Subject to the Government
Sermon Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Spiritual Vitality
1 Peter 2:11-17 (ESV)
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Sermon Outline
Subjection (v13), when freely chosen, can express love and honor – today we will apply this to the human institution of government.
1. The problem of subjection
v16 “not using your freedom as a cover up for evil”
vv13-14 “… emperor… governors sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.”
2. The benefit of subjection
v12 “keep your conduct… honorable”
v15 “this is the will of God… doing good”
3. The possibility of subjection
v13 “for the Lord’s sake”, v16 “living as servants of God”
v16 “live as people who are free”
v17 “honor the emperor”
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, the earth is yours and everything in it. You have made all things good, yet we confess we have failed regarding evil. Instead of resisting it, we have been drawn to it. Instead of admitting guilt and turning from the wrong we have engaged in, we have tried to cover it up. Instead of fixing what we have done wrong, we have resorted to blame, excuses, and other means of ignoring it. In all of this, we are guilty of sin and rebellion. Merciful Father, forgive us. Cleanse us. Fix us. Teach us to love and honor others in the true freedom granted to us through Jesus Christ, who bore an unjust punishment so that we would receive undeserved honor. Give us hearts to honor others as we engage this world as those who love you. Help us as residents of this world to conduct ourselves as citizens of your kingdom. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What thoughts or feelings do the words “subjection” and “submission” raise for you? Why?
How are the concepts of “deference” or “yielding” different from subjection? How are they similar?
Where do you see a spirit of rebellion in yourself? In what ways does the idea of subjection bother you because of a problem/issue in you?
What principles should guide you in making decisions to resist, ignore or oppose a person who you would otherwise be in subjection to? How do you know when to not submit?
How does what Jesus did on the cross on our behalf help us deal properly with sin? How can it help you resist the lure of sin? How can it help you turn from, deal with and seek repair where you have already sinned?
How does faithfulness to God free you from the power others claim over you? What does it look like to live in the world as people who are free? What role does fear play in this?
Why does love require yielding, deference, or other forms of humble sacrifice? Does love make a difference in subjection?
In our political context, what are examples of the ways people are engaging political discourse and participation that are problematic? What are you seeing that is exemplary?
What are ways to honor a political leader who may not be an honorable person? What should you, or should you not do?
How can the church be a faithful presence in the world given the specific political system we currently live in? What does being honorable as a citizen look like for a Christian?