Responsibility to Superiors

In this part of the sermon: The sermon begins by setting the date and location, reading Ephesians 6:1-9, and offering a prayer for the Holy Spirit's help in understanding the Word, acknowledging the physical…

Pastor Martin humorously notes the visible yawning in the congregation, attributing it to weariness or carelessness, and uses it to transition into a call for spiritual alertness and confession.

whether he be bond or free. And you masters do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him. Well, let's ask our gracious Master to send his Spirit upon us, to quicken us physically. I just saw someone give out a yawn that we could have put Noah's Ark in their mouth.

1:31 - 2:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Children, listen to your parents and do what they tell you; that is your job description.

A member shared how their child, not yet three, understood and articulated the meaning of obedience to parents ('listen and do it'), highlighting the simplicity and importance of this command for all ages.

the employer-employee-employee-employer relationships. Now last Lord's Day we looked at verses 1 through 4 and I sought to state the heart of these directives in these two simple propositions. In the morning we considered that the duty of parents is to nurture their children, and in the evening that it is the duty of children to obey and honor their parents. One of the members came to me after prayer meeting Wednesday night and said, Pastor, I want to encourage you.

4:43 - 5:16 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The instruction is presented within the first-century context of slavery, explaining that while Christianity did not immediately abolish slavery, it undermined it by transforming…

Quotes Lutheran commentator Lenski to describe the pervasiveness and varied nature of slavery in the Roman world, noting that educated individuals held responsible positions.

And since God with the gospel came to these saints at Ephesus by the power of the Spirit and called sinners unto himself, in the church at Ephesus, or if this epistle is a more general letter, the churches in the Ephesian area, since they reflected God's gracious saving work in the real stuff of that society, there were obviously many slaves in the congregation or in the congregations, plural. As Lenski, the Lutheran commentator, observes, the Roman world was full of slaves. While some were servants of a lower type, others were educated, capable, in charge of great and responsible positions.

9:41 - 10:26 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The instruction is presented within the first-century context of slavery, explaining that while Christianity did not immediately abolish slavery, it undermined it by transforming…

Quotes Lenski again, stating that Christianity did not call for the immediate abolition of slavery but undermined it from within by its spirit.

That's an incontrovertible fact in the light of the New Testament. However, Christianity followed a deeper, more thorough method. It undermines slavery with the spirit of Christianity by destroying it from within. And there I end the quote of Lenski.

11:01 - 11:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Wherever you are in the providence of God in the position of a subordinate, your job description is to listen to and do what your superiors tell you to do.

Uses the analogy of a sergeant on the drill field speaking to enlistees to illustrate that subordinates are to obey without questioning or arguing.

But if he doesn't ask and it's not understood, your job is very simple. Listen to what he says and do it. When the sergeant is in the drill field and speaks to the enlistees and the privates, they are not to sit and dicker and argue. Subordinates are to obey their superiors.

18:23 - 18:47 Read in full sermon

The point: Internalize the principle of obedience as obedience, not just doing what you understand or agree with.

Martin shares his personal background of being allowed to question parents' directives and voicing opinions in college, acknowledging that some may not have internalized the principle of simple obedience.

Until before God you've said, Lord, that's as plain as the nose on my face. I don't know if I've ever internalized it. I was brought up in a home where I was allowed to question my parents' directives and never made to do anything I didn't understand the reason for. I went to a college where we were free to voice our mind, a bunch of young squirts in the presence of older people and give our opinion and challenge and all the rest.

19:45 - 20:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that obedience to superiors is a solemn and sacred duty, performed with fear and trembling (deep solicitude).

Quotes 1 Corinthians 2:1-3 to illustrate Paul's 'fear and trembling' in preaching the gospel, not out of fear of men, but out of a solemn sense of duty.

Let's look at a couple of examples. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. reviewing his ministry among the Corinthians when he came into their midst as an apostle and an evangelist and church planter. He writes in chapter 2 verse 1 I brethren when I came to you did not come with excellency of speech or of wisdom proclaiming to you the testimony of God for I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

23:29 - 24:08 Read in full sermon

Driving home: When you read words that have a current connotation, don't import that connotation. Ask yourself the question, what does God mean by the use of these words?

Continues the illustration from 1 Corinthians 2, emphasizing Paul's consciousness of his solemn duty to preach Christ crucified, leading to great solicitude.

He didn't come in the role of a philosopher to impress with his profound insights to the great universals of life. He said, I came preaching a message that I knew that Jews would reject and that the Gentiles would think was stupidity, and yet conscious of the solemn duty to preach Christ and him crucify. My disposition was one of fear and of trembling, great solicitude, great anxiety, that I would discharge my solemn and sacred duty as I ought. Look at another reference in Corinthians to see that this is the sense of it, 2 Corinthians 7.

24:49 - 25:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: you are to obey your superiors with the deep sense that you render such obedience as a solemn and sacred duty.

Uses the example from 2 Corinthians 7:15 of the Corinthians receiving Titus with 'fear and trembling,' not flippantly, but with seriousness due to the mission's importance.

