Sunday, October 23rd, 2016
Ephesians 5:22-6:9
The letter written to the saints at Ephesus offers general instruction in the truths of God’s redemptive work in Christ; the unity of the church among diverse peoples; and proper conduct in the church, the home, and the world.
There are three main themes found in Ephesians. The first is that Christ has reconciled all creation to himself and to God. It also explains that Christ has united people from all nations to himself and to one another in his church. Throughout this beautiful letter there is an unmistakable theme that expresses the truth that Christians must live as new people.
As you read and study together, make sure to work hard at hearing from everyone that has gathered together. Pray for one another and be accountable to applying the word of God to your lives.
This section in Ephesians is known as the Household Code. In it, Paul provides instructions for Christians on how to conduct themselves in marriage (5:22-33), parent-child relationships (6:1-4), and master/slave (employer/employee) relationships (6:5-9). In these statements, each role represents the idea model of the Spirit-Filled relationship (5:18-21).
Questions for this week:
- Paul devotes 2 verses to Women and 8 verses to men in 5:22-33. What do you believe is the significance of this?
- What does it mean for a wife to submit to their husband? Verse 23 says that the husband is the head of the wife. What does headship look like in marriage? What is the husbands responsibility to his wife?
- Men, if you are husbands, how does the language of sacrifice (5:25, 28) and love strike you as leadership or authoritative? Could your marriage use more of this type of leadership?
- What is God’s meaning for marriage? How is the relationship between Christ and his church a diagram for how marriage is suppose to be?
- In 5:31, Paul offers an explanation as to why we are members of Christ’s body. It appears in the context that He sees marriage as God’s divine institution to represent Christ’s relationship with the Church. How would your marriage flourish more if you appropriated this view to it?
- In 6:1-4, Paul tells children to obey their parents. Obedience is a crucial aspect of discipleship. Do your kids understand this? How would your relationship change with them if you understood you were the chief person responsible for their discipleship in God’s economy?
- In today’s world, the idea of master/slave would better translate as employer/employee. Do you see your role as one of these two, whichever it may be, acting in congruence with Paul’s statements? If you are an employer, how can you better treat your employees this week? If you are an employee, how can you better model a God-centered attitude towards your work this week?