Summary
What does it mean to truly live under the authority of Christ in every relationship we have? In Colossians chapter 3, Paul takes a familiar cultural structure and completely transforms it by placing Jesus at the center of every household relationship. The passage addresses wives, husbands, children, fathers, employees, and employers, and in each case, the call is the same: we all answer to the same Lord. No one is exempt, no one is above accountability, and no one is beneath dignity. This is a radical departure from the Roman household code of the day, which concentrated all authority at the top with no obligations attached. Paul flips the script entirely, showing us that authority in God’s kingdom is not about privilege but about responsibility. Whether we feel seen and appreciated or whether our best efforts seem to go unnoticed and unvalued, the truth remains that what we do matters to God. Our work, our relationships, our daily acts of faithfulness are all forms of worship when they are offered to the Lord. The question this passage puts before us is not just what are we doing, but who are we ultimately doing it for?
Key Scripture – Colossians 3:17-4:1
Discussion Questions
- The sermon explained the Roman household code called patria potestas, where authority flowed entirely in one direction with no obligations at the top. How does Paul’s version of the household code in Colossians 3 challenge and reframe that structure? What is the most significant difference you noticed?
- The word “Lord” appears six or seven times in this passage. Why do you think Paul repeatedly appeals to the lordship of Jesus when addressing these everyday relationships? What does that repetition communicate about how God views our ordinary lives?
- Paul addresses both sides of each relationship — wives and husbands, children and fathers, slaves and masters. Why is it significant that he gives responsibility and accountability to every person in the relationship rather than just those at the top?
Going Deeper
- The sermon used the image of a three-legged race to describe marriage. In what ways does that illustration resonate with your experience of close relationships, whether in marriage or otherwise? What does being “in sync” actually look like in practice?
- Stephen warned against the “10/10 or trash fallacy” — the tendency to see people in our lives as either completely wonderful or completely terrible with nothing in between. Where do you see this kind of all-or-nothing thinking show up most often in your relationships? What would it look like to intentionally look for the good instead?
- Colossians 3:23 calls us to do our work wholeheartedly as something done for the Lord and not for people. How does that shift in perspective — from working for people to working for God — change the way you approach your job, your household responsibilities, or your daily tasks?
- The sermon made the point that “even when someone else is disobeying what God has called them to do in these relationships, that does not give me permission to then disobey what God has called me to do.” How do you respond to that statement? Is that easy or difficult to accept, and why?
Personal Reflection
- Stephen asked two pointed questions during the sermon: “What is it like to be married to me?” and “What is my leadership doing to my child’s heart?” Pick one relationship in your life and ask a similar question about yourself. What honest answer comes up?
- The sermon closed with a reminder from Galatians that we will reap at the proper time if we do not give up. Is there a relationship or a situation in your life right now where you are tempted to give up? What would it mean to keep going in faith, trusting that God sees your effort?
Scripture Reference (Direct)
- Colossians 3:17-25
- Colossians 4:1
- Colossians 3:11
- Galatians 6:9
Referenced
- Genesis 1-3 (God’s design for the family and the fall introducing power struggle in marriage)
- Proverbs 31 (the highly capable, ideal wife)
- Ephesians 5:25 (husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church)
- Romans 5:8 (while we were still sinners, Christ died for us)
- Philemon 1 (the letter to Onesimus’s owner, Philemon)
- Exodus 20:12 / Deuteronomy 5:16 (honor your father and your mother)
- Ephesians 6:4 (fathers, do not exasperate your children)