The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:5-9 discusses the relationship between servants and masters. Christian employees (servants) and employers (masters) are both slaves of Christ and should serve to please and glorify Him.

1. The Spirit-filled Employee (v.5-8)
2. The Spirit-filled Employer (v. 9)

Verse 8 gives us another reason why we work with all our heart and obey our masters. We are to know that we will be rewarded by God. In verse 9, Paul instructs how Christians, who have a position of authority, are to deal with those who are below them. Verse 9 tells us clearly that God does not show partiality in his giving of salvation, then we must not show partiality, either. If we are recipients of God's grace, then we must extend grace. If favoritism is far from God, it must be far from us. Faith and favoritism are incompatible.

Whatever position we are in at work, we are working for the Lord but just for people. Therefore we work with integrity and give what we are supposed to give to our jobs as an expression of our commitment to Jesus. We do this with two motivations: we love Jesus and want to show the world our love for him through how we work and we know we will be rewarded by God for our hard work.

Getting Started

1. Describe your favourite work environment or best memory of your first work place.

• Read Ephesians 6:5-9

2. What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?

Digging Deeper

3. What instruction does the apostle Paul give to Christian servants in verse 5? Do you think there are any exceptions to this command?

4. Read verse 5 and verse 7, what should the Christian servant’s (or, Christian employee’s) attitude be toward his master (or, employer?) See Ephesians 6:5b,7a

5. Read Colossians 3:23-24. According to Ephesians 6:5c,6b,7b, how should the Christian servant view his work? Ultimately, for whom is he working?

The Heart of the Matter

6. According to Ephesians 6:8 and Colossians 3:24 what promise and assurance does Paul give to the Christian servant?

7. Read Ephesians 6:9 and Colossians 4:1. What instruction does the apostle give to Christian masters?

8. Have you ever viewed your job as your assignment from Christ? If you have, how has that affected the way you do your work?