QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• What are some reasons why Paul did not condemn slavery outright nor encourage bondservants to revolt? How might the form of slavery that was practiced in this country not long ago affect our understansding of the slavery that existed in the first century Roman world?
• What can we learn from Paul’s instructions to Christian bondservants?
• What can we learn from Paul’s instructions to Christian masters?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Why did Paul address Fathers specifically? Did he not think that mothers have a role to play in the raising of children? 
• Is a child’s anger always the parents fault? Should parents avoid angering their child always and at all costs (i.e., not asking them to take out the trash out of fear that it might anger the child)? What then is Paul forbidding when he says do not provoke to anger? What are some ways that a father (or mother) might unjustly provoke their children to anger?
• What does the phrase “bring them up” mean? What does it mean to discipline? What does it mean to instruct in the Lord?
• In a sense, parents are to honor and respect their children. Discuss.
• What is the common denominator that binds all of Paul’s teaching concerning these relationships in the home which  involve authority and submission together?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus he addressed children directly. Discuss the implications of this as it pertains to church life. How should we view our children? How should we treat them as we raise them in the Lord?
• When children are to taught to honor their father and mother, what effect does this have on them as it pertains to their relationship with other authority figures within the church and state? 
• How do we know know what is right and wrong? Does a non-believer who does not have access to the scripture have access to God’s moral law? If so, where is found?
• How might we appeal to those outside the church to build strong families? If they will not listen to the scriptures, is there any other way for us to appeal to them? How much of a concern should cultural transformation be to us when compared with our concern for the furtherance of God’s kingdom on earth?
• What can Christian parents do to teach their children to honor authority?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• What is the simple command that Paul issues to husbands?
• How is a husband to love his wife? What should it look like? What should his manner be?
• How does the Apostle reason with the husband in order to motivate him to love his wife?
• What should the husband’s primary motivation be to love his wife?
• What are some practical and specific ways a  husband can love his wife?
• How might this teaching apply to anyone who is in a position of authority over others?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Why is it important to remember the command concerning  mutual submission in 5:21 as we move into the section of Paul’s letter dealing with particular submission (and authority) within the home (5:22-6:9)?
• What does it mean for a wife to “submit” to her husband?  Will submission look the same, practically speaking, in every home? Discuss. 
• Are there limits to a wife’s submission? In other words, is there ever a time when it is right for a wife to go against her husband’s wishes? Is it ever permissible for a wife to divorce her husband? If so, under what circumstances? 
• What is the primary motivation for a wife to submit to her husband?
• Though the particular roles of husband and wife differ, what do they share in common? In other words, what is the common denominator shared between the wife’s call to submission and the husband’s call to headship? 
• Although this sermon was directed at wives, how might these same principles apply to all Christains?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• What is wisdom? Can sin ever be wise? Is it possible to not commit sin and yet be not wise? How is wisdom gained?
• What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?
• How will a person who is filled with the Spirit show it within the Christain congregation?
• Why is our singing important? 
• What does it mean for Christans to submit to one another? How can it be that wives are called to submit to their husbands in 5:22 while husbands are also called to submit to their wives in 5:21? How can both of these things be true at the same time?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• How can a human being possibly imitate God? Why is it easier to think of the imitation of Christ? How is imitating Chrst the same as imitating God?
• What does it mean to walk in love? Why is it important for us to look to God, to his word, and to Christ to know what true love is? How might we get love wrong if left to ourselves?
• Why does Paul issue the stern warning that those who live in sin have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ? How might a self-righteous person misapply this warning? How might someone with a particularly sensitive conscience misapply this? What is Paul’s intention?
• How might we apply the command to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Paul is here writing to the whole church in Ephesus, officers and members together. How does this passage apply to the minister? How does this passage apply to the member?
• Why is the word of God so crucial to 1) the maturity of the church, 2) the stability of the church, 3) the unity of the church?
• Why is it crucial to sit under the preaching and teaching ministry of a local church where the word of God is ministered live and in person? Stated differently, what crucial component is lacking in preaching delivered digitally?