Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light… Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another… singing… giving thanks… submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:1-21 (ESV)

Ephesians 5:21–6:9 (NLT)

²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.

²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰ And we are members of his body.

³¹ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” ³² This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

^6:1 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. ² “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: ³ If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”

⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. ⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

⁹ Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

1. All submit to Jesus as Lord.

out of reverence for Christ.

Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:21-23

2. All submit to one another because Jesus is Lord.

submit to one another

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Colossians 3:11 (NLT)

3. All submit to one another to bear witness to freedom and unity.

This is a great mystery, the way Christ and the church are one…. and he has no favorites.

Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance and he makes everything work out according to his plan. Ephesians 1:11 (NLT)

This is a story of restored relationships, a love story that calls forth an alternative community characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, gratitude and wisdom. This is a story of creational restoration, a renewal to full humanness, in the image of the Creator. This is a community shaped as a countercultural force through the subversive worship of a subversive Lord. –Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire, Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat (IVP)

Next Steps: In your time alone with God this week practice the rhythm of “reflect and write” with your journal as you read Ephesians 5:1-6:9.

Day 1: Beloved Children. What does it mean to be childlike in your imitation of God? “God, thank you that I am your beloved child…”

Day 2: Walk in love as Christ loved us. How have we experienced God’s sacrificial and unconditional love through Christ? “God, help me love _____________ with your love…”

Day 3: Be filled with the Spirit. What difference does the Spirit make in your thoughts, actions, attitudes, feelings? “Holy Spirit’s fill me, use me, lead me…”

Day 4: Submit to one another. How can I submit by loving those in my household—immediate family or friends, co-workers? “God, bless ______________ through me this week…”

Day 5: Reverence for Christ. What part of my life do I need to declare my allegiance to Jesus as Lord above all else? “Jesus, help us demonstrate your kingdom as we love each other, our neighbors, and the world…”

As needed, refer to the Order of Worship and Resources at solanabeach.church for sermon video, message outline, and small group questions print version.

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER 

Where has gratitude welled up for you this week? If you’re struggling to connect to gratitude this week then say that. It’s okay to answer the question differently!

CONNECT WITH GOD  

Use one of the below practices or choose a practice from a previous week.

• Offering and Worship

Read: “We offer all we are in response to all that God has revealed himself to be. In joy, hope and sacrifice, we lay down our lives and our gifts, acknowledging the claim of God on our lives. In freedom, without divine coercion, we place our gifts–that is to say, everything– in God’s hands. In season and out of season, in times of ease and times of difficulty, we worship by making our offering.” -Mark Labberton, The Dangerous Act of Worship

Reflect in writing or in prayerful contemplation: What does this quote stir in you? In our world today, what is it like for you to remember that everything (including your whole self) belongs to God?

• Weekly Examen

Spend time in quiet reflection and journaling, following the guide below. 

• Take a quiet moment, seek our God’s presence, and pray for the guidance of the Spirit. 
• Consider the past week-recall specific moments and feelings that stand out to you. 
• Choose one moment or feeling for deeper examination, thanksgiving, or repentance. 
• Breathe deeply and expectantly. Invite Christ’s love to surround and fill you in preparation for the week ahead.
• End with the Lord’s Prayer. 

CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER 

• Together: Pray: Before digging into the scripture and message. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate and enlighten scripture, and to speak to each one of you through the passage.
• Together: Read Ephesians 5:21–6:9
• Alone: Read Ephesians 5:21–6:9. Allow for a few minutes of quiet reflection and response. Then, consider the prompt below. 
• Describe your ideal marriage, work relationship, family, or any interdependent relationship.
• How does this passage meet those expectations or fall short? 
• Together: In pairs or as a whole group, share with one another your reflections from the prompt above. Be gentle and respectful with one another. 

CONNECT WITH SCRIPTURE 

Select the best questions or customize the questions for your group. 

• Review the main points from the sermon outline. 
• What comes to mind when you think about the word “submission?”
• Read Ephesians 5:15-20. How does reading the prior passage help you to understand the passage this week? 
• How would you summarize Paul’s main message in Ephesians 5:21-6:9? 
• What does it look like to live by the Spirit in the household of God?
• How might it look to apply mutual submission to our relationships today? 

Read the other passages in the message outline. How do they connect to Ephesians 5:21-6:9? 

• What questions or challenges remain about this passage? 

ENGAGE AND EXPLORE 

Together: Reflect on the below quote from the message outline. 

“This is a story of restored relationships, a love story that calls forth an alternative community characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, gratitude and wisdom. This is a story of creational restoration, a renewal to full humanness, in the image of the Creator. This is a community shaped as a countercultural force through the subversive worship of a subversive Lord.” –Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire, Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat

PRAYER 

Pray together Psalm 23. Pray that each person receives it as a holy reminder of God’s faithfulness and care.