THE HEART OF SUBMISSION based on Ephesians 5:21-33
Too often submission becomes confused with an excuse for one to exert power over another. But true submission is done with a heart that willingly surrenders itself in order to exalt God and uplift one another. In ancient Ephesus, the church was dealing with significant issues concerning authority. Because of the prevalence of the Artemis cult, vocal women were making their way into churches and causing disruption, trying to overtake the authority of the church leaders and sowing confusion and chaos. Paul wrote the Epistle of Ephesians in part to help coach what our relationships one with another should really look like. The prime example of a mutually submissive relationship should be the marriage covenant. What should lie at the heart of submission?
- Reverence for Christ (5:21). Both fear and reverence come from the same root word in Greek. While fear is the dread and terror that are caused by things that are beyond one’s control, reverence is to place one’s trust in the one in charge of what is beyond that individual’s control! The fear in reverence is the thought of losing a relationship and favor with the one in control. If we show reverence for Christ, then we value the relationship above all else. This must go beyond ritual and duty. Rather, our decisions should be based on how it affects our relationship with God.
- Agape Love (5:25). Husbands are instructed by Paul to love their wives in the same manner that Christ loved the church. Paul could have chosen a different word for love but purposefully chose agape. This is the same manner of love that caused Jesus to die on the cross for humanity! Agape love is unconditional, loving even when someone falls out of favor. Agape love is selfless, giving love even if the object of love does not reciprocate. Agape love is sacrificial, willing to lay down self in order to benefit the object of love. Agape love is costly, paying a price to live out that love. Agape love is relentless, refusing to give up no matter what!
- Holiness (5:26-27). Christ showed us his agape love so we could have a new life. It was not to allow us or enable us to continue living in our sinful ways leading to our destruction. Rather, it was to help make us holy. True love is for the purpose of helping one change and transform from darkness into light. Holiness pushes for a change of character and a change of heart. If we are deep in sin, we cannot see the glory of God. Our actions should be to help one find the transforming grace of God to bring about life change. If our love enables people to remain unholy, we are in error!
- Intentional Investment (5:28-33a). Just like we need to take care of ourselves, and such care requires time and effort, we should do the same not just in our relationship with God, but with each other. Our walk with God does not improve overnight. Our marriage does not instantly become perfect once we say I do. Our church does not become strong just as soon as someone enters the doors. Rather, the strength comes when we choose to invest, giving of our time and energy to say we believe in each other and put forth the energy to care for it!
- Respect (5:33b). To respect is to value a relationship in a way that brings them honor. Wives are to respect their husbands, valuing them in a way that enables them to be who God created them to be. We never know who someone can become. God could have chosen to allow us to rot in our sins and be doomed to hell. Instead, he chose to give us what we did not deserve and gave us the opportunity to become his children. Can we believe people can turn their lives around?
Having the heart of submission is radically different from how many in the world use submission. It is not about forcing others to follow; it is rather serving others to help them choose to follow Jesus! Submission to God sets us free; let us extend that same freedom to others!
Questions for Reflection
1) In what ways can we demonstrate reverence for Christ? What practices in our world do the opposite?
2) Do you demonstrate agape love?
3) Why is holiness so important? Why is it often neglected?
4) How does investment empower a community of faith?
5) How could respect change our culture?
Upcoming Service
This Sunday, Pastor Ryan will continue the study in the discipline of submission with the sermon titled, “Surrendering Of Character”, based on Ephesians 5:1-20. How should submission be reflected in our lives? How does submission transform our character? Come or tune in on Sunday to find out!
Daily Bible Readings for September 12 – 18
September 12: Genesis 12:1-9 How did Abram submit to God? What was the end result?
September 13: Genesis 15:1-16 What was God’s covenant with Abram? How did Abram show he submitted his heart to God’s covenant?
September 14: Genesis 19:23-38 What were the negative consequences of a lack of submission to God’s instruction?
September 15: Genesis 22:1-19 How did Abraham demonstrate his submission to God? What was the blessing as a result?
September 16: Genesis 28:10-22 How did Jacob demonstrate submission to God?
September 17: Genesis 31:1-21 How did Jacob and his family break submission to Laban?
September 18: Genesis 31:22-42 What are the relational consequences for a breakdown of mutual submission?
