July 7, 2024
Series: Ephesians
Teacher: Mike Laughrun
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Ephesians 6:5-9
Big Truth:
Jesus followers walk as imitators of Him in service
(5) Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, (6) not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (7) rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (8) knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
Ephesians 6:5-8
Big Idea:
Workers imitate Christ by obeying their earthly masters as unto the Lord.
What does the Bible say about work?
Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.
Genesis 2:15
In all labor there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.
Proverbs 14:23
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Ephesians 4:28
What are workers to do?
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,
Ephesians 6:5
What is the attitude of workers to be?
(5) Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, (6) not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (7) rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,
Ephesians 6:5-7
- Work respectfully- with fear and trembling…(v.5)
- Work sincerely- with a sincere heart, as you would Christ…(v.5)
- Work diligently- not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ…(v. 6)
- Work willingly- doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man…(6-7)
Who is the worker’s ultimate master?
(6) not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, (7) rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, (8) knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.
Ephesians 6:6-8
(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.
Colossians 3:23-24
Why does it matter?
(1) Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. (2) Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
1 Timothy 6:1-2
(9) Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, (10) not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Titus 2:9-10
(18) Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. (19) For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. (20) For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. (21) For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 2:18-21
Big Idea:
Earthly masters imitate Christ by honoring workers as unto the Lord.
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Ephesians 6:9
What are masters to do?
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening….
Ephesians 6:9
What is the attitude of masters to be?
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Ephesians 6:9
- Employ respectfully- with fear and trembling…(v.5)
- Employ sincerely- with a sincere heart, as you would Christ…(v.5)
- Employ diligently- not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ…(v. 6)
- Employ willingly- doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man…(6-7)
Who is the master’s ultimate master?
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Ephesians 6:9
Jesus followers are called to walk in sacrificial love as imitators of Christ who loved us and gave himself up for us. This should reframe all of our relationships: in marriage, in family, and in the workplace.
Walk in sacrificial love, forgiving one another and yielding your will to build up others as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1-2).
Walk in sacrificial love to build up those you work with into Christlikeness.
Feel the weight and privilege of pursuing faithfulness to walk in love within your relationships with others.
Long to walk according to your calling. Be imitators of God. Seek to walk in love as Christ loved you.
Desire to build up those around you to become more like Jesus.