June 14 2026

Havasu Christian Church              

June 14, 2026

Study in Ephesians                    

Ephesians 6:1-9

“That Scripture doesn’t apply to me either!”

INTRO: Last week, our Sermon title was “That Scripture doesn’t apply to me!” But it did!!!

Today’s passage speaks to some other relationships that were common in the New Testament times. Some of them are common in our time and place, but others, not so much.

One of these is the relationship between parents and children. That’s why the kids stayed upstairs today. This way, their parents can jab them in the ribs about some things, and they can jab their parents in the ribs about other things!

        Even those relationships that aren’t common today, or those we have outlived, still have things to teach us. So, no one here today can honestly say “That Scripture doesn’t apply to me either!”

1. Children have a responsibility to their parents!
2. Yes, Children are meant to have responsibilities!

Ephesians 6:1-3  Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

1. Many people in our time don’t bother to have expectations for their children.

“I’ll just let them do what they want.” Initially, this is easier. You give in to the tantrum and it’s resolved. But you wind up with a kid that you don’t really want to be around.

1. But kids should have responsibilities.
2. The first responsibility is to obey.
3. This can really be a tough one for a kid.
4. It’s often just as hard for an adult!
5. Sometimes, following instructions isn’t Fun!”
6. Obedience includes a lot of things.
7. “It’s time to go to bed.”
8. “It’s time to clean your room.”
9. “Please take out the trash.”
10. Obedience also includes telling the truth.
11. “Is your homework done?”
12. “Did you brush your teeth?”
13. “With toothpaste?”
14. Responsibility begins teaching a child how to someday be an adult of character.
15. “In the Lord.”
16. A child should follow their parents’ directions as long as they are directions that don’t disagree with what the Bible says.
17. “Hey kid, let’s go rob a bank!”
18. “Hide this in your pocket for me.”
19. “Don’t tell anyone what we did today.”
20. “Tell this lie for me!”

NOPE!!!

1. The Lord comes first!
2. Then mom & dad.
3. The second responsibility is to honor.
4. We are to honor our parents when we live under their roof and their protection / care.
5. When we become an adult, this relationship changes.
6. We become our “Own person.”
7. I become responsible for my own actions, and care.
8. Honor, doesn’t mean bowing when your mom enters the room, or calling your folks “your highness.”
9. But they aren’t your buddy either.
10. They are the adult God gave you to help guide your life.
11. Honoring your mom and dad never really ends.
12. It means treating them with respect for their entire life.
13. It means looking to them for wisdom.

When one of my kids asks me about a problem they are having, I feel completely honored. Even if they do different from my suggestion, the fact that they consulted me is wonderful.

1. It may even mean caring for them when they are old.
2. Many of us have done this in the past.
3. Many more of us will most likely do this in the future.
4. Do it in a way that honors them!
5. These responsibilities come with promises.
6. So that it may be well with you
7. That you may live long on the earth.
8. These promises were given to the people of Israel, after they left Egypt.
9. These promises are “general” promises.
10. Honoring and being obedient to your parents doesn’t mean that you can run in front of a car and God will protect you.
11. But in general, being obedient as a child, and continuing to honor your parents as an adult lead to a better, and longer life.
12. Good parents expect you to behave in a proper manner for your own good, not just theirs.
13. Good parents want their children to grow up to be responsible, decent adults who love Jesus!

With that in mind, we’ll move on to what this says about fathers.

1. Fathers (and mothers) are also given responsibilities.

It is a responsibility of a father to see that this is how things are done, but his wife most certainly is to live up to these responsibilities as well.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

1. Do not provoke your children to anger.
2. Don’t “push their buttons.”
3. Kids will get mad at us sometimes. They aren’t perfect… Neither are you!
4. Setting them off on purpose is not something a Christian man should do.
5. Treating kids in a disrespectful manner makes it likely that they will treat you the same way when they are older.

This doesn’t mean we let them run wild, instead, we are called to follow the rest of the verse.

1. Bring up your children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
2. Instead of provoking, parents are called to “Bring up” children.
3. This has the idea of leading them, teaching them, sheltering them, encouraging them, loving them, nurturing them.
4. The word translated “Bring up” is the same word we read last week in Ephesians 5:28-29   So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
5. This is hard to nourish you child when you spend your time antagonizing them!
6. Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
7. Discipline… we often think of punishment.

