Christian Relationships Ephesians 5:20-6:9
Christian Relationships True Christianity Positively Affects Our RelationshipsTrue Christianity Positively Affects Our Relationships
Three Possible Approaches To The Text What does the passage say? Why does it say it? Why doesn’t it say something different?
Three Approaches To The Teachings Reject the Bible. Accept and implement the teaching. Rationalize or explain the teaching away.
Guiding Principle: Submit to One Another Out of Reverence For Christ
Yield to Oncoming Traffic
Categories Wives to Husbands Husbands to Wives Fathers to Children Children to Parents Slaves to Masters (Employees to Employers) Masters to Slaves (Employers to Employees
Wives Verb: Submit Analogy: Husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.
Husbands Verb: Love Analogy: Love your wife as Christ loved the church.
Fathers Verb: Do Not Provoke Verb: Bring Up
Children Verb: Obey Reasoning: The first commandment with promise.
Slaves Verb: Obey Reasoning: As you would obey Christ
Masters Verb: Treat them by the same principles. Verb: Do not threaten them. Reasoning: You have a master in heaven.
Authority and Power Exist!
Authority is No Excuse for Abuse Discipline is not to provoke but to instruct.
Christian Authority Implies Love & Self-Sacrifice
Christianity Eradicates and Regulates Abuse
Service is to the Lord and Not to Men
Treat others as you would like to be treated if you were in their place!
Christianity Affects Our Relationships!
How Have You Been Treating Others?
Christ Died for the Church— Are You a Part of the Body of Christ?