|
This week you will study one of the keys to the
Christian life. It is totally opposed to worldly wisdom, but it is
something we see perfectly in Jesus and
he wants to see it in us. It is the principle of
submission.
|
1. |
Already
you have studied passages that tell you who really has all the
authority today. It is Jesus Christ, but God has set up certain
orders in
society. These (1) maintain order and (2) teach us to
be submissive and obedient in spirit so we can ultimately and
basically submit to and obey
Jesus Christ.
|
|
2. |
To
follow Jesus Christ one must have an obedient spirit. One must be
willing to submit to another's authority. Read I
Peter 1:2 and I Peter 1:14.
What kind of children does God want?
|
|
3. |
Read
Ephesians 2:1-2 to determine what kind of spirit God is opposed to.
|
|
4. |
Look
at Hebrews 5:7-9 for an important statement about Jesus Christ who
is
our example in all attitudes. What did he learn? How
was it learned? What
does God want us to learn? How will it be learned?
|
|
1. |
Return
to I Peter where yesterday we learned that god wants obedient
children. Now look at 2:11-17.
|
|
2. |
Our
old self with its sinful desires (described in verses 11) does not
want to obey. It wants to do things "my own way." It doesn't like to
be told what to
do. That's why Jesus says "deny yourself." It is not
willing to cooperate
with God's plan.
|
|
3. |
Notice
in verses 13 why you submit to every authority.
|
|
4. |
List all the authorities that you can think of that are in your life,
meaning all
the people that are in some role where they can tell
you what to do or
strongly expect you to do what they ask. What is your
attitude toward these
authorities?
|
|
1. |
The
question is often asked, "Do I have to submit to these authorities
in my
life even when they are wrong? What do you think
the mind of Christ
would say here?
|
|
2. |
Continue
the passage you started yesterday. Read 1 Peter 2:18-23. What
does it contribute to the question raised above?
|
|
3. |
What
we are being told here and in Ephesians 5-6 and Colossians 3 is that
we should have a submissive and obedient attitude at all times. We
should
be ready to obey those God has put over us. However,
there will come
times when we cannot obey. See Acts 4:18-20 for a
clear example. Study this
carefully. When a command of some man or woman
constitutes a clear
violation of Scripture, then we cannot obey that
person; but we should not then take on a rebellious attitude. We
should lovingly and with respect for
their authority decline to submit in that area (but
not in all others).
|
|
1. |
In the Body of Christ God has placed
certain men over you. First there are the elders and overseers in the
body and then those who have been given special authority by the elders.
Look at what Hebrews 13:17 says about your responsibility to these men.
|
|
2. |
Do you know the names of the elders and other leaders that
are working in special ways to lead and guide you. How can
you specifically make their work a joy and not a burden?
|
|
3. |
Does this passage say we have
to agree with everything a leader does before we can submit
to him and obey him?
|
|
4. |
Make sure your relationships with all your leaders are good ones. If
there is
an anger or resentment or hurt in you toward any one
of them, don't put off
sitting down with that leader and opening up your heart. If you see
others in the body developing rebellious and disobedient attitudes, go to them
and
encourage them to deal with that.
|
|
1. |
Go
to Ephesians 5:21 and start reading, and go through chapter 6:4.
Regardless of who you are most likely in some kind of family
relationship. In these relationships you can show the love of God...
the kind of love that is willing
to lay down its life for others in the family.
|
|
2. |
If
your spouse, parents, or children have not been seeing in you the
things described in Ephesians 5
and 6, then a confession to them could open up
many new
possibilities in your ministry to them.
|
|
3. |
Remember,
your ultimate concern is that your family members come to
know the living God through your life in a deeper and
deeper way.
|
|
1. |
Turn to and read Romans 13.
|
|
2. |
List as many clear teachings in this passage as you can find.
|
|
3. |
Is there anything wrong with
a bitter, complaining attitude about the government one
lives under?
|
|
4. |
Again, when must a Christian say "no" to government?
In what way
should he say "no?"
|
|
1. |
One
of the great texts in the New Testament is Philippians 2:1-11. Read
this
carefully, looking for the deeper teaching about the power of
submission.
|
|
2. |
In
what ways can you "empty yourself?" (This is literally the word
translated
in some versions: "made himself to be nothing").
|
|
3. |
In
what ways (specific) can you this week take the form of a servant to
your
brothers and to those who are lost?
|
|
4. |
What happens to those who submit? What does God do?
|
Back
|
