The Tabernacle Today

Christians and Their Workplace

Read Colossians 3:22-4:1 Christians and their workplace Let’s Pray!

Old Testament laws on slavery were more like time-dated work contracts. You knew how long it would be, and you could purchase your way out of your ‘debt’ early. If your Master so much as chipped your tooth in discipline, you went free.

Under Roman law slaves were legally non-personas with limited rights. Roman law already had a path to freedom for slaves when the first churches were planted, As the gospel spread, legislation toward freedom escalated rapidly.

You CAN legislate morality from the outside in, but lasting change only happens from the inside out when our hearts and minds are changed through knowing God and biblical truth.

Four commands for Christian workers:

Do everything your boss expects, even when they are not watching V. 22

Do your best in all your work as if God was signing your paycheck V. 23

It’s good to hear “well done” from a boss, but what you really want is the applause of Heaven!

Don’t just earn an earthly paycheck but a heavenly reward V. 24

Don’t be known for wrongdoing and its punishment V. 25

2 Commands for Christian bosses

Treat your workers right   4:1a

“Management is developing people through work.”

Remember you are not the big boss!  4:1b

Here is the teaching that changed the Roman Empire – no human is ever the ultimate authority in any earthly relationship – God Himself will have the final word, rewarding all that was right and avenging everything that was wrong.

Hebrews 9:27 says it is appointed unto man once to die, and than the judgment!

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. -Romans 14:12

Certainty Facing Uncertainty Acts 21:27 – 22:29

Today we are going to see the apostle Paul face uncertainties head on because of what he was certain about. He models for us pushing spiritual darkness back with lives lived by faith in Jesus and Kingdom ___________________.

Paul and the _____________________ 21:27-31

Acts 1:8

The events of chapters 1-12 (in Judea and Samaria) cover about 14 years, from AD 33-46. The events of chapters 13-28 cover the gospel going toward the ends of the earth. The 3 missionary trips of chapters 13-20 are from AD 47-56. The 3 areas of trials cover AD 56-61 or so.

Many people won’t take up any task that contains uncertainties because they are concerned about what will happen to ___________. Paul TOOK UP the uncertainty out of concern for the lost people he wanted to win to Jesus.

Sign at Court of the Gentiles before the inner Jewish courts:

NO FOREIGNER MAY ENTER WITHIN THE BARRICADE WHICH SURROUNDS THE SANTUARY AND ENCLOSURE. ANYONE WHO IS CAUGHT SO DOING WILL HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME FOR HIS ENSUING DEATH.

Paul and the “___________________” 21:31-40

Folks, God can use every bit of your ____________________ as part of the impact He wants you to make!

Paul and the ______________________ 22:1-22

“I was like you once…” V. 1-6

Then our Messiah saved me! V. 7-16

He wants to save YOU too – and the _____________ V. 15-21

Psalm 18 Worksheet

Psalm 18 is David’s personal hymn of praise for God’s _________________________.

Psalm 18 is the _____________ longest overall of all the Psalms.

58 Psalms are between 2 and 10 verses; another 59 are between 11 and 20 verses; 20 Psalms are between 21 and 30 verses; Only 13 are more than 30 verses.

Charles Spurgeon called Psalm 18 “The Grateful Retrospect.”

Psalm 18 is very similar to 2 Samuel 22:1-51.

David _____________________ the Lord V. 1-3

David pictures God his great deliverer V. 4-19

What prophet referred to verses 4-6 during his own brush with death? __________________

David states the basis of that deliverance – God’s ___________________ V. 19-30

In taking David on as God’s king the enemies both foreign and domestic were really taking on God – David was thus righteously _____________ with God and his enemies were unrighteous.

See 1 Kings 15:3-5

Verse 29 may be the ____________________ of the Old Testament.

David gives ___________________________of victories through God V. 31-45

A Benediction of praise and ____________________ V. 46-50

Romans 15:9

The Christian Home

Parenting is at the same time one of the most wonderful, most humbling, most stretching, most tiring, most exciting, most frustrating, most valuable things you will ever do for Jesus. Regardless of the outcome you will come to appreciate your own Heavenly Father’s love and patience with us as His children.

