Honoring Christ in Our Roles

A few more messages to go before we wrap up this time together in this book.

It's been a great reminder of the need for prayer and the need for thanks.

Last month we kind of devoted some attention to prayer and had kind of our prayer month.

And this month is going to be devoted to Thanksgiving, our month of thanks.

And as a way to kind of build into and grow in thanks, we want to just put a few of our missionaries before you.

Not all of them, but just a few of the missionaries that we can.

One each week.

And introduce you to them if you've not met them by way of video.

And give you a chance to hear from them their word of thanks.

And then some ways in which God is using them.

But particularly as it relates to an initiative that we want to put before each of you.

So that you can participate in their thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving to God.

How we're going to ask you to do that is to participate in thanksgiving by giving financially.

A contribution of thanks to the Lord for our missionaries.

We're asking to raise $40,000 in the next several weeks.

And November 26th or November 30th will kind of be the final Sunday of our harvest offering.

And as you are making your gifts, just to designate them harvest offering.

And they'll go to one of several different categories or initiatives that our missionaries are putting in front of us.

These strategic opportunities for us to partner with them in a way to demonstrate thanks.

Of course, the foundation for giving financially and connected to thanks is the Lord Jesus himself.

2 Corinthians 9, verses 6-8 says this.

2 Corinthians 9:6–8

The point is this.

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly.

And whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart.

Not reluctantly or under compulsion.

For God loves a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times,

you might abound in every good work.

So we put together this little booklet.

It has several of the ways in which that you can contribute to in a financial way to our missionaries.

You can kind of understand the ways in which we're trying to raise money for them.

All of our giving extends to giving to God.

To thanksgiving to God.

That's what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9, 11-12.

He says,

You will be enriched in every way.

To be generous in every way.

Which through us produces, get this, thanksgivings to God.

Don't you love that?

For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints,

but is also overflowing, again, in many thanksgivings to God.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

And so in our giving financially,

it is an overflow of what we've received in terms of this indescribable gift of God,

his grace to us.

And so this overflow of loving Jesus and thanking him spills out in thanksgivings to God through our gifts,

but also it nurtures and cultivates thanksgiving in them as they're thanking God for the way that he's provided for their needs.

So here's the McGinnis family, and I'll let you hear their testimony.

Hi, we are John and Johnny McGinnis with Triumph Global.

And as we think through the Thanksgiving season and time,

there are so many things that we can be thankful for,

and we just want to highlight a few of them.

The first thing that we think of is our new granddaughter,

who was just born this past Monday.

So thankful for safe delivery and for health for the mom,

as well as the addition to the other three that we have.

So this makes four for us, which is so exciting.

So thankful for our children and now for our grandchildren that the Lord has blessed us with.

The other thing that I am thankful for,

and we are thankful for,

is something I heard actually yesterday.

I was reading a newsletter from a friend of mine who is serving in Belarus,

and he's a national there,

and he was talking about his ministry and what God has enabled him to do.

And he and other pastors were able to travel to Russia,

of all places right now, into Moscow,

and he'd go to a conference for pastors.

And he talks about, at this conference,

they were challenged in the area of church planting

and how they continued to further the gospel.

One of the pastors that was with him was a guy by the name of Dennis.

And Dennis is really wrestling with where and how

and if God wants him to plant a church in Belarus.

But the funny thing is, or the interesting part really is,

Dennis is one of our students that we've had when we were in Ukraine.

And I know Dennis, I think, fairly well.

And it's just encouraging for me and for us to hear about students of ours

who are even in a time of war, a time of questioning,

are being challenged to further the gospel

and to plant churches in their home country.

So you can be praying for Dennis and for this decision that he is making.

And we want to thank each of you for your prayers and for your support

and for what God is doing in our lives and in your lives

as the ministry is furthered through the training of pastors.

So John and Johnny represent Tri-Am Ministry,

and there are several different missionaries from Tri-Am that we support.

