications, cheating, making foolish promises, betraying a confidence, and making false excuses are all forms of lying.

• Don’t tell lies. 

Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 

Tell the truth.

Ephesians 4:15 NLT
¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love,

• Speak the truth in love.

Ephesians 4:3 NLT
³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 

Psalm 133:1 NLT
¹ How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony! 

Romans 12:5 NLT
⁵ so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 

• Lying destroys unity in the body of Christ. 

• Lying destroys our Christian testimony.

²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,  

Psalm 4:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t sin by letting anger control you.
Think about it overnight and remain silent. 

This is not saying, “Don’t ever get angry.”

• Not all anger is sin.

Being angry with evil can be righteous anger which is not only permissible but commanded.

Proverbs 8:13 NLT
¹³ All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.

Psalm 97:10 NLT
¹⁰ You who love the Lord, hate evil!

Romans 12:9 NLT
⁹ Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

• Jesus got angry.

Mark 3:5 NLT
⁵ He looked around at them (Pharisees) angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 

Matthew 21:12-13 NLT
¹² Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. ¹³ He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” 

• Don’t sin by letting anger control you.

Deal with anger before the sun goes down.

Anger must be resolved quickly.

“Keep short accounts.”

Don’t let anger control you. 

²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Not all anger is sin. However, anger gives a foothold to the devil, giving him an opportunity to lead us into further sin. Anger begins to control us rather than us controlling our anger.

Satan can use anger to create division among Christians.

• Anger gives a foothold to the devil, giving him an opportunity to lead us into further sin. 

²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. 

• Don’t steal.

Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 

• Work hard and then give generously to others in need.

Hard work provides for a person’s material needs.

Hard work gives us something useful to do.

Hard work enables us to help others materially.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 NLT
¹¹ Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. 

• Don’t use foul or abusive language. 

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

• Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Good words benefit the hearer.

Be an encouragement to others.

³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.

• Foul or abusive language is totally out of character for someone professing to be a Christian.

We grieve the Holy Spirit when we use foul or abusive language (when we sin). 

Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

Why would we knowingly bring sorrow to someone who has done so much for us?

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 

• Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 

³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

• Be Kind. Be tenderhearted (compassionate).  Be forgiving.

Colossians 3:12-13 NLT
¹² Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

1 John 4:19 NLT
¹⁹ We love each other because he loved us first. 

 

 

Gifts for Building Up the Church

In this passage Paul addresses both the growth of the body as well as the growth of the individual.

Ephesians 4:7-16 NLT
⁷ However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. ⁸ That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
⁹ Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. ¹⁰ And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. ¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. ¹⁶ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 4:7-16 NLT
Gifts for Building Up the Church 

⁷ However,

Previously in this chapter, Paul discussed the unity in the church.

We were reminded that all believers have a lot in common:
One Spirit, one Lord, one God, one body, one hope, one faith, and one baptism.

Now Paul discusses the diversity of gifts in the church.

 he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 

God gives each believer a special gift to be used for building up the church.

God does not give each believer the same gift.

1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

Romans 12:6 NLT
⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. …

1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT
¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 

• God gives each believer a special gift to be used for building up the church. 

  We do not choose our spiritual gifts. 

⁸ That is why the Scriptures say, (Psalm 68 NLT) 

“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
   and gave gifts to his people.”   

Similar to:
2 Corinthians 2:14-15  NLT
¹⁴ But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. ¹⁵ Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. 

The imagery is that of a Roman triumph in which the victorious general would lead his soldiers and the captives they had taken in procession through the streets of Rome, while the people watched and applauded and the air was filled with the sweet smell released by the burning of spices in the streets.

A military victor has the right to give gifts to those who are identified with him.

Christ, the Victor, having captivated sinful people by redeeming them, has the right to give them to the church as gifts. 

⁹ Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 

John 1:14 NLT
¹⁴ So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
⁶ Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸     he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  (and was buried) 

¹⁰ And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.

Acts 1:9-11 NLT
⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Acts 2:33 NLT
³³ Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.

After completing His work on earth, Christ is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand.

•  Jesus Christ has both the authority and ability to give gifts to His church.
• With the gifts given to us by God and with the power of the Holy Spirit we are equipped to do the work God planned for us to do. 

¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church:

In his letters, Paul has different lists of God’s gifts.  None of these lists are comprehensive.

• Here the focus of gifts is on the gifts of leadership most needed for the growth of the church. 

the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 

Apostles were the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to be with him and whom he commissioned and sent out to preach. (Proclaim the gospel, establish churches, and teach sound doctrine.)

Prophets communicate God’s will to His people.

Evangelists proclaim the Good News.

Pastors (shepherds) care for God’s people.

Teachers expound Scripture and God’s truth. 

¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 

The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers do not do all the work themselves. They train the people to do the work of the church.  They equip the people to communicate God’s will to others, proclaim the good news, care for God’s people, and expound Scripture and God’s truth to others.

We are being equipped to equip others.

• Our responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church.

A challenge from Romans 12:6-8: 

Romans 12:6-8 NLT
⁶ In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. ⁷ If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. ⁸ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 

¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

• Unity in our faith and maturity in the Lord are two essential goals for the body of Christ.

This is an ongoing ministry which will continue until Christ returns and takes us home. 

When we are properly equipped:
¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 

• Mature Christians are able to discern and resist false teaching. 

¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love,

• We are being equipped to speak the truth in love.

We dare not depart from or compromise the truth.

Communication is most effective when the truth is proclaimed in love. 

growing in every way more and more like Christ,

Sanctification.

who is the head of his body, the church.  

¹⁶ He (Christ) makes the whole body fit together perfectly.

• Christ, the head of the body, makes the whole body fit together perfectly.

Colossians 2:19 NLT
¹⁹ …. For he (Christ, the head of the body) holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

As each part does its own special work,

• Each part of the body has an important role.

it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

• When each part of the body does its own special work, the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

1 Peter 4:10 NLT
¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.