Dirty Bible Words Week 2: Submission Message Summary: Submission is anathema in our times. Recognizing any authority outside of myself betrays America’s strongest and highest value—my truth. Add to that submission to political power, the “head of the household,” or organized religion and you have the dirtiest, most offensive idea of our day. But the God of love, law, and order disagrees. He calls his children to submit to Him, to governing authorities, to church leaders, and to husbands. ✦ Submit = To yield to another’s authority/will; to willingly put yourself under. ✦ James 3:17 — “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” ✦ Biblical Submission — Part 1 1. Everyone to God. ❖ James 4:7 — Submit yourselves, then, to God. 2. Citizens to their government. ❖ Romans 13:1-2, 5 — Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves…Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 3. Employees to their bosses. ❖ 1 Peter 2:18 — …in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 4. Wives to their husbands. ❖ Colossians 3:18 — Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 5. Christians to their pastors/church leaders. ❖ Hebrews 13:17 — Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. ✦ Romans 8:7 — The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ✦ Biblical Submission — Part 2 1. Is Godly and for our good ❖ Proverbs 3:5-6 —-Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 2. Authority ≠ Superiority/Worth ❖ Romans 12:3-6 — For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. 3. Has an exception ❖ Acts 5:29 — Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!” ✦ Philippians 2:5-8 — In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! ✦ Jesus yielded for our good! Planting Jesus Roots GATHER — In preparation for next Sunday’s message, think about these two questions—What exactly do I believe? Why exactly do I believe it? GROUP — Although submission is technically connected to authority, how does the selfless heart of submission bless friendships and families? Give an example from the past year from your own life. GROW — Read Romans 13:1-7 and Ephesians 5:22-33 to grasp more of what submission looks like in real life. GIVE — Evaluate: A selfless volunteer is a good volunteer. GO — Pray for a friend who is on the fence about faith/God/church. Ask God to open doors for you to connect them to Jesus. Homework: 2 Timothy 4:1-5 (Hashtags: submission, authority)