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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