The Christian Home
Sermon Overview: “The Christian Home”
Text: Colossians 3:18–4:1 (KJV)
Supporting Passage: Ephesians 5:22–29 (KJV)
Introduction: The Blueprint for the Christian Home
- The family is God’s foundational institution for humanity.
- Paul provides practical instructions for Christian households in Colossians and Ephesians, highlighting mutual submission and love as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the Church.
1. Wives Submit to Their Husbands
Colossians 3:18: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:22–24: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church…”
- Explanation:
- Submission does not mean inferiority but a willingness to honor the husband’s role as the head of the household.
- It reflects trust in God’s design for family order.
- In both Colossians and Ephesians, the submission is “as unto the Lord,” emphasizing a voluntary act rooted in faith.
- Application:
- Wives are called to cultivate a spirit of respect and cooperation, trusting their husbands as spiritual leaders.
2. Husbands Love Their Wives as Christ Loved the Church
Colossians 3:19: “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”
Ephesians 5:25–29: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it…”
- Explanation:
- Christ’s love is sacrificial, selfless, and sanctifying.
- Husbands are called to emulate this love by putting their wives’ needs above their own and fostering an environment of spiritual growth.
- Bitterness or harshness, as warned in Colossians, damages the relationship.
- Comparison:
- While Colossians emphasizes avoiding bitterness, Ephesians elaborates on the depth of sacrificial love that husbands must embody.
- Application:
- Husbands should prioritize their wives’ physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being, striving to create a home filled with love and peace.
3. Children Obey Your Parents
Colossians 3:20: “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:1–3: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother…”
- Explanation:
- Obedience to parents reflects obedience to God, who ordained family authority.
- Ephesians ties this command to the promise of long life and blessing, referencing the Fifth Commandment.
- Application:
- Children should develop a habit of respect and obedience, understanding it pleases God and lays a foundation for future responsibility.
4. Fathers, Do Not Provoke Your Children
Colossians 3:21: “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”
Ephesians 6:4: “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
- Explanation:
- Fathers are warned against harshness, favoritism, or unreasonable demands that might discourage or embitter children.
- Instead, they should nurture their children in the ways of the Lord, providing loving discipline and spiritual guidance.
- Comparison:
- Ephesians expands on Colossians by emphasizing the importance of raising children in “nurture and admonition” of the Lord, highlighting both discipline and instruction.
- Application:
- Fathers should balance discipline with encouragement, modeling Christ’s gentleness and guidance.
Conclusion: A Household Reflecting Christ
- Colossians 3:22–4:1 and Ephesians 5:22–6:9 both underscore that every relationship in the household—wives, husbands, children, and even servants—should mirror Christ’s love and submission.
- The Christian home becomes a testimony to the world, showcasing God’s transformative power.
Challenge:
- Wives, honor your husbands in faith.
- Husbands, love your wives with Christlike sacrifice.
- Children, obey and respect your parents.
- Fathers, lead with love and gentleness.
Let the Christian home be a reflection of the Gospel!