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Relationships: God’s Way

Submission in Everyday Life

2003048

Topic # 1004

Introduction:

A. Last week: looked at perfect example of a servant – Jesus.

1. John 5:30; 6:38; Lk. 22:42 – totally focused on doing the will of God – not his.

2. Talked about practical ways being servants of God can be demonstrated by today’s Christian.

a) How many days are spent totally living for God?

b) God’s kind of Christian in every way?

c) Contrast this to how many days of our lives are not about God.

B. Being God’s kind of Christian/servant involves submission.

1. If we truly His servant – it will be readily seen in all aspects of life. As Jesus submitted to the Father; so should we.

2. Are we living up to our respective roles:

a) husband/wife

b) parent/children

c) employer; manager/employee

d) relationships in spiritual realm – elders/members

3. Submission nothing more than submitting to the authority or control of another.

a) Words that go along with it are agreeableness; cooperation; obedience.

b) W/o such things – we will not be pleasing to God.

C. Lk. 14:25-35

1. 14:26-27; 33

2. submission to the Lordship of Jesus is central to Christian living

a) Jesus’ audience well aware of what it meant to carry one’s own cross.

b) Romans led criminal to execution site – person forced to carry the cross on which he would die.

c) This showed submission to Rom – warned others of the need to submit too.

3. Jesus spoke this to get His listeners to think through on their enthusiasm for Him.

a) Following Jesus means total submission to Him – perhaps even to the point of death.

I. What is biblical submission?

A. 1 Cor. 11:1-3 – here is a picture.

1. Submission a key to harmony in relationships.

a) Look at relationship b/t God & Jesus. Perfect harmony.

b) Christ like living gives us potential to bring harmony into everyday relationships!

2. It is a key element in smooth functioning of any business; government; or family.

3. God has ordained submission in certain relationships to prevent chaos.

B. What it is not.

1. surrender; withdrawal; apathy

2. Inferiority. God created all people in His image. All have equal value.

C. Submission is mutual commitment & cooperation.

II. Biblical submission is seen in marriage. (Eph. 5:22-23, 25)

A. Gems from Eph. 5:

1. 5:8 – walk as children of light.

2. 5:10 – trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

3. 5:20 – giving thanks for all things.

4. 5:21 – be subject…in the fear of Christ.

B. Beginning in 5:22 – Paul applies this to husband/wife relationship. 5:22-23; 25

1. Biblical submission based on valuing one another as equals.

2. God did not make man superior – but made a way for man/woman to work together.

C. Phil. 2:5-10 – wasn’t Jesus equal to God?

1. But He submitted Himself to the Father to carry out the plan of salvation. We must follow His example!

2. Just as man is under God; the wife must submit to her husband for the sake of the marriage & family.

3. Stress: submission between equals is by choice – not force.

a) Jesus CHOSE to submit to the Father b/c of His love for us.

b) Submission in marriage should also be based upon love!

4. It is by willingly submitting to our God-given role in marriage that we serve God!

a) This will involve subordinating our rights to others.

b) Yes…this flies in the face of modern culture.

c) It’s not all about self. Selfishness DESTROYS submission! Selfishness can DESTROY relationships!

D. Submission rarely a problem where both partners have strong relationship w/Jesus & where each concerned for the happiness of the other.

1. Wives: do you willingly follow your husbands leadership in Christ?

2. Husbands: do you regularly set aside your own interests in order to care for your wife? (5:28-29)

E. 5:33 – honor Christ by submitting to one another.

III. Biblical submission is seen in the parent/child relationship. (Eph. 6:1-4)

A. Young people – are you living up to what God expects?

1. Do you realize your place in the home? YOU – child; THEY – parent.

2. You are a SERVANT of the household!

a) You don’t run the show; you don’t call the shots.

