Slaves and Masters?

Embrace God’s Word with us as Dave Shumaker (Elder at Midland Free) preaches from Ephesians 6:5-9 in the message, Slaves and Masters?

FACTS ABOUT SLAVERY

1. Slavery is endemic to fallen humanity
2. Slavery has taken various forms:
   • Kidnap Slavery
   • War-capture Slavery
   • Indentured Servitude
   • Voluntary Slavery (Bond-Servant)
   • Sexual Slavery (Ancient & Modern)
3. Rather than being the source of slavery, the Judeo-Christian West was the first to abolish it.
4. The pernicious thing about American slavery was that it made slavery a racial issue.
5. Sadly, there are currently more slaves in the world than were ever brought to the United States in all its history.

Ways The Scriptures Undercut Slavery

1. Men and women are all made in God’s Image—and are therefore intrinsically valuable. 
2. God’s primary picture of salvation was the delivery of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
3. Being a kidnap slaver is a sign of being an unbeliever (1 Timothy 1:10).
4. War-Capture slavery seems to be a disincentive for war.
5. All Israeli “slavery” was, by definition, indentured servitude.
6. God Gives all His children equal access to the Father through Jesus Christ.
7. Paul even hints at releasing the slave, Onesimus, in Philemon.

Application

1. To those tempted to reject the Scriptures due to misunderstanding its role in history, we would invite you to find true freedom in Christ.
2. As Christians, we should be the hardest workers in our respective workplaces because we work for the LORD.
3. As Christian “bosses” we should model Christlikeness in how we lead in the workplace.