Talk on Ephesians 6:5-9 "Slaves, obey your masters..." by Bern Leckie at Pip n Jay Church, Bristol, August 5th 2012. Audio is here: http://audio.pipnjay.org/teaching/2012-08-05am_Eph_6_5-9_Work_(B_Leckie).mp3 Why is God interested in our work, and how can he expect us to do his will there? God doesn't just show interest in our companies, he owns them. We work for him, and through prayer, sharing and daring to believe God's promises, even our worst work can be transformed into something glorious.

4. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because
he has anointed me to proclaim good news
to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim
freedom for the prisoners and recovery of
sight for the blind, to set the oppressed
free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's
favour.”
(Isaiah 61, quoted in Luke 4)

5. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

6. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

7. Obedience = right choices within
boundaries

8. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

9. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

10. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

25. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

26. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

35. God
Me
Colleagues

36. God
Colleague Me

38. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with
respect and fear, and with sincerity of
heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6
Obey them not only to win their favour
when their eye is on you, but as slaves of
Christ, doing the will of God from your
heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were
serving the Lord, not people, 8 because
you know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they do, whether
they are slave or free.

41. Serve wholeheartedly... because you
know that the Lord will reward each
one for whatever good they
do, whether they are slave or free.

42. “Manumission”

44. “Manumission”
= sent out by hand

45. “Manumission”

47. When I work, I work for Christ
and I want to get better at this.
I want to serve wholeheartedly
as I serve the Lord when I do this.
So I will obey my earthly bosses,
and work to know and do God’s will
with all of my heart, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.