B. Basic applications:

1. Is submission shown when bad manners exhibited?

2. Is submission shown when back-talking parents?

3. Remember: parents deserve your honor – God has placed them over you.

4. If you’ve obeyed the gospel – this is part of it!

C. Rom. 13:7 – honor is to be found everywhere!

D. Honoring God’s law begins with honoring one’s parents.

1. Isa. 30:1, 8-9

2. It was the beginning of their downfall. It all starts here.

IV. Biblical submission is seen in working with the church elders.

A. God calls on shepherds to lead – he calls upon the church to follow their leadership.

1. Heb. 13:7; 17; 24

2. God has established a rule of authority within the church.

B. Focus on 13:17

1. Obey leaders – submit to them.

a) “Obey” from word that means to “be persuaded.”

b) Word is in present tense suggesting continuous action.

C. Why submit to them?

1. Because of their responsibility.

a) 13:17 – they are accountable to Christ.

b) They must obey God & always do the right thing.

c) They watch over our souls.

2. For their sake – 13:17b

a) Their job should be a joy – each member has resp to make it so.

b) When brethren stubbornly refuse to follow eldership – they rob them of the joy God intends.

c) How often do we make their job a source of grief & dread?

1) Some have described it as an inner; unexpressed groaning.

3. Wwe are to appreciate their work – 1 Thess. 5:12-13

D. Too often – scriptures like this are forgotten; grumbling sets in.

1. Complain of lack of communication on THEIR part. But…how often do WE communicate w/them? Elders aren’t mind readers!

a) Be open – don’t lock yourself into mindset that they don’t care!

b) How many times do we go w/them only w/negative?

c) Let them know they are appreciated! Words of affirmation mean something!

2. Key to all of this is humility!

E. 1 Pet. 5:1-4 – directed to leadership & their proper disposition.

1. 1 Pet. 5:5-6 – clothe ourselves w/humility toward each other.

2. Selfishness DESTROYS submission & it DESTROYS harmony!

Conclusion:

A. Biblical submission not understood by people who refuse to submit to God.

1. All goes back to Eph. 5:1-2

B. Are you fulfilling the role you are in? Has submission become a part of your life?

C. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 – do you need to start living for Jesus? 5:17 b/c new creation? 5:21

