Ephesians 6:1-4; I Am A Family Member

Sermon in a sentence: I will be a family member.

Natural Family

God ordained the biological family as the first institution.

The church does not replace the role of the parents.

Paul’s letter addresses the entire natural family, and their respective roles. (5:22-6:9).

Husbands

Love your wives like Christ loves us. We lay our lives down for her in the big and little things.

Wives

Respect, love, honor, and submit to your husband.

Paul tells us that God can use our witness to even save unbelieving spouses. (1 Cor 7:16)

Parents

Instruct and discipline your children in the Lord.

Do not treat children as hinderance but an inheritance.

Benjamin Merkle

Ephesians–Philemon Comment

Paul seems to be addressing children who are still in the process of being trained by their parents (v. 4) yet are old enough to understand their relationship to the Lord (v. 1). Children were not usually addressed in Greco-Roman household codes (their obedience was simply assumed), but Paul addresses children as responsible members of the congregation. This also suggests that Paul assumes whole families will be gathered in one place for worship.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Proverbs 1:8–9 ESV

8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

Children

Honor your parents, despite your age.

Obey and submit to the Lord.

Spiritual Family

Our church will be a healthier spiritual family when we have healthy natural families.

Our church family should treat each other as the family of God. (1 Timothy 5:1-16)

1 Timothy 5:1–3 ESV

1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. 3 Honor widows who are truly widows.

Members

Fathers and Mothers - Do you have friends that can give you company and guidance? NLM 43% of 60+ fell lonely

Do you have anyone you are mentoring?

I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference The Fifth Pledge

The Fifth Pledge

I am a church member.

I will lead my family to be good members of this church as well. We will pray together for our church. We will worship together in our church. We will serve together in our church. And we will ask Christ to help us fall deeper in love with this church because He gave His life for her.