Sermon Study Guide

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How to Find Proper Biblical Roles in the #MeToo Era “Colossians:Together for Christ” Colossians 3:18-19

August 5, 2018 BIG IDEA As sexual abuse and harassment are finally coming to light, men and women are scrambling to find biblical roles within the church. This passage will help you gain what you need to find your proper role in the #MeToo era. Then, you will thrive, and the God who created you, for your role, will be glorified.

THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE Context: Paul is writing to a young but spiritually growing church in Colossae. Given the false teaching that surrounded them, Paul has laid out proper doctrine regarding the person of Jesus Christ. Now, in light of that truth, he is dealing with practical Christian living. Today, he begins a short section on proper roles for Christians. Colossians 3:18-19 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. do not be harsh with them.

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Husbands, love your wives, and

MAIN IDEA A wife can submit to the spiritual authority of her husband as he loves her well and creates an environment within which she can thrive.

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DISCUSSION & APPLICATION 1. The Role of the Wife: Submission Defined Colossians 3:18 - Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. The Greek word for submit is hypotassō which is; to place under, to willingly subject oneself, not under compulsion but willingly. There is no getting around what the word means, but there are boundaries that a wife can put in place to help her to thrive.   

In this context (the home—outside of church life) the wife submits to her husband only. She is not called to submit to another man. Submission does not imply lesser. Scripture affirms that she is fully loved by God as an image-bearer of God. Submission is ultimately to the Lord, so she should not violate her conscience in order to please her husband. a. Why do you think that women have such a strong reaction to the word “submit?”

b. Do you agree with what Paul is saying?

c. Can one person submit to another and still be equal before God?

2. The Role of the Husband: Love Defined Colossians 3:19 - Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. The Greek word for love is agapaō which is; to express a willing love, not a love of passion, but a love that is a choice. It is a covenant love. This love should reflect the way Christ loves his church. It is not harsh, but gentle.

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Ephesians 5:25-28: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. a. What does it look like, practically, for a man to love his wife?

b. If a man loves his wife well, how will she react? Will submission be an issue?

3. This Is a Timeless Command and Can Be Done! That the command extends beyond Paul’s day is obvious as seen by two reasons he gave elsewhere: (1) In 1 Timothy 2:13, Paul highlights the order of Creation (man was created first, then woman), and (2) the order that exists within the Godhead (Christ submits to the Father). 1 Corinthians 11:3: But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. The steps we can take that will help us to find our roles within the #MeToo era are:    

Accept the command as truth (2 Peter 1:20-21). Get outside of yourself and trust God. Walk in the power of Christ (John 15:5). Extend plenty of grace to yourself and others. a. If you are married, what are some ways that you can live this command out in your marriage?

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b. If you are not married, what does this command look like as you deal with the opposite sex in your daily life?

c. Can you shine a light by working this out in your life? How and where?

PRAY Lord, help me to honor my spouse. Teach me how to follow this command. I want my marriage to be strong. I want it to honor you and show Christ to others. Teach me your ways, God. Amen.

DIG DEEPER For further study this week:  

Kingdom Marriage: Connecting God's Purpose with Your Pleasure – a book from Dr. Tony Evans (Focus on the Family) Love and Respect Unabridged: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs – a book from Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (Thomas Nelson)

NEXT WEEK’S BIG IDEA Mutual Respect, Love, and Restraint Between Parents and Children (Colossians 3:20-21)

Ridgewood Church www.myrwc.org

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