By Garry Knighton
Church of Christ/North - Shreveport, La.
BUILDING A STRONG CHURCH SERIES - Lesson 4
CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS
EPHESIANS 5:21-6:23.
INTRODUCTION:
The church was planned before the foundation of the world - Ephesians 1:3-4.
How?
By walking worthily of the calling - 4:1-3.
By keeping Jesus as authority - 4:8-10.
By each one doing his part - 4:16.
By putting away the former manner of life - 4:22.
By being imitators of God - 5:1.
By walking as wise men - 5:15.
By realizing your position in life - (text).
In this lesson, let's understand what our place in life is and why we do what we do.
SUBMISSION - (Under authority or control of one another) - 5:21.
God's authority always stands - or punishment is received.
Adam and Eve - "do not eat" - Genesis 2 & 3.
Cast out of the garden.
Pain in childbirth.
Earn a living by the sweat of the brow.
Pharaoh - "let them go" - Exodus 7-12.
Plagues.
Nadab and Abihu - Leviticus 10 - "no strange fire"
Death by fire.
Joshua - destroy Jericho by marching around it.
The city was destroyed.
God's authority stands.
WIVES TO HUSBANDS - 5:22-24.
As unto the Lord.
Husband is the head of the wife
Acts 16:33-34 - (note context)
I Corinthians 11 - honor her head - (husband).
Men were designed differently from women.
The ideal: Men earn a living - women tend the home.
HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES - 5:25-33.
As Christ loved the church.
Keeps it pure - (as a guardian).
Keeps it holy.
A wife must be in submission to her husband for this to work.
As their own bodies.
No one harms his own body.
Nourish - and - cherish it - (take care of it).
Even as Christ loved the church.
Acts 20:28.
The relationship is also of Christ and the church.
NEVERTHELESS - love wife.
Wife - fear - (reverence) husband.
CHILDREN OBEY YOUR PARENTS (IN THE LORD) - 6:1-4.
Honor them.
Punishment in the Old Testament - Deuteronomy 21:18-21.
Fathers do not provoke your children.
Nurture and chasten in the Lord.
SERVANTS AND MASTERS - 5:5-9.
Do service unto the Lord.
Daily jobs.
House wife, executive, common labor.
FINALLY... BE STRONG IN THE LORD - 6:10-23.
Put on the Christian armor.
We are fighting an awesome foe.
The armor of God is:
Girded loins with truth - always ready.
Breastplate of righteousness - the shield of evil.
Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel.
Helmet of salvation - hope.
Sword of the Spirit - The Word of God.
CONCLUSION:
Have you done your part to build a strong church?
Have you let Jesus be the authority?
Have you put away the former manner of life?
Do you imitate God?
Have you lived up to your position in life?
Are you even a part of the Body of Christ?
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