Two overarching commands for children:

Children are to obey their parents Col. 3:20; Eph. 6:1

Children your default setting needs to be to obey your parents - God put you under their care to teach you some of the basic things you need to know in life so that it will go well with you.

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. -Proverbs 20:11

A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.  -Proverbs 17:25

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  -3 John 4

Children are to honor their parents Eph. 6:2-3

When children don’t honor and obey their parent’s authority they become little terrors in their neighborhoods and schools, and they grow up to disrespect authority in their workplaces and in interaction with governing authorities and also probably lack any fear of God, having disastrous national effects.

Three overarching commands to Parents:

Parents are not to provoke their children to despair Col. 3:21; Eph. 6:4

Parents are to bring their children up in the discipline they need Eph. 6:4

I would advise you to be stricter with your children when they are younger, and ease off on some restrictions as they age and show responsibility.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.  -Proverbs 22:15

I would advise you that when you need to punish your children, make sure the punishment fits the ‘crime.’ Make sure you don’t discipline them in anger, explain to them why they are being punished, and pray with them afterwards.

Help your children navigate the digital age but also “unplug” overnight.

Parents are to bring children up in the instruction of the Lord Eph. 6:4

A few words to parents whose kids are older/ left the home:

Adaptable but NOT a pragmatist Acts 21:15-26

Polonius. Shakespeare’s fool in Hamlet.

Proverbs 14:12 Jeremiah 17:9 Psalm 139:23-24

5 G Living

The Apostle Models _________________________ to a local church’s leadership V. 18, 23

We should not miss that this supports the autonomy (independence) of a ___________________ church.

Paul models ________________________ to a difference cultural context  V. 19-26

Paul clearly taught in the book of Galatians that following the O.T. Law for salvation was ________________. But as an individual Jew Paul remained a follower of Jewish cultural observances when he could.

In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 Paul said he was willing to adjust his behavior on _______ - essential cultural matters for the sake of gospel witness.

The message to all cultures is that you can be a Christian and keep many _________________ of your culture, but don’t make those binding on other Christians or let those keep you from fellowshipping with Christians across other cultures!

Paul was not compromising on doctrine, but on cultural norms, adapting himself to the ________________ norms he had always lived by anyway.

Adaptation needs to go both ways – but ___________________ Christians have greater responsibility to make accommodations for gospel witness to unbelievers and for the growth of weaker brothers and sisters.

Psalm 17 Worksheet

The 5 Psalms that are declared _________________________ in their titles are 17, 86, 90, 102, and 142.

Tell me what the following says in English: YRYFLPPTSMPK

In Psalm 17 you have an ____________________ David praying to God for relief.

Please hear Your Servants prayer, O LORD V. 1-6

David is not claiming to be sinless here. He is pointing out to God a situation involving him that is _________________ and asking God to right it.

“You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but you can not do more than pray until you have prayed.” -John Bunyan

Psalm 19:14.

What this all means is that in addition to vindictive words David has avoided vindicative ___________________ – David is leaving vengeance unto the Lord.

Please hold Your Servant ____________________, O LORD V. 7-8

The word translated lovingkindness in verse 7 is the word Hesed (H2617), which appears 239 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, 139 in the poetic books. It’s companion word for truth is emets, which occurs 126 times, 49x in poetic books.

Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD V. 9-12

David is calling himself (and us) to remember that what looks like __________________ now for the godless won’t look like success after judgment day.

Reverse our ____________________, O LORD V. 13-15

Ecclesiastes 2:26 Luke 12:16-21

David encourages himself that the godly man will be more than ___________________ for any struggle in the days to come.

Psalm 37:10-11 Read Job 19:23-27

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies Himself, just as He is pure. -1 John 3:2-3

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EYERUOYFOELPPAEHTSAEMPEEK

The Christian Marriage

In today’s passage in Colossians, and the parallel passage in Ephesians, we will see what the New Testament says to husbands in their roles as husbands, and wives in their roles as wives, and to both as part of their marriage team.

Read Col. 3:16-19 & Eph. 5:19-33 The Christian Marriage  Let’s Pray!

Who comes first in the Christian marriage? V. 17

God comes first in the Christian marriage!

