WINTER QUARTER SUNDAY SCHOOL 2012-2013 –
“THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST’S LORDSHIP REVEALED FROM ROME”
UNIT ONE: EPHESIANS…REVELATION OF CHRIST’S POWER TO THE CHURCH
“THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY…A GREAT EXAMPLE OF GODLY RELATIONSHIPS”
Sunday School Lesson No. V, December 30, 2012
Presented by Rev. Frank Davis, III, Pastor-Teacher
Lesson Text: Ephesians 5:21 – 6:4
Required Reading: Ephesians 5:18 – 6:4
Motto Text: Ephesians 5:21, “Submitting yourselves one to
another in the fear of God.”
Reliable Resources: Precepts for Living (UMI); Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator; Libronix Electronic Library; MacArthur Study Bible; Thomas Nelson Open Bible Notes; Word Search 9 and 10 Electronic Library; Blessings and Behavior of the Believer, (The Book of Ephesians, Vol. 1 and 2) by Dr. David Jeremiah; Notes on the New Testament by Albert Barnes
LESSON INTRODUCTION
We quote directly from the Introduction of the Union Gospel Press Expositor and Illuminator for this week: “Last week we noted that the Apostle Paul told the Ephesian believers that they were to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1). Part of that imitation was to walk in love (vs. 2). He also said they should walk as children of light (vs. 8), exposing the works of darkness that prevail in this world. A little later he told them to walk circumspectly, meaning carefully (vs. 15).
In order to walk in these ways, we must be filled with God’s Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18 Paul commanded this. He also described three evidences of such filling to use to evaluate ourselves as to whether we are indeed filled with the Spirit. The first evidence is given in verse 19, where we are told we will have songs in our hearts when we are filled with the Spirit.
The second evidence is stated in Ephesians 5:20, where we are told we will display gratitude when we are right with God. The third evidence is in verse 21, where we are told that God will enable us to have a submissive spirit.”
This is where I pick up with my Anticipated Power Points for the lesson:
· The Foundation. Ephesians 5:21
· The Fellowship. Ephesians 5:22-33
· The Future. Ephesians 6:1-4
LESSON OUTLINE
“The Christian Family…A Great Example of Godly Relationships”
I. The Foundation. Ephesians 5:21 (God’s Orders Expressed to Husbands and Wives)
In Psalm 11:3, a profound question is asked, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” This is a great question to be answered. At the beginning of anything that is to last and thrive, there must be a sure foundation. And so, as we examine God’s greatest earthly institution, we must focus on the Christian family. This has become a “ground zero” of Satan’s interest. And so Paul well warns us in our lesson this week. He starts by establishing a foundation for success. Note verse 21 of the lesson, “And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (NLT)
No viable institution can survive, let alone thrive, if there is not a sense of respect for authority. Albert Barnes writes concerning submission as “…a solemn injunction that there should be no abuse of power…Christianity does not break up the relations of life, and produce disorder, lawlessness and insubordination; but that it will confirm every proper authority, and make every just yoke lighter.”
Dr. David Jeremiah says: “Everyone who fears (honors, respects, obeys) God will be characterized by a spirit of submission, first to Him, then to others.” Beloved, the foundation of an excellent Christian family relationship is mutual submission of the husband and wife, which will then spill over to the children and even the family dog!
II. The Fellowship. Ephesians 5:22-33 (God’s Orders Explained to Wives and Husbands)
Amos 3:3 states: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” And so Paul gives us God’s elucidation on family fellowship!
A. God’s expectations and explanation to Christian wives. vss. 22-24
1. Proper submission. vs. 22
God expects a wife to be submitted unto her own husband. The teaching on submission is pure here on the marriage relationship. Not women be submitted unto men as is implied by many who are untrained and have ill knowledge. Women are not less than men but co-equal in every way. But for a marriage to work properly, two heads will not work, so the Lord simply declared the Christian wife be in subjection to her own husband! (Read I Corinthians 11:3; I Peter 3:1; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:5). The Word has spoken!
2. Proper solicitudes. vs. 23
Her cares are the direct responsibility of her own husband. As Christ supports the Church, so a Christian husband has but one primary concern…caring for and comforting his wife. (Women, you should be able to look only unto him!)
3. Property Sovereignty. vs. 24
A wife should be able to depend and submit to her husband in everything. The implication is in all that is Godly, as
stated in the text. Her husband’s benevolence is as Christ’s to His Church!
B. God’s expectations and explanation to Christian husbands. vss. 25-33
Love her unconditionally as Christ the Church.
1. Sacrificial love (vs. 25). Willing to do as a secret service agent… “Take a bullet for her!”
2. Sanctifying love (vs. 26). Desiring nothing of her that would cause her to become vulgar, impure or pornographic.
(Read Ezekiel 16:7-14)
3. Sacred love (vs. 27). (1) Shining with glory; (2) Spotless without stain and (3) Seamless without deformity. Husbands
simply bring out the best in their Godly wives. (I Peter 3:7)
4. Sameness (vss. 28-29). What pleases him is what he wants for her, total equality.
5. Specialness (vss. 30-32). The mysteries of a husband’s love are hidden in his heart and revealed as something very
special to his wife! God placed it there from Eden (Genesis 2:20-24).
6. Security (vs. 33) reminds both Christian husband and wife of those things that secure the relationship!
III. The Future. Ephesians 6:1-4
The culmination of our lesson concerning the home extends toward the children. (Read Psalm 127:3-5). The future of a family is in the heritage of its children. The children should respect, obey and honor their parents. And the parents should cherish, train, and send forth the children to bring forth a greater heritage in Christ Jesus
CLOSING
I close with the words of Titus 2:1-8, “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”
Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, LA & Little Bethel Baptist Church, Amite, LA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box 19768, New Orleans, LA 70179
Phone: (504) 486-7876 Website: www.thestudyhour.com
Radio Broadcasts: WLNO AM 1060, Saturday 8:30 a.m.; Sunday 5:30 a.m.
WABL AM 1570 (Hammond-Amite area) Sunday 7:00 a.m.
LOOKING AHEAD: January 6, 2013 Philippians 1:15-26
Pastor Davis invites you to hear him teach the Sunday School lesson at Bibleway on Wednesday at noon.
Please visit our website, www.thestudyhour.com to see and hear Pastor teaching the lesson via Video. Then call a friend and share the blessing.
NOTE: There will be no Noonday Bible Study January 2, 2013. Noonday Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, January 9, 2013.
HAPPY NEW YEAR – MAY GOD BLESS YOU!