Colossians 3:18-21 (ESV)

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

• Today, we’re looking once again at Colossians 3 to see how a life raised by Christ must reflect a ‘Higher Calling’ in our most private relationships.”
• If Christ has truly raised you to new life, your life at home must reflect a higher calling.
• The arena of relationships is our best testing ground for spiritual authenticity.

If Christ rules your heart, He must reshape your home.

#1) WIVES: Respect by Submission (V. 18)

Colossians 3:18 (ESV)

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

#2) HUSBANDS: Love Like Christ (V. 19)

Colossians 3:19 (ESV)

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

A godly husband doesn’t demand respect—he cultivates it through Christ-like love.

#3) CHILDREN: Honor Through Obedience (V. 20)

Colossians 3:20 (ESV)

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Obedience today shapes who you become tomorrow.

Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:

3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

John 6:38-40 (ESV)

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

John 15:10 (ESV)

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Exodus 20:12 (ESV)

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

#4) FATHERS: Encourage Without Provoking (V. 21)

Colossians 3:21 (ESV)

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

• Provoke = erethizō = ; embitter; stir up; irritate; nagging; deliberately annoy or anger; incite to do or feel something; especially by arousing anger.

Your words are either building their future or breaking their spirit.

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT)

My child, don’t reject the LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you.

For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

Proverbs 29:17 (ESV)

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Correction without love creates rebellion.

• Self-evaluation for Parents: “Is my discipline intended to correct with love, or is it an outlet for my own anger?”.

Ephesians 6:4 NKJV

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Discipline should shape the heart, not crush it.

CONCLUSION

You can’t have a Christ-centered church with Christ-neglected homes.

• God calls us to a higher calling in our homes. Demonstrating our new self in Christ must begin in our homes.
  • Is your mind and heart set on Christ at your home?
  • Is your old self purged at your home?
  • Are you demonstrating Christ-like virtues at your home?
  • Is Jesus the Lord of your family?

Your home reveals what your heart truly worships.

If Christ rules your heart, He must reshape your home.

Call to Action: The “Home Altars” Challenge

• If Christ has truly raised you to new life, your life at home must reflect that higher calling.
  • Wives → “Will you trust God’s design?”
  • Husbands → “Will you love sacrificially?”
  • Children & Youth → “Will you honor your parents with your hearts?
  • Parents → “Will you lead with grace?”

Revival doesn’t start in the church—it starts in the home.