A Community of Faith

Intro:

Relationship Tension video montage.

clips from Big Fat Greek Wedding, Home Alone and Office Space.

What do they all have in common? Relationships that are in tension.

Marriage, parenting, work.

Likely the top three stressed out set of relationships we have.

None of those handled well which is why it’s a little funny.

But...

The struggle is to live in these relationships in a “Jesus Only” way.

Review:

Colossians 3:12–15 NLT

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Basically, the same as Eph. 5:21 - submit to one another out of reverence for the Lord.

Paul addresses what it means to have a “Jesus Only” lifestyle in the most intimate of settings: Home and work.

He makes it clear that these relationships are based on being “in the Lord.” (or some variant)

Three groups are addressed: Marrieds, Parents, Boss/Workers

When these relationships have Jesus at the center, domination and exploitation are minimized and eventually overturned.

In the Lord: Marriage

In the spirit of “submit to one another,” this is ultimately about respect.

A Message for Wives

Colossians 3:18 NLT

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord.

Cultural expectations.

Note, “submit” not “obey.”

Not an uncritical obedience.

Different words, different emphasis.

Submit is voluntary cooperation.

Reference back to Gen. 2: Side by side. Gender equality, mutuality was the pre-Fall order of things.

So, ultimately, Jesus defines what submission looks like.

A Message for Husbands

Colossians 3:19 NLT

19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

Husband get a strong message. Love.

Ephesians 5:25–26 NLT

25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.

Being loved in this way would make voluntary cooperation pretty simple, wouldn’t it?

Harsh - Embittering, making her a servant or slave.

GUT CHECK:

How are we doing in mutually submitting to one another? In voluntarily cooperating? In loving sacrificially?

Implications: Marry the right person, help your kids marry the right person.

Become the right person.

In the Lord: Parenting

A Message for Children

Colossians 3:20 NLT

20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.

A direct message to kids. Rather unusual.

Exodus 20:12 NLT

12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Again, the intent is to reflect Christ in our relationships.

John 8:29 NLT

29 And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”

A Message for Parents

Colossians 3:21 NLT

21 Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.

Aggravate - Nitpick, nag, make resentful.

Discouraged - give up because you can’t get anything right.

GUT CHECK:

In the Lord: Work

When We Work

Colossians 3:22–25 NLT

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

Sincerely - “singleness of heart, or, motive.”

What’s the motive behind our work?

Key: “as though working for the Lord.”

When We Lead

Colossians 4:1 NLT

1 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.

Be just and fair as a leader.

GUT CHECK:

Conclusion:

Grandmother at Golden wedding anniversary. Secret of long happy life:

On wedding day, decided to choose ten of my husband’s faults which, for the sake of the marriage, I would overlook.

Asked to name some of them.

Never got around to making a list. Whenever husband did something that made her mad, she would say to herself, “Lucky for him, that’s one of the ten.”