Colossians: It's All About Jesus Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)

I keep meeting…

She's bitter He's clueless Or just wants me to fix her

Opposite end… She publicly laughs at him And he's given up

Job- boss is a jerk Because of position Or…no one respect him/her Regardless of how they act

Affects: Parents and kids Teachers in schools Every level of society

Authority What we hear: "I have the power to tell you What to do"

Christians: "We'll tell them how they better act or else!"

Biblical Authority: You still have free will But I'd like to serve you According to what is in your Best interests

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples...” - Matt. 28:19-20

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant…

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant… The point of position is not Being served, but serving

…and whoever would be first among you must be your slave…

…even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” - Matt. 20:25-28

Only when I see position As a gift from God to serve The people around me Am I acting according to The Jesus I claim to follow

Colossians: Jesus has authority This is what it means to us: Freedom from: their pressure Responsibility to: put others first Power for: living it out

…he is the head of the body, the church- 1:18 Christ…the head of all rule and authority- 2:10

…puffed up without reason… and not holding fast to the Head - 2:18-19

Seek the things that are above Set your minds on things that are above

Jesus is the authority He is the head of the church We are set free by submitting Ourselves to his headship Individually and in Community

Put away…malice, slander and obscene talk…do not lie to one another… Put on…kindness…patience.. bearing with…forgiving…

Only when I see position As a gift from God to serve The people around me Am I acting according to The Jesus I claim to follow

Jesus doesn't force us There is no coercion No pressure or threats No passing judgment Just "trust me and follow"

Individual Authority is always The opportunity to serve By meeting needs And pointing toward Jesus

Tied to Stewardship: To do what God would do If he were walking the earth Right this moment

God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over…"

Headship: Authority to serve With responsibility to safeguard Who does God call in the garden?

How that authority is worked out in specific relationships

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them

Only when I see position As a gift from God to serve The people around me Am I acting according to The Jesus I claim to follow

Husband: Headship …the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church - Eph. 5:22

Husband: Headship … the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God- 1 Cor. 11:3

And yet… Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all - Colossians 3:11

Mutual submission Absolute Equality Servant Authority and Headship

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord Recognize that God has given Him responsibility to serve Don't tell him how, but let him

Hypotasso: To yield, defer out of respect, authority, affection Christian: to yield oneself

The moment he forces Cajoles, manipulates Threatens It is no longer biblical submission Requires no response from you

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Eph. 5:21

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord

Fitting: Good, right, owed …in the Lord

Out of reverence for Christ Same thing here! Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Eph. 5:21

His greatest need: respect If he's not acting right You could try threatening him Yelling at him… Instead, show respect

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them

Love- genuinely want her best Take pleasure in and want What is good and right for her Based on God's design for her Not your desire

…as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her… so that he might present the church to himself in splendor - Ephesians 5

As Jesus seeks to love his bride well, he is blessing himself Husbands…

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them

Guard your heart so that You don't become bitter And act out of bitterness

Individual Authority is always And only the opportunity To serve by meeting needs And pointing toward Jesus

But she won't… She doesn't… I just can't… Jesus suffers & dies on the cross But sorry about the concert, bro

Headship: Responsible For what comes into the home For how you handle What God gives you

For the relationship To point the family toward Jesus

Don't quote this back to him On the way home It won't go well… Pray, love, respect

Only when I see position As a gift from God to serve The people around me Am I acting according to The Jesus I claim to follow

How I handle authority Says everything about my Understanding of The Faith How I submit tells you How I view Christ's Lordship

…treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers - 1 Peter 3:7

If she's not acting right You could try threatening Or getting angry/bitter Instead, serve her well Put her first

She needs love To know that he puts her first He needs respect Her opinion matters most

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord

Be under authority - It teaches respect for position - It honors God - It ends when marriage begins (leave and cleave)

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged Don't "lord it over them" Or break their spirits

If God the Father both Speaks truth yet gives grace…

Headship and Authority Husbands Wives Children

Bondservants, 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

My response to Leadership Is as important as my Servant Leadership Unless I'm willing to follow I'm not fit to lead

Key… …fearing the Lord Not when they are watching No brown-nosing But with a sincere heart

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward

You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality

Do I believe I can take God At his Word? Is he trustworthy? Serve Jesus in all things…

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven - Col. 3:18-4:1

I will never know God's goodness until I take specific steps of obedience By faith

Do I seek her best And put her first? Am I engaged and responsible For how we raise the family? Do I respect his position?

Questions, Comments Disagreements

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