Obedience in Christ

Written By Nicole Vollrath

RLC Home Group Handout | November 16th, 2025 

“Obedience in Christ”  | Ephesians 6:1-9

Recap

In this passage we see that all of us live both under authority and with some measure of authority, and the gospel calls us to steward both with Christlike humility. As children, parents, employees, and leaders, we’re invited to reorient our relationships around Jesus—the Son who obeyed perfectly and the Lord who rules with kindness. We obey earthly authority as unto Christ, and we exercise authority in light of His justice, compassion, and grace, knowing that power is dangerous in human hands but safe in His. Filled with the Spirit, we want our homes, workplaces, and relationships to reflect the kingdom as we honor, nurture, discipline, lead, and follow in the fear of Christ..

References 

  • Eph 5:18-21 – We live as one when we walk in the Spirit.

  • Prov 23:22 – Honor your parents throughout your life.

  • Heb 12:6-9 – God disciplines us because He loves us.

  • Ps 103:13 – God shows compassion on His children.


Discussion Questions

Head

  • Is there anything that stood out or spoke to you in this week’s sermon?

  • What are the distinctions between obedience and honor, and why does one “age out” while the other does not?

  • Is the parent/child relationship the same as the boss/employee relationship? How are they

  • the same or different?

Heart

  • Where do you personally feel resistance to being under authority? What does that reveal about the motivations of your heart?

  • For parents: Which side do you naturally fall toward—overly demanding or overly permissive, and why?

  • Define stewardship and describe how to apply the principles of stewardship to the children or employees under your authority.

  • How does remembering that Jesus is the true Master transform the way we react when we feel mistreated or overlooked by earthly authority?

Hands

  • What do I do if my boss asks me to do something that I believe is un-Godly?

  • Parents: What is one small, concrete step you can take to grow either in responsiveness or in consistent discipline?

  • Employees: What’s one aspect of your work where you can more intentionally serve “as unto the Lord and not to people”?

  • Leaders: what’s one place where you may need to repent of using authority harshly or selfishly. What’s a specific action you can take to lead more like Christ?

Nicole Vollrath
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Marriage in Christ