What comes second in the Christian marriage? Eph. 5:21

The marriage team itself comes before the individual team members

Who is the captain of the marriage team?

The husband is the captain (head) of the marriage team  V. 18-19

The word submit is sometimes translated subjection. It is the Greek word upotasso, and is found in 31 verses in the New Testament. It is a military inspired term that means to place yourself in rank under.

The role of the wife in a Christian marriage  V. 18

Encouraging respect from a wife toward her husband is like oxygen to his soul!

The role of the husband in a Christian marriage V. 19

Nourishing love from a husband toward his wife that shows how much he cherishes her is like oxygen to her soul!

Peter was the first man in world history that called for men to be considerate of their wives and show them honor like a fine wine, fine china, or fine art.

Ready to do difficult things

We are always ready to do easy things! What separates growing and fruit-bearing Christians apart is how they are ready to do ____________ things.

The Early Disciples modeled for us being…

Ready for ______________________ farewells V. 1-2

Ready for _____________________ hospitality V. 4-10

Many people today would claim that they are too busy and can’t be bothered to change their routine for a little time. The early church simply valued ministry and relationship more than they worried about personal ________________________.

Ready to ________________________ V. 4-10

Acts 11:19a

Twenty years have passed, but it’s not time that heals all wounds. Time can give ____________________ the heat of the moment can’t. But it takes hard work to forgive and where possible, to move on in relationship.

Matthew 6:12 Luke 17:3-4

Ready for sexual integrity and verbal _________________ V. 9

The person who gives in to temptation quickly and sins doesn’t know anything about temptation compared to the one who faces it head on and in faith does not ____________________ their biblical convictions.

1 Thess. 4:3-8

Ready to ____________________, ready to die V.10-14

The Holy Spirit had told Paul to go to Jerusalem, but more suffering and imprisonment awaited him. He was going _________________ so he could share about God’s grace bringing Jewish and Gentile believers together.

Circumstances can show you that God has opened a door that was previously closed, but we need to be careful not to think that circumstances in which it will be easy to obey are preferrable to circumstances that will _________________ suffering.

Going later to Jerusalem would only allow the Judaizers influence to grow, which could lead even more true Jewish Christians astray and keep them from developing _____________________ with Gentile Christians.

Hebrews 2:14-15

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Psalm Chapter 16 Worksheet

Michtam is in the title of 6 psalms – 16 and 56-60.

A godly leader must delight in ________________ V. 1-2

Gospel math

Psalm 32

A godly leader should delight in God’s ____________________ V. 3-4

The Hebrew words for the last phrase are kal-hephsi-bam (“in whom is my delight”). That’s essentially the _________________ as Hephzibah, the new name God will give to His people (Isaiah 62:4). -Hat tip to Bob Alden for that!

A godly leader should delight in God’s ___________ on their lives V. 5-6

Philippians 4:13

A godly leader trusts Christ’s ____________________ V. 7-8

James 1:5-8 Phil. 4:6-7 Rom. 8:28 Matt. 6:33

A godly leader’s joy will continue to _______________ throughout eternity    V. 9-11

Philippians 1:21

We see Peter use verses 8-10 in Acts 2:25-28; We see Paul use verse 10 in Acts 13:35.

Those references make us justified in calling Psalm 16 a _________________ Psalm.

So many reject Christ for pleasure ________________ – but oh the pleasures to come for those who know and serve the Lord!

Put on, Put in, Put first!

Read Colossians 3:12-17 Put on, Put in, Put first Let’s Pray!

Put Christlike Qualities ON  V. 12-14

The word chosen ones is the word we get elect from, the word holy can also be translated as saints, as it is in Col. 1:2. The word beloved is in the perfect tense, meaning those whom God has already made beloved!

A sight of God’s glory humbles. The stars vanish when the sun appears.  -Thomas Watson

God will bless this church if we intentionally put off sinful speech and actions, and put on Christlike qualities. Our church will die if we keep pushing people away through unbiblical expectations and don’t practice agape love.

Put IN yourself the 3 S’s    V. 15-16

First, Put in God’s Shalom (Peace)

Second, put in Scripture.

Third, put songs in.

Put Jesus Christ first in all things  V.17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him!