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).

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