Obedience Matters

September 8, 2024
Pastor Jack

family walking along trees-lined path

Ephesians 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “in order that it may be well with you, and you may live a long time on the earth.” And fathers, do not make your children angry, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ, not while being watched, as people pleasers, but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart, serving with goodwill as to the Lord and not to people, because you know that each one of you, whatever good he should do, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things to them, giving up threats, knowing that both their Lord and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.

Walking in Respect and Responsibility

Ephesians 6:1–4 (ESV):

Children and Parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

  • Why? Why should children obey their parents?

  • See Deuteronomy 5:16 (ESV):

    Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

  • What is the fathers’ duty / role / responsibility?

  • How might we contrast our society with the Roman Empire that Paul is writing to here?

  • In whose image are children created?

  • See 1 Timothy 1:2 (ESV):

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • If the church is a family, how can we be better engaged in coming alongside parents and children as surrogates?

Ephesians 6:5–9 (ESV):

Bondservants and Masters

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

  • What is Paul’s view on slavery?

  • What should our heart attitude be when we are obedient?

  • What does it mean to be a “people-pleaser”?

  • Do you recognize that God is involved in every aspect of your life?

    • How are some ways you see this?
    • Are there any “rooms” or areas of your life where you are trying to keep the door closed to God?
    • How is that working out?
  • See Colossians 3:23 (ESV):

    Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Thoughts for Reflection

  • Are you obedient?
  • What do you need to do to become more obedient?
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