And they essentially go around the world,

and they are responsible to help train pastors and Christian leaders around the world.

So one of the initiatives that we're proposing is helping them with a module,

so one of those training modules of pastors and Christian leaders.

And we would invite you to participate in that as well.

Of course, the reason why we give and the reason why we're here today

is because of the great gift that God has dispensed in our hearts.

The gift of salvation, His Son, Jesus Christ.

And so we can give many thanks to God because of the saving work that Christ has done for us.

We've read a lot about that in the book of Colossians

and what Christ has accomplished in terms of completing us because of Christ.

His ministry to us.

We were buried with Him in baptism.

We were raised with Him into eternal life.

We have been forgiven because of Him.

We enjoy triumph because of Him.

All of the benefits that we experience because of the work of Christ on our behalf.

And so because of the benefits of salvation,

the forgiveness of sin that we enjoy,

this union that we have in Christ,

all of the theology that we have been learning about,

now the Apostle Paul is going to begin to press in.

What will you do with the things that you know about God?

How will that change your life?

And not just change the things that you do,

but now how will the things that you do now be accompanied by a picture?

The picture of Christ that is showing up in your life.

And what does that picture look like?

Well, this morning we're going to look at a passage in Colossians 3,

beginning in verse 18.

And we're going to see that there is this portrait,

this painting,

this image that is being painted throughout this chapter,

throughout these verses.

And this portrait includes three primary and predominant features.

If you were to paint a picture of Christ,

if you were to describe Christ,

and you were to concentrate on three primary characteristics,

what three characteristics would you choose?

Well, maybe you would choose His holiness.

That's important.

And maybe you would focus on His grace,

because that's obviously important.

Maybe you would focus on His justice,

or His patience,

or His power.

And of course,

all of those things are important,

and they're significant pictures of God

that we find throughout the Scripture.

But the Apostle Paul is going to concentrate on three qualities

that are going to help fill out this picture of Christ,

His ministry.

And as we begin to embody those three characteristics,

we're not only going to be able to do what God says,

but we're going to show Christ through our life.

We're going to paint this beautiful portrait of Jesus

by the way we live.

Those three portraits,

those three characteristics,

those three features,

we're going to look at this morning.

The first portrait,

the first characteristic,

is the characteristic of submission.

That Christ,

in His submission,

helps us understand what submission looks like.

We're going to look at that.

And also,

we're going to look at love.

This feature,

this primary characteristic of love,

the love that husbands will have for their wives,

paints this beautiful portrait of Jesus,

this gospel portrait of Jesus.

We're going to see obedience,

and the significance that obedience has,

again,

in calling attention to the wonder

of who God is through His Son,

Jesus Christ.

And these three characteristics

are going to be the ones that will mark this study

and help to mark the picture

that God wants to paint through your life

so that the gospel can be visible,

can be clear,

can be radiant,

because you're picturing Christ.

Let me read these verses for us,

and then we'll jump into our study.

Colossians chapter 3,

Colossians 3 · chapter mention

beginning in verse 18.

If you're using the Pew Bible,

it's on page 984.

It says this,

Wives,

submit to your own husbands,

as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands,

love your wives,

and do not be harsh with them.

Children,

obey your parents in everything,

for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers,

do not provoke your children,

lest they become discouraged.

Bond servants,

obey in everything

those who are your earthly masters,

not by way of eye service,

as people pleasers,

but with sincerity of heart,

fearing the Lord.

Whatever you do,

work heartily,

as for the Lord,

and not for men.

Masters,

treat your bond servants

just and fairly,

knowing that you also

have a master in heaven.

As we draw our attention to verse 18,

we see this picture,

this portrait of submission,

this faith-filled submission of wives.

This picture that begins with you,

women.

It's a picture that begins with you.

This beautiful portrait of Christ.

And I don't want to continue to set that

in front of us.

This is not just about doing what you're told.

