Celebration of Discipline:
The Discipline of Submission - The "cross life"
(Downloadable Word document)

What about submission?
What is submission? ….to you? Subordination? Service?

Have you learn anything new about submission during your reading this week?

Have you ever thought about submission as a discipline?

Disciplines are for the purpose of realizing a greater good and are all about freedom. They set us before God so that he can give us the liberation we seek.
"The freedom which corresponds to submission is the ability to lay down the terrible burden of always having to have our own way".

Submission is taught by:

1. Example of Christ:
His ministry to the "subordinates" of his day (women, children, the poor and sick),
His rejection of the social/cultural positions of power and submission to the cross.
Jesus died a "cross death" and lived a "cross life" of submission and service.
Jesus calls his followers to live the "cross life" … a life of voluntary submission and freely accepted service.

2. Epistles (Scriptural mandates): (Jesus example and call to the way of the cross is the basis for teaching on submission).

a. Subordination of those already subordinate (women, children, slaves).
b. Imperative to subordination is reciprocal = focus on dominant figure.
c. Subordination universal in the new order.
Wives to Husbands (Eph 5:22-24) Husbands to Wives (Eph 5:25-29)
Children to Parents (Eph 6:1) Parents to Children (Eph 6:4)
Servants to Masters (Eph 6:5-8) Masters to Servants (Eph 5:9)
Youth to Elders (1 Peter 5:5) Citizens to the State (1 Peter 2:13-14)
Christians to Christians (Eph 5:21) All to God (James 4:7)

Dangers and Limits:
Why did Foster begin the chapter by defining what submission does before defining what it is?

How is this discipline commonly abused or misconstrued?

When should a Christian refuse to submit? (when the limits become destructive - what did he mean?)

Definition and Results:
Submission is the simple understanding that "no man is an island." Life is community and relationship with other human beings. To confess our commitment to community is to confess our commitment to mutual subordination.

Biblical teaching focuses on an inner attitude of mutual subordination, not hierarchical relationships, and the spirit (of consideration and respect) with which we view and value other people.
What is it about submission that allows us to value other people?

Biblical understanding of submission centers on Jesus statement:
"if any one would come after me, let him deny self and take up his cross and follow me".
Why and how is this true?

We must be convinced that self-denial is:
• the foundation for submission; it saves us from self-indulgence.
•a way of understanding that we do not have to have our own way.
Why is "having it our way" so important?

What are some advantages/benefits of "not always having to get our own way"?

Have you experienced the freedom of submission?

Submission is:

•an ethical theme that runs the gamut of the NT.
•compulsory for no other reason than it was the life Jesus lived.
•an obligation for all Christians.

Acts of Submission:
The discipline of submission and service function concurrently.
1. to God - yielding our body, mind, and spirit for God's purposes.
2. to the Scriptures - yielding ourselves to hear, receive and obey the Word.
3. to our Families - a commitment to listen to one another and a willingness to share.
4. to our Neighbors and those around us - helping those in need and doing small acts of kindness.
5. to the Body of Christ - fulfilling our function as a member of the body - doing those things which we can for our church.
6. to the Broken and Despised - fulfilling our purpose as ministers to the poor and undefended in our culture and not just sending our help anonymously.
7. to the World - "a determination to live as a responsible member of an increasingly
irresponsible world."

Of these seven acts of submission which ones do you feel you need to work on the most?

Submission involves attitude as much as or more so than just outward actions; one can act in submission but not possess the inward spirit of submission.

The results of a spirit of submission are:
loving people unconditionally;
expecting others to love in return or be treated the same way;
rejoicing in their success and sorrow in their failures;
freed from anger, resentment, and retaliation when treated wrongfully;
know, understand and experience the meaning of "loving your enemies and praying for those who despitefully use you"; "if anyone strikes you on the right cheek turn the other also".