Grace and peace to you from our Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ. As I sit down to write this, I’m still hearing the echo of the words I shared from the pulpit this past Sunday. The Holy Spirit has been moving me to put those thoughts onto the page, hoping they’ll stir your heart the way they have stirred mine.

The Gospel That Challenges Us

When I read the second epistle of Paul, I’m reminded why pastors love it so much: it pulls us out of our comfortable, worldly understandings and forces us to wrestle with the very core of who God is. The gospel isn’t a feel‑good story; it’s a *challenge* to our spirit. It should make us uneasy, because it confronts the ways we have settled for “good enough” in our walk with Christ.

Women, Salvation, and Silence

A question that came up just before the service - “Are women truly saved through childbirth? Must they stay silent in the church? What about wearing nice things, braids, pearls, and gold? - has been on my mind ever since.

Childbearing is not the means of a woman’s salvation. Paul’s words to Timothy (1 Tim 2:15) are often misunderstood; they speak of the promise that comes through the birth of Christ, not a formula for personal redemption.

Silence is not a blanket command to mute women’s voices. In Ephesians, Paul tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church—a love that speaks life, encouragement, and truth. The church is built up when every believer, male or female, uses the gifts God has given them.

Adornment—whether a braid, a pearl, or a fine dress—should never become a measure of godliness. Our true adornment is the character God cultivates within us: humility, love, and a heart that glorifies Him.

The Parable of the Unfaithful Steward

Jesus told the story of the steward who mismanaged his master’s resources. Some hear it as a license to “do whatever works” to gain favor. I hear something far deeper: a mirror held up to our spiritual stewardship.

We are called to be faithful with what God has entrusted to us—our time, our talents, our relationships. The parable warns us that shortcuts and self‑service lead to ruin, while integrity points us to the One who truly saves.

Marriage: A Picture of Christ and the Church

A recurring theme in my sermon was the marriage metaphor. The Apostle Paul paints the husband as the head of the household, not to lord over but to love his wife as Christ loves the church—sacrificially, patiently, and with a desire to lift her up.

When two “generals” try to command the same army, chaos ensues. A healthy marriage is a partnership where one leads in love and the other follows in trust. This isn’t about oppression; it’s about Christ‑like leadership that points both spouses toward the Kingdom.

Who Teaches the Faith?

Growing up, my mother was the primary teacher of my faith. In many homes today, women are the spiritual backbone—praying, reading Scripture, guiding children. Yet the Bible gives men the responsibility to be the spiritual heads of their households. This isn’t a privilege of power; it’s a call to serve—to teach, protect, and model Christ.

If we neglect this calling, we often outsource the teaching of faith to the church building, forgetting that the home is the first place the gospel should be lived out.

The Sabbath and True Rest

We also discussed why the early church moved worship from Saturday to Sunday. The Sabbath, Jesus taught, was for us—a gift of rest that points us to our dependence on God. It isn’t a legalistic checklist; it’s an invitation to lay our burdens at the foot of the cross and trust that He will provide.

Subject vs. Object: Who Is the Verb?

A habit I see in many believers is to make themselves the subject of the verb—“I do,” “I act,” “I decide.” The truth of Scripture flips that script: Jesus is the subject. He is the one who brings salvation, transformation, and change. We are the object—the ones acted upon by His grace.

When I ask, “If I told you my message would be two hours long, what would you think?” the honest answer is, “I have plans!” Yet God’s message isn’t about our schedule; it’s about *what He does* in us. Our role is to receive, not to control.

A Call to Live as the Bride

The church is the bride of Christ, called to submit to His Word and to each other. In marriage, a healthy amount of submission—when both partners willingly place themselves under the authority of Christ—prevents the “two generals” scenario. The husband leads as Christ leads; the wife follows as the church follows—both trusting the same King.

Closing Prayer

May the glorious peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds anchored in the true faith. Let us be people who are acted upon by Jesus, whose lives reflect the marriage between Christ and His bride, and whose homes become the first churches where the gospel is lived out daily.

Amen.

— Pastor Chris Byars

If this message resonated with you, feel free to share it, comment below, or reach out for a deeper conversation. Let’s keep walking together in the light of His truth.