This is about illustrating the wonder

and the marvel of who God is

through your submission.

This word,

to submit,

is in the middle voice.

And it indicates

a voluntary expression.

This is something that women do

as a gift.

It's something that they offer.

Something that they extend.

And they do this to obey.

To be under control.

To be put in subjection.

Submission.

This is a word that's used

throughout the New Testament.

38 times this word,

submission,

is used throughout

the New Testament.

This is not a casual term.

This is not a term

that is to be thrown around.

This is a term

that God takes seriously.

23 times that Apostle Paul

will address submission

in his letters.

We all know that submission

is culturally unacceptable.

Right?

Even the word submission,

oh wow.

And in the first service today,

someone's like,

I can't believe you talked about that.

And in our culture,

the reason is because

we have a misunderstanding,

not only about what submission means,

but what submission does.

See, in our day and age,

when we think about submission,

we think about inequality.

We think about weakness.

We think about the opportunity

for abuse.

We think about that it suppresses

intelligence.

We think that it means

losing your freedom.

It means that you're denying

personal worth.

That you're conveying,

in some way,

control or domination.

But as early as our first parents,

Adam and Eve,

this was going to be

what would put strain

on relationships.

Sin would put strain

on relationships.

That which was natural

in the garden

becomes very unnatural,

as God will show us

in Genesis 3,

Genesis 3:16

verse 16.

The woman,

because of her sin,

he says this,

To the woman,

I will multiply your pain

and childbearing.

In pain you shall bring forth children.

Your desire shall be contrary

to your husband,

but he shall rule over you.

You see,

now in marriage,

there is an element

of striving.

In marriage,

there is this element

of competition.

There is this element

of vying for power,

of wanting your way,

of fighting for your rights,

as it were.

But as we come to understand

submission in the Scripture,

we come to understand

that submission

is not relegated

to just a class of people.

Rather,

submission is meant

to be a quality

of spiritual life.

It's all-encompassing.

Not just for wives.

It is something

that every person

that loves God

is called to do.

If you are a Christian,

you are called

to submit in some way.

Let me give you

some examples.

The Apostle Peter

was writing this letter

to the church

that spread throughout Rome,

and he says in 1 Peter 2.13,

I'm just going to walk

down through these

because he kind of gives us

a course study

on submission.

He says,

Be subject,

for the Lord's sake,

to every human institution,

whether it be

to the emperor

as supreme

or to governors.

If you have a president,

if you have a governor,

if you have somebody

who is over you

in some way

in government,

you are called

to submit.

I am called

to submit.

It is a call

for all of us

in this room

who love Jesus

to submit

in this way.

Peter will move on

to servants

in chapter 2,

verse 18.

He says,

Servants,

be subject

to your masters

with all respect,

to the good and gentle,

to the harsh.

For to this

you have been called

because Christ

suffered for you,

leaving you an example

to walk in his steps.

And by the way,

if you've ever been

kind of fuzzy

on the will of God,

Peter will spell

it out for you.

Here is the will of God.

Submit.

Submit,

servants.

Submit,

slaves,

to your masters.

In chapter 3,

verse 1 of 1 Peter,

Likewise,

wives,

be subject

to your own husbands.

In 1 Peter 5,

1 Peter 5:5

verse 5,

Likewise,

you who are younger,

be subject

to the elders.

Clothe yourselves,

all of you,

with humility

towards one another,

for God opposes

the proud

but gives grace

to the humble.

Those who are

younger

are to submit

to those

who are the elders.

And I appreciate

how the New King James

translates this.

He says,

Yes,

all of you,

be submissive

to one another.

And be clothed

with humility.

For God resists

the proud

but gives grace

to the humble.

You fit in the category

of all of you

if you are a believer.

You are called

to submit.

And so this is

a universal command

of submission

for every one of us

who belong to Jesus

to submit in some way.

First,

to God

and then to the other

spheres

that God has

painted in our life.

