How does the supremacy of Christ and our identity in Him present in our households and places of work? Join us as we take a look at the shockingly beautiful New Testament Household Code found in Colossians 3.
Loving Households
Speakers
Sarah Blount
Lead Pastor
Worship
Notes
In the world and OF The Kingdom
Colossians 3:18-4:1 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
- Our identity is in Christ no matter what role we have.
- Our identity in Christ doesn’t erase our role(s).
- Our identity in Christ defines how we live into our role(s).
1. Our identity is in Christ no matter what role we have.
Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae.
In Christ in Edmond.
In Christ in your role in your household.
In Christ in your role in your organization.
2. Our identity in Christ doesn’t erase our role(s).
3. Our identity in Christ defines how we live into our role(s).
Relational Pairs:
Wives & Husbands
Children & Fathers
Slaves & Masters
Category 1: Wive, Children, Slaves
Non-Christian Household Codes: Not addressed. Viewed as property, not people. No minds or wills of their own.
New Testament Household Codes: Addressed. Actual person with agency/ability to choose and be held responsible for actions. To be treated with dignity.
Category 2: Husbands, Fathers, Masters
Non-Christian Household Codes: What to do to make sure your wife, children, and slaves fulfill THEIR responsibilities.
New Testament Household Codes: Act in a matter appropriate for followers of Jesus. Fulfill YOUR responsibility to act for the good of others.
Paul places obligations on husbands, fathers, and masters, not to ensure that wives, children, and slaves fulfill their responsibilities, but rather to fulfill their own responsibilities to act for the good of others. - Alistair I. Wilson
Colossians 3:18-19
Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
Ephesians 5:22-33
Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.
Husbands are to image Christ’s love for the church to their wives and the watching world.
Wives are to image the church and her submission to her bridegroom to the same world.
God’s design for marriage is that it would be a play upon the world’s stage.
Submit means to give over or yield to the power or authority of another.
Submission - One equal person’s voluntary acceptance of the authority of another equal person.
Being a Christian husband is not about being some prideful, self-absorbed leader but a humble, self-giving servant leader. In this, you reflect the reality that Christ, not you, is the king. And his kingdom has dawned. - Erik Raymond
Colossians 3:20-21
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.
Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart.
Obey means to listen attentively in a way that leads to action.
Obedience is pleasing to God because it glorifies God and mirrors Christ's relationship with his Father to the watching world.
John 15:30-31 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.
Is the way God fathers you evident in the way you parent your children?
Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct. Kindness, gentleness, long-suffering, patience, forbearance, sympathy, a willingness to enter into childish troubles, a readiness to take part in childish joys — these are the cords by which a child may be led most easily — these are the clues you must follow if you would find the way to his heart. - J.C. Ryle
Slaves
Masters
Colossians 3:22-4:1
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.
Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
_EMPLOYER (PERSON IN POWER) - Your identity is in Christ no matter what role you have.
_EMPLOYEE (PERSON WHO WORKS UNDER PERSON IN POWER) - Your identity in Christ doesn’t erase your role.
_EMPLOYER OR EMPLOYER - Your identity in Christ defines how you live into your role.
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Sermon Series || Colossians Series - Loving Households || Colossians 3:18-4:1 “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.”
Read Colossians 3:18-4:1 aloud.
Go over the main points.
Our identity is in Christ no matter what role we have.
Our identity in Christ doesn’t erase our role(s).
Our identity in Christ defines how we live into our role(s).
1. What roles do you fill in your household or organization?2. How does your identity in Christ define the roles you are in?
3. Husbands, what is one way you model Christ’s love for the Church in your marriage? Wives, what is one way you can model the Church’s active yielded-ness to Christ’s leading in your marriage?
4. Parents, in what ways do you try to enter into your children’s troubles and how do you take part in their joy? Why do you think this helps you shepherd their hearts?5. What prayer requests do you have concerning your role in the workplace?
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November Series: Staring Contest
Power Verse: Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Week 4 Lesson: A Sight for Sore Eyes (Mary Magdalene sees Jesus)
Why was Mary Magdalene sad? Because she thought someone had stolen Jesus’ body
Who asked her why she was crying? Angels
When she turned around, who did she think she saw? A gardener
Who was it really? Jesus
When has something hard happened in your life when you found it difficult to see Jesus?
What are some ways you can see Jesus even when you’re having a hard time?
Parents, tell your kids a story of a time you saw Jesus in the midst of something hard! -
November Series: Staring Contest
Power Verse: Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Week 4 Lesson: A Sight for Sore Eyes (Mary Magdalene sees Jesus)
Why was Mary Magdalene sad? Because she thought someone had stolen Jesus’ body
Who asked her why she was crying? Angels
When she turned around, who did she think she saw? A gardener
Who was it really? Jesus
When has something hard happened in your life when you found it difficult to see Jesus?
What are some ways you can see Jesus even when you’re having a hard time?
Parents, tell your kids a story of a time you saw Jesus in the midst of something hard! -
Pre-K Power Verse: “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.” Luke 6:38
Learn the Luke 6:38 hand motions here!
Lesson all month in both classrooms: Jehoshaphat
1. Who was Jehoshephat?
2. Was he a man of God?
3. When the enemy approached, what did Jehoshephat do? 4. What happened to the enemy?
5. What are ways we honor God?
6. What is your favorite worship song?
7. Can you say Jehoshephat 3 times fast? :)answers
1| a general in the army 2| yes 3| He put the best worshippers at the front of the battle to worship Gpd instead of killing Jehoshephat’s army 4| they got confused and killed each other instead of Jehosphephat’s army 5| tithe, worship, serve
NEW!! Pick up an November parent resource page from your child’s class! -
Twos Power Verse: “Give thanks with a grateful heart.” Psalm 9:1
Learn the Psalm 9:1 power verse here!
Threes Power Verse: “Give and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.” Luke 6:38
Learn the Luke 6:38 hand motions here!
Lesson all month in both classrooms: Jehoshaphat
1. Who was Jehoshephat?
2. Was he a man of God?
3. When the enemy approached, what did Jehoshephat do? 4. What happened to the enemy?
5. What are ways we honor God?
6. What is your favorite worship song?
7. Can you say Jehoshephat 3 times fast? :)answers
1| a general in the army 2| yes 3| He put the best worshippers at the front of the battle to worship Gpd instead of killing Jehoshephat’s army 4| they got confused and killed each other instead of Jehosphephat’s army 5| tithe, worship, serve
NEW!! Pick up an November parent resource page from your child’s class!