D. I N V I T A T I O N



Relationships: God’s Way *Submission in Everyday Life* 2003048 Topic # 1004 Introduction: A. Last week: looked at perfect example of a servant – Jesus. 1. John 5:30; 6:38; Lk. 22:42 – totally focused on doing the will of God – not his. 2. Talked about practical ways being servants of God can be demonstrated by today’s Christian. a) How many days are spent totally living for God? b) God’s kind of Christian in every way? c) Contrast this to how many days of our lives are not about God. B. Being God’s kind of Christian/servant involves submission. 1. If we truly His servant – it will be readily seen in all aspects of life. As Jesus submitted to the Father; so should we. 2. Are we living up to our respective roles: a) husband/wife b) parent/children c) employer; manager/employee d) relationships in spiritual realm – elders/members 3. Submission nothing more than submitting to the authority or control of another. a) Words that go along with it are agreeableness; cooperation; obedience. b) W/o such things – we will not be pleasing to God. C. Lk. 14:25-35 1. 14:26-27; 33 2. submission to the Lordship of Jesus is central to Christian living a) Jesus’ audience well aware of what it meant to carry one’s own cross. b) Romans led criminal to execution site – person forced to carry the cross on which he would die. c) This showed submission to Rom – warned others of the need to submit too. 3. Jesus spoke this to get His listeners to think through on their enthusiasm for Him. a) Following Jesus means total submission to Him – perhaps even to the point of death. I. What is biblical submission? A. 1 Cor. 11:1-3 – here is a picture. 1. Submission a key to harmony in relationships. a) Look at relationship b/t God & Jesus. Perfect harmony. b) Christ like living gives us potential to bring harmony into everyday relationships! 2. It is a key element in smooth functioning of any business; government; or family. 3. God has ordained submission in certain relationships to prevent chaos. B. What it is not. 1. surrender; withdrawal; apathy 2. Inferiority. God created all people in His image. All have equal value. C. Submission is mutual commitment & cooperation. II. Biblical submission is seen in marriage. (Eph. 5:22-23, 25) A. Gems from Eph. 5: 1. 5:8 – walk as children of light. 2. 5:10 – trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 3. 5:20 – giving thanks for all things. 4. 5:21 – be subject…in the fear of Christ. B. Beginning in 5:22 – Paul applies this to husband/wife relationship. 5:22-23; 25 1. Biblical submission based on valuing one another as equals. 2. God did not make man superior – but made a way for man/woman to work together. C. Phil. 2:5-10 – wasn’t Jesus equal to God? 1. But He submitted Himself to the Father to carry out the plan of salvation. We must follow His example! 2. Just as man is under God; the wife must submit to her husband for the sake of the marriage & family. 3. Stress: submission between equals is by choice – not force. a) Jesus CHOSE to submit to the Father b/c of His love for us. b) Submission in marriage should also be based upon love! 4. It is by willingly submitting to our God-given role in marriage that we serve God! a) This will involve subordinating our rights to others. b) Yes…this flies in the face of modern culture. c) It’s not all about self. Selfishness DESTROYS submission! Selfishness can DESTROY relationships! D. Submission rarely a problem where both partners have strong relationship w/Jesus & where each concerned for the happiness of the other. 1. Wives: do you willingly follow your husbands leadership in Christ? 2. Husbands: do you regularly set aside your own interests in order to care for your wife? (5:28-29) E. 5:33 – honor Christ by submitting to one another. III. Biblical submission is seen in the parent/child relationship. (Eph. 6:1-4) A. Young people – are you living up to what God expects? 1. Do you realize your place in the home? YOU – child; THEY – parent. 2. You are a SERVANT of the household! a) You don’t run the show; you don’t call the shots. B. Basic applications: 1. Is submission shown when bad manners exhibited? 2. Is submission shown when back-talking parents? 3. Remember: parents deserve your honor – God has placed them over you. 4. If you’ve obeyed the gospel – this is part of it! C. Rom. 13:7 – honor is to be found everywhere! D. Honoring God’s law begins with honoring one’s parents. 1. Isa. 30:1, 8-9 2. It was the beginning of their downfall. It all starts here. IV. Biblical submission is seen in working with the church elders. A. God calls on shepherds to lead – he calls upon the church to follow their leadership. 1. Heb. 13:7; 17; 24 2. God has established a rule of authority within the church. B. Focus on 13:17 1. Obey leaders – submit to them. a) “Obey” from word that means to “be persuaded.” b) Word is in present tense suggesting continuous action. C. Why submit to them? 1. Because of their responsibility. a) 13:17 – they are accountable to Christ. b) They must obey God & always do the right thing. c) They watch over our souls. 2. For their sake – 13:17b a) Their job should be a joy – each member has resp to make it so. b) When brethren stubbornly refuse to follow eldership – they rob them of the joy God intends. c) How often do we make their job a source of grief & dread? 1) Some have described it as an inner; unexpressed groaning. 3. Wwe are to appreciate their work – 1 Thess. 5:12-13 D. Too often – scriptures like this are forgotten; grumbling sets in. 1. Complain of lack of communication on THEIR part. But…how often do WE communicate w/them? Elders aren’t mind readers! a) Be open – don’t lock yourself into mindset that they don’t care! b) How many times do we go w/them only w/negative? c) Let them know they are appreciated! Words of affirmation mean something! 2. Key to all of this is humility! E. 1 Pet. 5:1-4 – directed to leadership & their proper disposition. 1. 1 Pet. 5:5-6 – clothe ourselves w/humility toward each other. 2. Selfishness DESTROYS submission & it DESTROYS harmony! Conclusion: A. Biblical submission not understood by people who refuse to submit to God. 1. All goes back to Eph. 5:1-2 B. Are you fulfilling the role you are in? Has submission become a part of your life? C. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 – do you need to start living for Jesus? 5:17 b/c new creation? 5:21 D. I N V I T A T I O N