January 24, 2008

• COLOSSIANS SERIES [#12]

  you can listen to the audio here --> http://audio.xanga.com/Eek_71/871511808863/audio.html

  The Christ Centered Home
  [ The Surpassing Supremacy of Jesus Christ #12 ]
  Colossians 3:18 - 4:1

  INTRO:
    • When Gods people truly consider and live in the light of the supremacy of Jesus Christ what does it look like in the home?  in the family?  in your workplace?
    • the major social problem facing society is the inability of people to get along... When a person becomes a Christian the new pattern for relationships becomes Christ... and everything changes as our world begins to revolve around Him (instead of ourselves or something else).
    • Christians are to have relationships that affect society... The early Christians insisted on bringing all of life under the lordship of Christ..

  1.  WIVES follow Gods order  through SUBMISSION    (vs 18)
    • compare Eph 5:22-24
    • "be submissive to" = to willingly place yourself under the authority of another
          >  example: submission to authority in the military
          >  the Trinity is equal... but the Spirit submits to Jesus, and Jesus submits to the Father
          >   wives are to place themselves under the authority and protection and care of their husband
    • IF this verse is culturally outdated... Is the command of vs 19 for husbands to love their wives also culturally outdated???
    • some misconceptions about submission
          >  does not in any way imply inferiority.
          >  does not mean all men, but to YOUR own husband
          >  submission is not absolute

  2.  HUSBANDS follow Gods order through LOVE    (vs 19)
    • compare Eph 5:25
    • Obviously, in spite of the failings of the church, Christ has continually loved her with grace and forgiving mercy and thus has never become bitter because of the church's many sins (Eph 5:25)
    • God designed that a wife's submission operate within a context of love. In that way she is protected because a man who truly loves his wife would never force her to submit to something humiliating, degrading, or that violates her conscience. The godly husband loves his wife like Christ loves the church (see also 1 Cor 7:33-34)
    • "don't become bitter" = embittered... a word picture... don't your wife "honey", and then act like vinegar
    • love your wife... ONE women for life... how?
          >  spend time with her
          >  listen to her
          >  pray with her (spiritual oneness is essential)
          >  talk to her (reveal yourself)
          >  lead her  (set the example).

  3.  CHILDREN follow Gods order through OBEDIENCE    (vs 20)
    • compare Eph 6:1
    • Disobedience to parents marks the UNGODLY (2 Tim 3:2; Rom 1:30� see also Exo 20:12)
    • see Prov 30:17  (consider this when you roll your eyes at your parents)
    • the three  rules of  obedience
          >  do what your told
          >  do it immediately
          >  do it with a good attitude
    • what tools do the parents have to help them be obedient
          >  the rod (Prob 13:24, only for rebellion, never for mistakes, mever in anger, always explain, spank, then restore)
          >  reproof
          >  removal of freedom
          >  responsibility
    • "this is pleasing in the Lord" = The motive for obedience

  4.  PARENTS follow Gods order through BALANCE    (vs 21)
    • compare Eph 6:4
    • Parents can take the heart out of their children by failing to discipline them lovingly and instruct them in the ways of the Lord with BALANCE... EXCESS is what breaks a child's spirit.  Some examples of imbalance...
          >  overprotection
          >  favoritism
          >  failure to listen (lack of appreciation)
          >  unrealistic goals
          >  failure to show affection
          >  failure to provide for their needs (privacy, a place to play, clean clothes, a place to study, their own possessions, and good meals)
          >  lack of standards (failure to discipline)
          >  unhelpful criticism
          >  neglect
          >  excessive discipline

  5.  WORKERS follow Gods order through EXCELLENCE    (vs 22-25)
    • Christian servants are to please the Lord by working with sincerity of heart, and reverence for the Lord. Holding God and His will in high regard is the RIGHT MOTIVE. They are to put their whole inner man into the effort (heartily) and serve their boss as they would the Lord Himself.

  6.  BOSSES follow Gods order through JUSTICE    (4:1)
    • On the other side of the relationship, bosses are to treat their workers with the justice and fairness they expect to receive from their Master in heaven... They should treat their employees like they desire the Lord Jesus to treat them.
    • REMINDER, just as in vs 11, servants and masters are spiritually EQUAL in Christ. Bosses must accordingly treat their Christian workers as brothers in Christ, enacting toward them all the virtues required for holy fellowship.

  CONCLUSION
    • If all Christians displayed the characteristics of relationships as embodied in the principles of this text, the results would be dramatic. Believers would indeed become lights shining in the darkness.
    • Fulfill your role... Do what Gods has told you to do!...
    • Where is God convicting you?... Wives... husbands... Children... Parents... Workers... Bosses...

  • 10:19 am
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