And so

that Paul

commands wives

to be submissive

is a way for God

to demonstrate

his desire

for this portrait

of beauty

of Christ

to shine through.

Women,

you have a high calling.

It is a high calling.

You have been put in place

to set the example

of submission

for the rest of us.

It is a high calling

to submit

to your husbands

so that you can show

the rest of us

what submission

looks like.

To show the rest of us

what faith in God

looks like.

To show us

what it means

to paint this portrait

in faith.

This faith-filled submission

that points

the beauty

of who God is.

And so this gospel

life can shine

through you

and help inform

the rest of us

what it looks like

to trust God

in submission.

And so in this way

a wife's submission

reflects her confidence

in God.

That God is dependable.

That God is trustworthy.

And by the way

as we continue

to look through this

in Ephesians chapter 5

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

it talks about

Ephesians 5.22

it says

Wives,

submit to your own husbands

as to the Lord.

For the husband

is the head of his wife

even as Christ

is the head of the church

his body

and is himself

its savior.

Now as the church

submits to Christ

so also wives

should submit

in everything

to their husbands.

If you belong

to Christ's church

you must submit

yourself to Christ.

And wives

are the ones

who set the example

they set the course

of trust in God

and worship

of him

by painting this picture

this beautiful portrait

of submission

to Christ

and submission

to their husbands.

What I love about this

is Christ

is over the church.

So wives

here's the confidence

that you have.

As you submit

to your husband

you're submitting

to Christ

and Christ

is over

your husband.

And since Christ

is over your husband

you can trust

Christ

to make sure

that whatever

is happening

in your home

that seems

out of sync

that Christ

can put it

back together

and he can help

to set your husband

back in line.

You can trust

your Savior

as you are submitting

to your husband.

So what does

our defiance

say about God?

So we've talked

about submission

but when we

choose

not to submit

what does

our defiance

and not just

defiance of wives

but now generally

our defiance

to the submission

command that God

has given to us.

What does defiance

say about God?

What message

does it communicate?

Well there's several

here and I want

to go through

them quickly.

First our defiance

questions God's

wisdom.

In defiance

we question

the wisdom

of God.

In a sense

we are saying

God's way

is not best

mine is.

I don't trust you.

Whenever I disagree

with you

then obviously

you're wrong

and I'm right.

And in our

submission

our insubordination

we challenge

God's sovereignty.

His right

to declare

what should be.

Every structure

of God's authority

whether it's parents

or marriage

or government

or spiritual leaders

is a delegated

rule that God

has designated

to various

spheres of life

and to resist

the clear commands

of God

is to resist

God's authority.

Saying

I'll obey you

only when I

agree with you.

Now our demand

for rights

diminishes

also God's

grace.

You see

the gospel

is not

entitlement.

And for those

who have

experienced

God's grace

we should then

be conduits

of that grace.

I love how

the apostle Paul

puts it in

Romans 12

Romans 12:1

verse 1

when he says

I beseech you

by the mercies

of God

which is

I beg you

I plead

with you

on behalf

of the mercy

and the grace

that you've

experienced

now something

should be

true of your

life.

What is it?

Well present

your bodies

a living

sacrifice

holy

and acceptable

to God

which is

your reasonable

act of

worship.

Your obedience

to God

your submission

to God

your love

for God

it is

flows

out of the

mercy

that you've

received.

You see

these are not

merely social

issues

these are

theological

issues.

what you

believe

about God

shows up

in the way

you respond

to husbands

and wives

and other

authorities

in your life.

Rebellion

isn't just

behavior

it's belief

on display.

You show

through your

life what

you worship

what matters

to you.

So wives

what does

your response

to authority

say about

your trust

in God?

Do you

see your

loss

of control

as an

act of

worship

and dependence

on him?

Is he

worthy?

Is he

capable

to cover

and to help

when things

seem to be

out of

control?

Wives

you have

a high

calling.