From A Greek English lexicon of the New Testament: The act of providing guidance for responsible living, upbringing, training, instruction, chiefly as it is attained by discipline, correction

1. This is at its heart, teaching…
2. Correction (punishment) is sometimes necessary in this.
3. Encouragement plays a part.
4. Modeling behavior is also important.
5. “Do as I say, not as I do” has no place!
6. Helping a child “think for themselves, through the options” is also necessary.
7. Instruction: Teaching by “the word of mouth.”
8. You tell them… You tell them… You tell them… You tell them!
9. Keep an eye open for “teachable moments.”
10. But also, just spend time… not teaching.
11. All of this discipline and teaching is to be done ultimately to teach your kids to follow Jesus.
12. Whatever they do, we want them to do it for the Glory of God!
13. You instill that a little bit every day.

1. The responsibility of slaves to their masters.

Ephesians 6:5-8 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

Many of you might be thinking “This has no application to us! Slavery was abolished over 160 years ago in this country.

        You’d be right about that… but there is still application to be made to the relationship of a boss and their employee.

1. A slave was to be obedient.
2. It would be easy to put up some conditions.
3. “I’ll be obedient as long as my master is nice to me.”
4. “I’ll be obedient as long as my master is fair.”
5. “I’ll be obedient as long as my master is kind and considerate.”
6. Paul states no conditions here.
7. The only “wiggle room” would be if a master told their slave to do something that was immoral.
8. Serving God comes first.
9. “No, I won’t lie for you.”
10. “No, I won’t cheat for you.”
11. “No, I won’t steal for you.”
12. “No, I won’t have sex with someone I’m not married to.”
13. A slave was to serve like he or she was serving Christ!
14. That is actually what they were doing.
15. With fear and respect.

Fear, (phobos), respect and trembling (tromos) are not to be confused with craven servility, or dread of human displeasure, or the master’s whip or tongue. Rather, they speak of a careful zeal in the discharge of duty, an anxious care not to come short.

1. With sincerity.
2. Actually, put your heart into it.
3. “With Good will render service.
4. You can choose how you will serve.
5. Will you do it in a way that shows that you want to do what you are doing?
6. Will you serve in a way that shows that you’re only there because you have to be?
7. Again, we’re reminded Who the real Boss is. JESUS!
8. We are to serve well whether someone is watching or not.
9. Because Jesus, Who we truly serve, is ALWAYS watching!
10. Not so He can catch is doping off
11. But so He can commend us for doing well.
12. Whether we are slave or free, there is a reward for faithful service!
13. In short, a Christian employee, should be a model employee.
14. The boss doesn’t have to “keep an eye on you.”
15. When you get done with something, you find something else that needs doing and you do it!
16. You do your best to help your boss and the company succeed.

Verne has told me that when he had a boss he didn’t like working for, he worked extra hard to make the guy look good… so he would get promoted and Verne wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore!

1. Finally, we deal with bosses.

Ephesians 6:9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

1. Masters (bosses) are to treat their slaves (employees) in a similar manner to how Paul tells slaves (employees) to work at their job.
2. Don’t threaten!
3. Govern by love, not by terror!
4. For most people, this works so much better than being punitive.
5. Reward what is being done right.
6. You may still have to “call someone out” when they aren’t doing well, but even then, it’s not only for your good, but for theirs.
7. You (and they) have a Master too!
8. This would be particularly true if both master and slave were Christians.
9. You are more than boss and worker, you are Family!
10. God doesn’t love you more or less than He loves your slave.
11. Act accordingly.
12. If you judge others harshly, you are liable to be judged in the same way.

Conclusion: How do we apply all this in the 21st Century? Things have changed a bit in 2100 years.

• Technology has changed… people haven’t.
• We still face the same family struggles.
• As children, younger and older.
• As parents, younger and older.
• We still fact the same struggles at work.
• As workers…
• As bosses…
• All of what we’ve studied today fits into the context of the Book of Ephesians.
• Ephesians was written to explain to Christians, how they should live in a pagan world.
• To live as God’s adopted Children.
• To be a family of believers.
• Husbands and wives, serving each other.
• As a Church, serving each other.
• To serve the Lord, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.
• To be “the Bride of Christ.”
• Next week, we’ll talk about being members of God’s army.
• Kids are to be obedient to their parents.
• Even when it’s hard!
• Parents aren’t to take advantage of that, but instead, teach and lead.
• Even when the kids or circumstances are frustrating.
• Do your best to train up the next generation of Christians.
• Those who serve are to do their best!
• Even on those “off days” when we don’t feel much like doing it!
• Those who lead, do so by putting those who work for you as the primary people to take care of.
• Even when the employees are driving you nuts!