The Right Attitude – Ephesians 6.5-9 Pt. 1

5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ. 6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart. 7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people, 8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord. 9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him (Ephesians 6.5-9, CSB).[1]
 
Memory Verse – Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people, – Ephesians 6.7

      Over the next several days we are going to discuss what the Bible has to say about being a healthy, happy, and productive church member. As a healthy, happy and productive church member we will find we will be more in tuned to our Lord and Savior, in His Word more and our Prayer Life will be greater.
      Understanding we are each at different places in our walk with God, in our spiritual maturity and growth, we must allow the Holy Spirit to begin to teach us as He is meant to do (John 14.26). The reason we are all at different places is because we are choosing how much of God’s Word we will read, absorb, and understand; while at the same time spending time with Him personally and corporately.
      Throughout this process we will be working through a book written by Thom S. Rainer, ‘I Will’ which I would encourage everyone to get a copy and read. There will be excerpts in some lessons from his book to help illustrate the context or lesson of the day.
      Today let us begin by looking at having the ‘Right Attitude,’ it is very important that we have the right attitude in everything and anything we do. If we go into something with the wrong attitude then we are making that task, that much harder.
      Many years ago, when I was first starting out in college, I had to take an Art Appreciation Class, I had decided right from the beginning I was not going to enjoy the class nor was I going to learn anything in the class. This of course was before I ever set foot in the classroom or met the teacher.
      Needless to say, in the middle of the semester I thought to myself this is not a bad class and I am having some fun learning about this art stuff, however, by that time in the class it was too late to really help my grade much. I did pass the class but not with the grade I should have gotten had I had a better attitude from the beginning.
      Attitude is everything and Paul reminds us in this passage how we must ‘serve with a good attitude.’ But it is not just our attitude that matters it is who our attitude is directed towards. Again, notice in verse seven, Paul says we are to have the right attitude, as to the Lord, not to others although that is important. We must make sure all we do is being done for Christ and the right reason.
      Attitude—Thom Rainer states;

      The right attitude means we recognize that no church is perfect. We expect that some church members will be irritants to us. We acknowledge that no pastor or church staff member is perfect.
      But we serve and do anyway. We serve and do, not out of a sense of legalistic obligation, but out of an overflow of gratitude of what God has done for us through His Son.[2]

      Having this kind of attitude in our lives and our church will help foster both spiritual and physical growth. There are four ways this attitude can be displayed in each Christian church members life; by being a Unifying Church Member, by being a Sacrificial Church Member, by being a Prayerful Church Member, and by being a Joyful Church Member.[3]
      Being a Unifying Church Member, might seem like a simple and easy task but it is one that each of us must take seriously. It is easy to come in to church and seem like we are getting along with everyone, but in reality, we are not.
      When we say a harsh word, or no word at all. When we refuse to be helpful, or will not be flexible in a situation because we want it our own way, then we are not uniting with the body nor being unifying.
      In the first three chapters of Ephesians Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus, with God’s blessing, understanding how faithful they had been, he prayed continually for their spiritual insight, reminding them it was by the power of God in Christ they had salvation and victory over death.
      He continued by reminding them their unity is found in Christ and nothing else, he talked about his ministry to the Gentiles, and understanding the task ahead, prayed to God that He would give the church at Ephesus the Spiritual power to fulfill all God had called them to do.
      In chapter four, Paul urges the church with the word, ‘therefore,’ now that you know all this and understand all the importance of what God has done, what Christ has done, why we need spiritual power and strength, ‘Therefore,’ I urge you—it is time for the church to be united in Christ.

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope, at your calling—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4.1-6, CSB).[4]

      To be united, each one of us must possess four things as listed in this passage; humility, gentleness, patience, love for one another. Humility is the ability to view others better than ourselves. Gentleness means we control our temper and show kindness to others whether we like them or not. Patience means we put up with a lot of stuff, even if we are frustrated or even down right mad at the behavior or attitude of someone else. Finally, loving one another means we accept people for who they are, where they are. It does not mean we agree with their sinful lifestyles, however, loving them demonstrates a lot of grace and mercy.
      “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (I John 4.10-11, ASV).[5] God loved us right where we were, before we got better (Romans 5.8), and brought us into His kingdom through that love. We too must extend the same to everyone else.
      The right attitude starts with being a Unified Church Member, and being united as one body in Christ. Are we willing to be this kind of Christian?
            
Application
 

1. What kind of attitude do you have when it comes to church? Please explain.
2. What kind of attitude do you have toward other church members? Please Explain
3. Deeper Thinking: Read Ephesians 2.11-22, explain what kind of attitude Christ had toward us, and how He showed this attitude? Be specific.
4. Commit to learning Ephesians 6.7 and find one person to share the Biblical Christmas Story with.

 
Prayer
 
      God You are the Only One that matters. You cared for me, long before I cared for You. Help me to have the right attitude, to be the best church member, and a wonderful servant for You. Help me to share Your gospel with others today and every day until Christ returns. I pray all this in Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Eph 6:5–9). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Rainer, Thom, S., (2015), I Will., (pp. 14-15), Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Company
[3] These titles are taken from Thom Rainer’s book, ‘I Will’ (pp15-20). They will be expanded upon in this lesson and lessons to come, but it is highly recommended to read Dr. Rainer’s book.
[4] Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Eph 4:1–6). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] American Standard Version. (1995). (1 Jn 4:10–11). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

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