You have

the calling

of putting

Jesus on

display

through

your

submission

and you

can set

the example

for the

rest of

us

what

that

looks

like.

Will

you

live

up

to

your

calling?

Will you

show

Jesus

that he's

worth it?

Submit

like Christ

have faith

filled

submission

that puts

Jesus

on display.

Husbands

we come

to you

next.

We see

this gospel

shaped

love

of husbands

in verse

19

it says

husbands

love your

wives

and do

not be

harsh

with

them.

Of

course

this word

for love

is a

common

word

it's a

familiar

word

to Bible

students

it's the

word

agape

it's the

word that

talks about

this

unconditional

love

this

covenant

love

this

unfailing

love

but really

particularly

this

divine

love

that we

get to

enjoy

because of

the love

of Christ.

What does

this love

look like?

How does

this love

show up?

The apostle

Paul

throughout

this letter

to the

Colossians

has used

this word

a number

of times

and we

get a sense

of what

he means

as we

read through

this epistle

Colossians

1

4

he says

since we

heard of

your faith

in Christ

Jesus

and the

love

that you

have

for all

the saints

I think

we're seeing

here the

selfless

love

we're seeing

this love

that reaches

out

this love

that's

indiscriminate

this love

that affects

all the saints

whoever they

are

the selfless

laying down

kind of love

that's

described

this love

for all

the saints

we also

see a

spirit

empowered

love

Colossians

Colossians 1:8

1

verse 8

says

and has

made

known

to us

your

love

in

the

spirit

the only

way

we can

love

this way

is

by being

empowered

by the

spirit

of God

because

the fruit

of the

spirit

is

love

joy

peace

we

love

because

God

loves

he

first

loved

us

he set

the example

of what

that love

looks like

and he

doesn't

just call

us to

love

he has

enabled

us

to love

he doesn't

just give

us a

command

and he

doesn't

also

give us

the ability

to perform

it's also

a unifying

love

Colossians

Colossians 2:2

chapter 2

verse 2

says

that in

their hearts

or that

their hearts

may be

encouraged

being knit

together

in love

they're joined

they're stitched

together

love

I love

how

the

apostle

Paul

puts

this

in

Ephesians

he says

endeavoring

to keep

the unity

of the

spirit

in the

bond

of peace

this

unifying

spirit

of love

and then

it's also

a harmonious

love

we see

that in

Colossians

Colossians 3:14

chapter 3

verse 14

above all

these

put on

love

which binds

everything

together

in perfect

harmony

this harmonious

peace

pursuing

perfecting

kind of

love

it

makes us

who we're

not on

our own

it's

sanctifying

kind of

love

purifies

us

as we

come to

know

the love

of Christ

and follow

his example

in Ephesians

Ephesians 5:25–27

chapter 5

verses 25

to 27

the apostle

Paul develops

this thought

some more

describes it

for us

he says

husbands

love your

wives

as Christ

loved the

church

and gave

himself

up for

her

here we

see

self

sacrificing

kind

of

love

that

Jesus

spent

himself

to the

end

every

drop

every

ounce

of

blood

and

life

was

poured

out

for the

sake

of the

church

not just

to save

them

but we

see that

his purpose

was also

to sanctify

them

notice

that he

might

sanctify

her

having

himself

excuse me

having

cleansed

her

by the

washing

of the

water

with the

word

so that

he might

present

the

church

to

himself

in

splendor

without

spot

or wrinkle

or any

such thing

that she

might be

holy

and without

blamish

you see

this picture

again

this picture

of this

bride

this picture

of this

church

that's what

Christ

has in

mind

for his

church

that's what

husbands

should have

in mind

for their

brides

for their

wives

beauty

beauty

the beauty

of Christ

in drawing

out her

beauty

so she

looks more

like Jesus

men

do you love

do you love

your wife

like Christ

loved the

church

is your

love

the laying

down

kind of

love

the self

sacrificing

kind of

love

that you

see in

Christ

is your

love

the

beautifying

kind

of love

that you

look for

how you

might make

her

more

beautiful

more

spotless

more

blemish

free

it's not

a love

that tears

down

but a love

that builds

up

it's not

a love

that makes

demands

but delights

to serve

it's not

one that

takes

but a love

that gives

it's not

a love

that wounds

with words

but washes

with the

truth

it's not

a love

