Read through the counsel to slaves and slave masters in the following passages: Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-25; Colossians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 7:20-24; 1 Timothy 6:1-2; 1 Peter 2:18-25. How would you summarize this advice?

It is startling to hear Paul address Christian slave masters and to imagine Christian slaves and their Christian slave master seated together in the house churches of Ephesus. Slavery in the Greco-Roman world could differ from the later version in the New World in significant ways. It was not focused on a single ethnic group.

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Urban, household slaves were sometimes offered opportunities for education and could work as architects, physicians, and philosophers. Freedom sometimes occurred for these household slaves after a limited period of service, though most slaves never gained their freedom. In an attempt to acknowledge such differences, a number of recent Bible versions translate the Greek term doulos (“slave”) in Ephesians 6:5-8 as “bondservant.”

Regardless, slavery at any time, in any culture, in any circumstances, is an inexcusable evil, and God will judge, and condemn, slaveholders according to His infinite justice—and for that we can be thankful.

The cry of ex-slave Publilius Syrus is haunting: “It is beautiful to die instead of being degraded as a slave.” Given the full range of these realities, the translation of doulos as “slave” is to be preferred (NIV, NRSV), especially since these slaves are living under the threat of their masters (Ephesians 6:9).

Slavery was an ever-present evil in Paul’s world. He addresses it, not as a social reformer but as a pastor who advises believers how to deal with current realities and to cast a new vision centered on the transformation of the individual believer, which later could have wider implications for society at large: “His vision was not for manumission of slaves in the Roman Empire. Rather his view was about something other than legal manumission, that is, a new creation sibling-based fellowship on the basis of adoption as children of God. . . . For Paul the social revolution was to occur in the church, in the body of Christ, at the local level, and in the Christian house church and household.”—Scot McKnight, The Letter to Philemon (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing, 2017), pp. 10, 11.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/tuesday-slavery-in-pauls-day/

The book of Ephesians does show us “How to Follow Jesus in Trying Times”: 
Hymn 623 – I Will Follow Thee, My Saviour, so that our actions will always speak louder than our words.

 All the way through this week’s study we find it is supreme to
Give Of Your Best To The Master – Hymn 572.

 Our “Advice to Children” is to follow Jesus: 
Hymn 543 – Jesus, Friend Of Little Children and teach them to 
Trust And Obey – Hymn 590. This will then, with God’s abundant blessings, present 
Happy The Home – Hymn 655 when God is there.

So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-practicing-supreme-loyalty-to-christ-singing-with-inspiration/

Key Thought: The fifth commandment shows that honoring parents is part of God’s design for human beings to thrive. Respect for parents will foster health and well-being.
September 9, 2023

1. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 6:1-3.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What advice does Paul give children and how does he support it from the Old Testament?
3. Personal Application: How does the Scripture reinforce how important family relationships are? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “What is our responsibility to give Christ’s care to children who have experienced violence, sexual abuse, and shame in their early lives?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 6:4, Colossians 3:21.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What motivation do these Scriptures provide for avoiding irritating our children?
3. Personal Application: What experiences have you had in your relationship with your children? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Is there any comparison in how we deal with our children and how we deal with other people?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Ephesians 6:5-9. I Corinthians 7:20-24.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How would you summarize the counsel to slaves and slave masters in these passages?
3. Personal Application: How can we draw from Paul’s words about how to relate to people we work with in our own situation? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “I have lived a life in disobedience to my parents and have been rebellious and treated with contempt at times. I didn’t want their rules and guidance. How can I work to try and reconnect as a Christian?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read I Timothy 6:1,2 2 Peter 2:18-25.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What counsel did Paul give to the slave masters?
3. Personal Application: How does this counsel relate to employers and employees appropriately? What dangers are possible in doing so? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-practicing-supreme-loyalty-to-christ-teaching-plan/