The Stone of Submission

Rusty Wirt   -   April 26, 2026

Sermon #4, The Stone of Submission 

Bible References: (Phil. 2:3-8, Eph 5:21) 

Main Idea:

Storms will come to your house. How you build your home will indicate how you weather the storms.

Today’s stone is the most overlooked relational dynamic in family systems. If correctly implemented this will help ensure:

• Everyone is heard

• Everyone is supported

The Stone of Submission

Into the Text

1. Let’s Talk About Submission (Phil 1:3-11)
   1. Grammatically Speaking
      1. “Submit” (ὑποτάσσω hypotássō)- To place under, to subject one’s self.
      2. In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and/or carrying a burden”.
   2. Theologically Speaking (Phil 2:3-11)
      1. Jesus is our example for relationships (v. 2:5 also Eph 5:1).
         1. How can I demonstrate Christ’s love and care for this person?
      2. Jesus refused to exploit His divine status (v.6).
         1. Christ did not cling to His rights or privileges, but served for the benefit of others
         2. He “emptied Himself” (kenosis) Christ’s submission is expressed in His self-emptying—not a loss of divinity, but a laying aside of divine prerogatives. He takes on “the form of a servant” and fully enters human life. (v. 7)
      3. Conclusion: Jesus did not leverage his powers for his personal gain but rather gave up his powers to benefit others. This act of submission bestows value on the other person. This is biblical submission

Observations

• Jesus submitted fully to God yet was fully equal with God. Thus, submission does not harm equality.

• When I maximize my personal powers and freedoms, I minimize the value of the people in my family.

• Maximizing personal powers and freedoms maximizes the potential for conflict

• Everyone submits to something.

1. Let’s see this in action in a family (Eph 5:21)
   1. How this word has been abused in the past:
      1. A person is less valuable/important
      2. A person has no autonomy
      3. A person must obey against their will
   2. Submission is toward one another, but it is not for one another (v. 21b).
      1. “out of reverence for Christ
         1. (Φόβος, phóbos) meaning reverence and respect to one who has the right to rule.
         2. One of the highest expressions of my reverence for Christ is my ability to lay down my rights for my family.

Application:

List the people in your family.

Here’s how I can help meet a practical need

Here’s the personal freedom that I can give up