that controls

but a love

that cares

it's not

a love

that belittles

but a love

that blesses

or not

a love

that pulls

away

but a love

that draws

near

there's greater

intimacy

it's not

a love

that competes

but a love

that completes

not a love

that protects

his pride

but pursues

peace

it's not

a love

that reflects

the culture

but a love

that reflects

the cross. Do you have a gospel-shaped love? Husbands, what a high calling to continue to

fill out this picture of Christ. Three dimensions that we get to see about Christ, the submission

of wives, which fills out that part of the picture, the love of Christ that fills out that picture in

husbands. And now finally, we see the wholehearted obedience of children that kind of fills out that

picture of Christ, this wholehearted obedience of children and servants from Colossians chapter 3

Colossians 3:20

verses 20 and 24. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Now verse 22, bond servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of

eye service as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Fearing the Lord.

Worship is at the center of this command. In these verses, we come to see this portrait of obedience.

And the apostle Paul now transitions from submission and he moves to obedience. Children,

obey your parents. Servants, obey your parents. Servants, obey your masters in everything, the totality

of this command. This word for to obey is a compound word. It's to listen under. It's the word that carries

the idea of listening that results in action, not just hearing, but hearing with a responsive heart

to follow instructions, to not be mechanical, but to one who is willing and ready to do. It's this

picture of a heart kind of leaning in, interested in, and listening to what is, what they're being told.

In ancient culture, a servant would stand at the edge of the courtyard to listen intently to his

master's voice. If the master called, the master had something to say, instructions to give. He was

there to hear. It reminds me a little about growing up for me in Cedarville. And I was allowed to play in

the neighborhood. I was allowed to wander wherever I wanted. But there was one condition. When my dad

whistled, and he could whistle pretty loudly, when my dad whistled, that meant that I needed to say,

coming, at the top of my voice. And I needed to run as fast as my little legs could carry me

to make sure I was obeying the instruction, the call to come as fast as I could. Now, there were

those couple of occasions I can remember where my dad was with a friend, and he would kind of nudge,

nudge a guy that was his friend next to him and say, hey, watch this. And he would whistle,

and I would come. He's like, oh, hey, good, just checking. It was a good experience.

Experiment to see if obedience was on my heart. But there was never a time where I could have an

excuse to say, well, I didn't hear you. I didn't hear you whistle. I didn't hear you call. Because

that was my responsibility. As one who would respond, I was responsible not only to hear when the whistle

came, but to not to wander so far that I could not hear when it was sent. See, that's what obedience

looks like. Obedience is not waiting to be dragged back to the place where you're supposed to be.

It is staying close enough to hear the voice or the whistle of God. Disobedience doesn't just happen

when we say no. Disobedience happens when we wander so far from God that we cannot hear his voice.

He's calling. He's whistling. We don't respond. Maybe because you're not hearing. Maybe because your

heart is not attentive. Whatever it is, it's not just when you say no. It's when you have wandered so far

you can't hear the call or the whistle of God. Children, you are to obey your parents in everything.

Our obedience is to God first. And he is the object of our concern. Our devotion to him leads to

obedience to our parents. And of course, this obedience models itself after our Savior. We see in

Philippians chapter 2 verse 8. It says, and being found in human form, speaking of Jesus,

Philippians 2:8

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Notice

humility of Christ. Notice obedience of Christ. And of course, we know about the love of Christ. All of

these bound together. It's interesting that Paul tells children to obey parents. And I think this is

really crucial for us to understand. Parents, that's moms and dads. Moms and dads. It helps us to

understand the dignity that is inherent in women, okay? That children obey parents. Moms and dads.

