Colossians 3:20-4:1

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 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. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Paul begins giving practical instructions for Christian Households. If we all, personally, have been given a new identity in Christ, then it would make sense that our communities, especially our families would begin to look different

Parenting throughout Scriptu

Why would we look different, b/c we have this new idenitity given to us in Christ, and we, have a new perspective, not only of ourselves, but of everyone around us, and that is: Christ is all, and in all

Colossians 3:

Colossians 3:11 ESV

11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Last week, in discussing vs. 18-19, we looked at the relationship between husbands and wives and how being the bands and feet of Christ toward our spouse shapes our marriage.

2 Sections to this message: Parenting &

Last week, in discussing vs. 18-19, we looked at the relationship between husbands and wives.

This week we’ll divide this teaching time into 2 Sections: Parenting & Professional relationships

Colossians 3:

Colossians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Parenting throughout Scripture

If you grew up in the church, take a moment and think: what does the OT teach regarding parenting?

teach, instruct, keep

Deutonomy

Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV

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.

Deut. 11

Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV

19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

The writers of Proverbs repeats over and over the phrase, “My son” leading us to believe this entire book was instruction to pass along.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Clearly there was instruction in the OT about parenting...

Parenting throughout scripture

Clearly there was instruction in the OT about parenting...

2nd question.. who were the best parents in the Old Testament?

Adam and Eve - Their oldest son murdered their 2nd child

Abraham - sent his oldest son off into exile, and tried to kill his Isaac

Jacob/Israel - clearly had a favorite, who’s brothers sold off into slavery

The High Priest Eli - his sons were so terrible, Samuel’s 1st prophesy was that the household/lineage of Eli would end in disaster.

David, man after God’s heart - One of his sons raped one of his daughters, starting a civil war in the nation of Israel

the OT had instructions for Parents/Households...

WHAT HAPPENED?!?!?!

same as what happened to God’s instructions on Marriage…

God, through the prophets and through scripture gave instruction on how we should navigate this relationship and for the most part, God’s people failed.

It’s not like God looked back at His people and said, “You know, maybe when we start this new testament thing, we should add some language in there about parenting/children...”

Jesus affirms the significance of children

Jesus highlights the importance of children in the kingdom of God -

He tells the disciples to let the children come to Him

If Colossians has taught us anything it’s that all people are people, created in the image of God, for God’s glory

Walking the line of Authority and Love

- you are

As a parent,

You are the highest authority, other than God your child will ever know.

You are the closest representation of God, your kids will ever have.

You walk this tension of Authority and Grace

IT’s HARD - That why I’m giving you 5 principals to ensure your kids are great!!!! - Just kidding

It’s not Math it’s music. Parenting, like all relationships is like music.

You have to do the hard work of relationship, to keep a spiritual temperature on where your kids are emotionally, mentally and physically.

Children - Obey your parents.

It’s hard.

Adults - honor your parents ()

I know for some of you this is even harder

One of the most amazing things about the parent/child relationship is that it allows us to glimpse what it will be like when we get to heaven.

If we get the opportunity to really get to know our parents in adulthood

Colossians

Colossians 3:22–4:1 ESV

22 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. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Depending on your translation this may say “slaves” instead of ”bondservants” and thats ok. That’s an equally good translation.

Misuse/Abuse of Scripture

This passage is not an endorsement or justification of Slavery

Paul’s intention in Goal and purpose in life was to know Jesus, is aim in ministry was to point people to Jesus. Everything else was secondary. (Know Jesus, make him known).

Everybody can know Jesus where they are ()

Paul was instructing Christians on how to know Jesus and make him known where they were at in life. You can know. So this passage is saying if you’ve experienced the Gospel. If you’ve been gifted new life. This is how you can start living out this new life right where you are… even if where you are happens to be enslaved or in chains (like Paul was as a prisoner.

Changing societal norms were on the back burner for Paul, his greatest concern was knowing Jesus and making Him known.

This is not a passage about how a society should function, It’s about how to function in the society you find yourself in.

Slavery - 1st Century vs. American Slave Trade

Slavery in the 1st Century vs. Slavery in the Americas

Hebrew vs. Roman

Hebrew Slavery (Bondservants)

A Hebrew slave shall serve you for 6 years, on the 7th he shall go Free. When he is set free, do not let him leave empty handed. Furnish him with...

A person usually sold himself or a family member over into servitude to pay off debts. It was a set period of time (6 years) and everyone was set free on the year of jubilee (every 50 years)

Roman Slavery was not near as humane, but still differed from modern day slavery.

Still offered slaves a way to purchase freedom

Slaves had some legal rights, including rights to file complaints against their masters.

All that to say that Colossians (or any scripture) was never written in support of or should have every been used in support of modern day Slavery.

We can still learn from this passage...

much like the Hebrew system of slavery, we voluntarily work for other people so that our debts can be paid.

we’re not all independently wealthy land owners in business for ourselves.

I’m not equating how we earn a living with Hebrew slavery, but I am saying there are some principals we can learn from these instructions and apply them to our work lives.

Just as the Hebrew system of slavery seems so foreign to us, our system of employment and wages would seem bizarre and alien to the ancient world.

Employees

3:22 - Obey. By nature of employment you’ve already agreed to follow someone else, now do it. If this is a challenge for you, if it’s hard for you to obey your boss, ask why. Is this a problem you have wit authority? Is it a character issue with your employer?

3:22 - Be sincere. Don’t take shortcuts. Don’t smile on the surface, then undermine your employers instruction. Do the work you’ve agreed to do in a way that pleases your employer.

3:23 - Do your best “…as for the Lord, not Men” - Christ is all, and in All

As for the Lord, not Men - Christ is all, and in All

3:24-25 - You will be held accountable -

Employers

3:24-25 - You will be held accountable -

4:1 - You are an under-shepherd

Proverbs 3:27 ESV

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

You are an under-shepherd to the Great Shepherd

This is a phrase used a lot these days in pastoral circles.

It’s no small responsibility to have any charge over another persons life or wages.

take it seriously. do not abuse the responsibility you’ve been given.

Imago Dei

Christ is all, and in all

When you see the face of your child, you’re looking into the eyes of an image bearer of God

You’re children are not servants or slaves, they are people

The people you work for and work under you are created to display the Glory of God

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