Ephesians: Week 10 of 11

Authority Handled Right

*Be sure to pray each day before you start. Clear your mind and make sure it's just you and God.

Memory verse: Ephesians 6:7 (NIV) S w, a i y w s t L, n p.

Part 1 

Opening thought: Difficult relationships happen at home, church and the workplace. In this passage Paul addresses the tough relationships and calls on people to do what is right and remember the overall goal of your life as you deal with these tough relationships. Parents to Children and Servants to Earthly Master (Employee to Employer)

Read Ephesians 6:1-9

• Highlight any words or phrases that catch your attention.

• Look up any definitions of words that could clarify a part of the passage.

• Write down any questions that have arisen from reading the passage.

Pray God reveals what you need to hear from this passage throughout the week.

Read Ephesians 6:1-9

Discovering the Word: Answer the following questions. It helps to write down your answer. 

1. What reasons are given for obeying and honoring parents? (v1-3) 

2. What does it mean to exasperate someone? Have you experienced this?

3. What does Paul say to do instead? (v4)

Applying the Word: Answer the following questions. It helps to write down your answer.

1. What are some specific examples that children can honor their parents?

2. What can parents do to follow verse 4?

Pray and thank God for those people in your life who are or acted as your parents. If you have children make a commitment to God to bring them up in the way of the Lord. 

Read Ephesians 6:1-9

Context You Need: In the times that Paul wrote this letter the relationship between slaves and masters was very different from the way our society viewed it. A slave was a bondservant. A bondservant is someone who voluntarily enters into a servant agreement with someone to pay off debt. They would live in the house with their master and pay off their debt over the course of an agreed time period. Though some Masters would take advantage of their slaves it was not the same scenario we think of in early American History.

Discovering the Word: Answer the following questions. It helps to write down your answer. 

1. What is implied in verses 5-8 about how slaves (bondservants) would normally work when their masters were around? What about when they were not around?

2. Slaves were expected to obey and help their masters. Then Paul says masters should treat their slaves in the same way because they both have the same master in Heaven. Why would this thought change the way masters treat their slaves?

Applying the Word: Answer the following questions. It helps to write down your answer.

3. What can we take from verses 5-8 for our own workplace relationships?

4. How does this  passage (v1-9) help us see God's heart for unity? Why is it important for the world to see unity in God’s people?

Pray for your workplace. If you have authority over others, pray for them and commit to treat them with love and respect. If someone has authority over you, commit to work for them as if working for the Lord. 

Part 4

Read Ephesians 6:1-9

Reflecting on God:

Reflect on what a perfect father might be like in this world. Write down the things that come to mind. 

Now think about which of the things that you wrote does God fulfill?

Pray and Give thanks to God for being a perfect father. Spend some time praising him and remembering all he has done.