Even when, kids, you think you know better. Even when you think they're wrong. Even when you think

they don't understand. Even when you think their commands are self-serving. Even when you're tired.

Even when you don't feel like they practice what they preach. Obey your parents in everything as to

the Lord. You make God, the gospel, look beautiful through your obedience to your parents. Obey in

everything. Does our obedience resemble our Savior? Is every yes to your parents mimic and resemble the

yes of Jesus to his Father? That's what we should be aiming at. How does our yes to our parents resemble

and mimic the yes of Jesus? Every time. Yes, yes, yes. The yes of Jesus to his Father? Paul transitions

to fathers in verse 21. He says, fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged.

And I'm inclined to think that this is not just, it's not a separate command. It's not stand alone

kind of command. I think that this command goes, it's sandwiched between obedience, the obedience of

children, and obedience of servants to masters. I think that's by design to help us understand this is

not a separate stand alone kind of command, but it's meant to accompany the previous command. So how are

children to be readily and willingly obedient to parents? Well, they do that because parents, and fathers in

particular, are removing whatever obstacles are in the way to provoke, to embitter, to set the

kids on edge. They are doing whatever they can to create this nurturing environment so obedience

comes easy or more easily. Fathers, do you stimulate obedience by the way you treat your children?

You make it easier for them to obey. Do you keep from provoking them? Do you keep from frustrating

them? Do you keep from embittering them? Instead, setting the environment to help stimulate and encourage

and support and to make them want to obey the Lord and to obey you. This word to provoke is to make

resentful. And in the Greco-Roman world, fathers held absolute authority. But God forbids that that kind of

harshness would stir up rebellion and resentment because of a heavy-handed approach. Fathers, don't

provoke your kids by being heavy-handed. But the opposite is also true. We can overcompensate for

being too harsh by being too lax. And that will frustrate your children as well. We find in Scripture

a model of perfect discipline and love from God Himself. Hebrews 12, 5 and 6 says this,

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard lightly the

discipline of the Lord, or be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves

and chastises every son whom He receives. Dads, discipline your children. Do it in love. Help to set the

guidelines, the parameters for how they can enjoy and experience the best that God has to offer them

through their obedience. This past week, I had a chance to invite my kids. Every single week,

we've been working through the study guide together, and there's a section that we put

conversation starters for kids. And this was my turn to listen. As we're working through this passage,

and I'm asking questions. Okay, kids, how do you answer this question? The question was this,

The Bible warns fathers not to discourage their children. What are some ways that dads,

and this particular dad, reassure his kids of his love for them? It was a good opportunity to listen.

It was a good opportunity to interact and to hear. We had conversations about clear communication,

setting realistic expectations, of asking good questions, and providing the answer why. Why is that

so important? Not just staking or stating what you want to happen, but helping to lead, especially your

older children, to understand the whys behind things. Providing loving instruction, serving together,

affirming the things that you see God doing in their life. All of these ways that dads can help

to create this environment where obedience becomes easier. That's the goal. If we want our kids to paint

this portrait of the gospel by obedience to parents, then we help make it as easy as we can.

Slaves, in Colossians 3, verse 22, bond servants obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,

Colossians 3:22

not by way of eye service as people pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, pleasing the Lord, or fearing the Lord.

Paul addresses these bond servants. It's really the word doulos. It's the word slave.

In the New Testament culture. And the Apostle Paul will address these bond servants again in Ephesians

Ephesians 6:5–8

chapter 6, verses 5 to 8. But I want to just draw your attention to the concluding statement back there

in verse 8. It says,

Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord,

whether he is a bond servant or free.

So this isn't, you're not off the hook, just because you're not a slave.

You're free. And so as one who is serving under a master, serving under an employer,

serving under a boss or a manager, you have this responsibility to carry out obedience in this way.

