Sermon on 28 Oct 07

Sermon by Ps. Chia Beng Hock
28 Oct 07, Sunday
Ephesians 6:5-9

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; 6not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women, 8knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free. 9And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality. Ephesians 6:5-9, NRSV

SLAVES
· They are owned by rich people.
· They are treated badly and owner don’t care about them.
· Paul wrote to them and tell them to obey their master. (To listen to their boss with a right attitude).

1. Employee – Attitude of Obedience

How to have a right attitude?
We must RESPECT our Master as they’re being placed there by God to be our Boss.

Respect: in fear
Excel: do your best
Sincere: in what you do (your heart must not be divided. Eg. Daniel)
Personal Conviction: not to tell lie for boss.
Exuberant: Serve wholeheartedly.
Christ Representative: Serving Jesus in your place of work.
Tenacious: do your best even when boss is not around.

2. Employer Attitude

Encourage employees: Don’t threaten them.
Apply the golden rule:
Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Treat them well.
Submit to the greater Master: God who is the ultimate boss.
· 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSVA) Therefore, my beloved,£ be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Impartial: to be fair to employees.