Birthdays
9/18–Evy Kaye Sandin
This Week’s Events:
Tuesday, September 12–Leadership Team Prep Meeting @ 6:30 pm
Wednesday, September 13–Outreach Team Meeting @ 7 pm
Thursday, September 14–Habitat for Humanity Dinner @ JMU
Upcoming Events:
Monday, September 18–Timothy Bible Study @ 7 pm
Thursday, September 21–Leadership Team Meeting @ 7 pm
Sunday, September 24–Children’s Church
Saturday, October 14–Fall Festival, 9 am – 12 pm
Sunday, October 22–Congregational Business Meeting & Chili Cook Off after church
Announcements:
Submission– Spiritual Discipline Challenge
Submission is the discipline of bringing and ordering our lives fully under the mission of God. This week, we will look at the heart of submission in keeping with the sermon. On a piece of paper, divide the paper into five columns. In the first column, write Reverence for Christ. In the second column, write Agape Love. In the third column, write Holiness. In the fourth column, write Intentional Investment. In the final column, write Respect. Then draw a line in the middle of the paper, dividing each column in half.
In the top half of each column, I would like you to write ways you can grow in your relationship with God in each of those areas. Be specific! For example, you might write something like “spending ten minutes every morning in prayer before going to work” under the intentional investment column.
In the bottom half of each column, I would like you to write down ways you can grow in your relationships with others–family, friends, church, community–in demonstrating submission for that category. For example, you might write “don’t hold grudges” under the agape love category.
After you complete all, take some time to dedicate this to the Lord in prayer. Then, I encourage you to work on an action to put these into action.
BIRTHDAYS NEEDED!
If you are a newer attendee at Beaver Creek, please call the office or leave in the offering plate your birth date so we do not miss anyone!
CALL FOR CANDY
Our Fall Festival is slated for Saturday, October 14. As the date approaches, we will have a call for volunteers for the specific stations again. But for now, we need candy! We use the fun-sized, trick-or-treat-sized pieces of candy for the prizes for the games. We need both chocolate and non-chocolate options. A box will be placed in the narthex of the church. Please bring some donations of candy and place them in the box. The more we have, the more we can bless the children of our community! We need approximately 5000 pieces of candy!
Call for Worship Leaders and Children’s Story
We are in need of both worship leaders and children’s storytellers. Contact Alice Over (worship leading) or Phyllis Simmons (children’s story) if you want to serve.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH & NURSERY
There is no children’s church this Sunday. It will resume the following Sunday, September 24.
Call to Prayer
Let us continue to pray for our nation in the following ways:
1) National return to God
2) Repentance of personal sin
3) Repentance of corporate sin
4) Healing for the brokenness of relationships
5) Our leaders
6) Revival
7) Guidance for our congregation in the days ahead
Idea Box!
What do you want to see at Beaver Creek? What are some ideas you have for the long-term growth of our congregation? Any outrageous outreach ideas? Please either email Pastor Ryan or write them down and place them in the brown suggestion box in the narthex. Dream big!
Nursery
The Christian Education Team is looking for six to eight volunteers for the nursery during the Sunday School hour and church hour. There will be a signup sheet in the back. If you would be willing to volunteer to allow our families to be able to participate in worship, please let one of the members of Christian Education know (Theresa Eckard, Scott McAvoy, Becky Whitmore), or sign up on the signup sheet!
Sight & Sound Interest
The Fidelis class is looking at sponsoring a church-wide trip to Sight & Sound in 2024. But before the class can investigate bus prices and total cost, we want to gauge the true interest in the church. We have had several express interest and are trying to the best package for us as a church body. If you are interested and would like to be considered for this one-day event next year, please contact the office or let Pastor Ryan know in the next few weeks.
Four Ways to Give!
1) Mail your tithe to the church office
2) Drop it by the church office on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, 9 am – 1 pm
3) Our online giving platform: https://beavercreekchurchva.churchcenter.com/giving
4) Place in the offering plate on Sunday!
Prayer Needs
Continue to Keep in Prayer our members in Skilled Care Facilities: Mary G Miller, Shirley Miller & Carolyn Wine
Keep Evy Kaye’s friend Mary Beth and Tami Plaugher’s friend Vicki as they both are wrestling with cancer.
Eddie Baker (health)
Terri Burkholder (health)
Deanne Dastoli (health)
Patsy Dastoli (health)
Elijah Tucker Dean (health)
Natalie Dodge (health)
Bill Eckard (health)
Cindy Heatwole (health)
Bob Hess (health)
Reba Kline (surgery)
Darlene LaPrade (health)
Mark Martin (health)
Barbara Meadows (health)
Betty Miller (health)
Norlen Miller (health)
Mary G Miller (health)
Mary M Miller (recovery)
John Miller (COVID)
Savannah Miller (health)
Moore Family (condolences)
Tami Plaugher (health)
Ann Simmons (health)
Crystal Smith (health)
Norma Suter (surgery)
Whitmore family (house)
Mary Whitmore (health)
Cindy Wittig (health)
Shelvy Wittig (health)
Bill Wood (recovery)
Pastor Ryan Cooper
Beaver Creek Church