And Paul gives several reasons. But the predominant one here is, first, you are serving the Lord.

Your service is as to Him. Your work is as to Him.

And while your boss may be the immediate individual that you are trying to appease,

really your primary minister, your primary work is to the Lord, to God.

Maybe the objection would be, well, my boss doesn't notice my work.

And God, or the Apostle Paul will say, well, you're not working to be noticed.

You're not working, as he says in Colossians 3.22, not with eye service as people pleasers.

Do your work to the Lord.

And to work heartily as to the Lord and not to men.

Again, the Apostle Paul directs attention to the will of God.

The will of God.

Ephesians 6.6, not with eye service as men pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ,

doing the will of God from the heart.

Do you want to know what God's will is?

This is one of the many instances where it's very clear, crystal clear.

Do your work with all your heart.

Well, what does it mean to do your work with all your heart?

It's to understand that the work that we do is a work to Christ.

It's a work that he will inevitably and ultimately reward.

It's serving with joy, not with duty.

It's giving your full attention, not half-hearted in your labors.

It's bringing energy and excellence and faithfulness to every task.

It's doing your best when no one is watching.

It's recognizing that your work is worship.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for work is also the word for worship.

We'll talk about that a little bit more next year, the beginning of the year.

Your work is a way that you worship God.

God cares about your work because God cares about your worship.

And how we work reflects what we believe about God.

You see, we have this promise.

It's also built in.

1 Corinthians 15, 58 says,

Your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

And that's the promise.

When we're working for the Lord,

our labors will not be expended in vanity.

That the Lord himself will ensure that your labors are spent well.

His purposes are accomplished.

Finally, we see Christ-honoring leadership of masters.

Christ-honoring leadership of masters in Colossians 4, 4, it says this,

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly,

knowing that you also have a master in heaven.

Masters, employers, bosses, you are not off the hook.

Because there's accountability for you by the supreme master, God himself.

And the work that we do is under the accountability,

under the microscope, as it were, of God himself,

who evaluates and who will reward accordingly.

Those who are bosses have masters too.

And so masters are not to use their position to threaten.

They're not to intimidate.

They're not to bully.

They're not to set unrealistic, unreasonable expectations.

Because God will ultimately judge every master.

Peter provides a really helpful picture.

And I'm just going to close with this.

This picture of leadership and accountability

underneath the great leader, God himself,

who does promise to reward.

We see this in 1 Peter 5, verses 1-4.

1 Peter 5:1–4

It says this,

So I exhort the elders among you,

as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,

as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed,

shepherd the flock of God that is among you,

exercising oversight,

not under compulsion, but willingly,

as God would have you,

not for shameful gain, but eagerly,

not domineering over those in your charge,

but being examples to the flock.

And when the chief shepherd appears,

you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

You hear it?

Godly leadership.

Godly kind of accountability.

Understanding that they are under the great shepherd.

Understanding that there is a reward for those who lead well.

What a picture God has offered to us in these verses.

This picture of submission and the gospel of Christ shining through wives.

This picture of love that is shining through husbands

and pointing people to the beauty of Christ.

This picture of obedience.

Gospel picture of kids and teens

who are following after and obeying the directions of their parents.

Spotlighting and drawing attention to the wonder of Christ in his gospel.

For leaders,

we need to ask ourselves the question,

if Jesus evaluated our leadership,

what would he say?

Are we leading with eternity in view

or are we only thinking about the bottom line?

So may our work be worship.

May our labor be love

and may our reward be Christ.

Let's pray.

Oh God, we thank you for your word.

Thank you for the example that you set in Christ.

The example of submission.

The example of love.

The preeminent example of obedience.

God, may that gospel picture shine through our lives.

And may trust in God

and worship of you

lead our heart to do this faithfully.

We pray in Jesus' name.

Amen.

God bless you.

Have a great week.

Amen.