When Titus came, recognizing that he was coming on a mission from the apostle to see how they had responded to his apostolic and pastoral counsel, they received him, not with flippancy, Hi old tight, how you doing bud?

26:18 - 26:32 Read in full sermon

Driving home: you are to obey your superiors with the deep sense that you render such obedience as a solemn and sacred duty.

Quotes Philippians 2:12 to explain 'fear and trembling' in working out one's salvation, not as cowering, but with deep concern and seriousness about God's work within.

In Philippians chapter 2. as you have obeyed in my presence now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and with trembling for it is God himself who is at work in you. Work out your salvation not with the cowering fear of the whipped dog who hides in the corner with his tail between his legs.

26:55 - 27:20 Read in full sermon

The point: Perform your duties with the full engagement of your whole being, in singleness of heart, not with a divided heart.

Martin explains his own earnest preaching style by stating that when his heart is in something, his whole being is engaged, and preaching otherwise would be sin for him.

This is the opposite of a divided or a dual heart. When the superior gives his orders, you are not only to do what you are told to do, but you are to do it with the full engagement of your redeemed humanity. People ask me from time to time, why do you preach with such earnestness? because God put me together in such a way that when my heart is in anything, every cell of my body is in it.

29:54 - 30:22 Read in full sermon

The point: Obey your superiors with a conscious focus upon Christ as the ultimate object of your duty.

Draws a parallel to the instruction given to wives in Ephesians 5:22 to submit to their husbands 'as unto the Lord,' highlighting the Christocentric focus.

The same way he said to wives. Be subject to your own husbands as unto the Lord. You wives, see above and over and behind your husband the Lord who loved you and gave himself for you. He has directed that you be in submission to your husband.

32:30 - 32:50 Read in full sermon

The point: Obey your superiors with a conscious focus upon Christ as the ultimate object of your duty.

Illustrates the 'as unto Christ' principle by imagining a slave commanded to clean outhouses, performing the task with Christ in mind as the ultimate Master.

Submit to him as to the Lord Look beyond Him to His Master and your master your Lord and his Lord Let your submission be Christocentric Let it be riveted to the great reality of the gracious authority of the Lord Jesus as unto the Lord. Now again, what a radical concept to see for a common slave, the sacred will of Christ and the glorious person of Christ as central when I'm responding to the command of an earthly master. The earthly master says, slave John, go out there and

32:50 - 33:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Let your work ethic and attitude in the workplace be a witness to Christ, serving your Master with joy.

Martin shares a personal story from his college days working in a factory, cleaning urinals and singing hymns, which led to questions from coworkers about his happiness and serving a good Master.

I mean, it was bad enough when I was working my way through college. It's much worse now, but I can remember the opportunities I got to witness in that big factory there in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when I walked around cleaning urinals, singing hymns, and sifting cigarette butts out of the sand cans. People say, what in the world are you so happy about? And I tell them why, serving a good master.

48:18 - 48:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Be a maximalist in your work, giving your whole self to the task, motivated by serving a higher Master.

Illustrates the maximalist approach to work by imagining an employee who overproduces and explains it's because they are serving someone higher than their boss.

The boss has to come and say, look, you're overproducing. Well, thank you, sir. I do that because I'm doing this for someone higher than you. What do you mean higher than me?

49:07 - 49:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Be a maximalist in your work, giving your whole self to the task, motivated by serving a higher Master.

Critiques certain labor union practices that hold a nation captive, calling it a form of thievery and extortion condemned by God's Word.

you don't see him but I lived before him you talk about giving an answer to everyone who asks you maybe we get a lot more questions if we got this work ethic worked into us by the power of the Holy Ghost People will begin to scratch their head and say what in the world makes you tick? Everyone else is grousing and griping and want shorter hours and more benefits and all the rest. And we have in so many places the tyranny and the downright goonery and muggery of labor unions. and I'm not saying that all labor unions are guilty of goonery and muggery but when they'll hold the throat of a whole n...

49:17 - 50:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize and embrace your identity as a willing bond slave of Christ, desiring to please Him by doing His will.

Refers to a hymn sung before the sermon ('My glad submission to my master') to illustrate the willing submission of believers to Christ as their Master.

He thinks of them as those who have a master who could sing the hymn we sang before the sermon today. My glad submission to my master. He makes it clear. There's a clear assumption that all real Christians are the willing slaves of Christ who've been given a fundamental desire to please Christ by doing the will of God.

52:18 - 52:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Preach the gospel to your fellow workmen, as it is the only sure cure for a degenerate work ethic.

Recounts a story from the Welsh revivals where saved miners returned to work, and their changed demeanor (no longer cursing or whipping) confused the mules, illustrating the power of the gospel.

That when the Spirit of God worked so mightily in one of the Welsh revivals, many of the men who were saved were miners. They went back into the mines, and this may be one of those stories that gets better every time it's told but it's told many times so I'm going to tell it. They said the poor mules didn't know how to respond because the masters were no longer barking out their orders with curses and attending their orders with whips. The poor mules didn't know how to respond.

60:02 - 60:28 Read in full sermon