Submit To Everyone! | Crossland Community Church

Psalm 23 paints a vivid picture of God as our shepherd, providing, guiding, and protecting us even in the darkest valleys. This image reminds us that while God is unfathomable in His greatness, He is also approachable and intimately involved in our lives. Just as a shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures and still waters, God leads us to places of rest and refreshment, even when chaos surrounds us. Our understanding of who God is shapes how we respond to His calling and the world around us.

Reflecting on Veterans Day, we see a powerful parallel between those who serve in the military and our calling as followers of Christ. Service members willingly surrender certain rights for the common good, not because they are forced, but because they believe in something greater than themselves. In the same way, following Christ means voluntarily laying down some of our personal rights and freedoms—not out of compulsion, but out of love and obedience to God. This act of submission is not about losing our dignity or becoming doormats; rather, it is about aligning ourselves with God’s purposes and demonstrating a different way of living in a world obsessed with asserting rights.

Submission to authority, whether governmental, workplace, or otherwise, is a challenging concept, especially in a culture that prizes individual rights. Yet, Scripture calls us to submit to every human authority for the Lord’s sake, not because those authorities are always just, but because God is at work through our obedience. This does not mean we surrender to evil or injustice, but that we trust God’s sovereignty and seek to do good, even when it is inconvenient or costly. Our willingness to submit and do good silences the ignorant talk of foolish people and becomes a powerful witness to the world.

True freedom is found not in clinging to our rights, but in willingly laying them down for the sake of others and the glory of God. Christ Himself is our ultimate example—He suffered unjustly, did not retaliate, and entrusted Himself to God, the just Judge. In doing so, He brought salvation and healing to us all. As we follow in His steps, we are called to do good, to love deeply within the family of God, to respect all people, and to trust our Shepherd to provide, protect, and guide us through every storm. Communion reminds us of this ongoing provision and the peace we have in Christ, our Good Shepherd.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Unfathomable Yet Approachable Nature God is beyond our full comprehension, yet He graciously reveals Himself in ways we can understand. Like the ocean’s depths, we cannot fathom all of who He is, but He invites us to wade in and experience His presence. This tension between His greatness and His nearness should lead us to awe, humility, and a deeper trust in His guidance. [01:22]
• 2. Voluntary Surrender for a Greater Good Just as soldiers willingly give up certain rights for the sake of the nation, followers of Christ are called to lay down personal freedoms for the sake of God’s kingdom. This surrender is not forced but chosen, reflecting a heart that values God’s purposes above personal preference. True spiritual maturity is seen in the willingness to give up what we could claim, so that God’s love and justice might be displayed through us. [07:28]
• 3. Submission as a Distinctive Christian Witness Submission to authority is not about blind obedience or loss of identity, but about trusting God’s sovereignty and seeking the common good. When we submit for the Lord’s sake, especially in difficult circumstances, we demonstrate a different way of living that confounds the world’s expectations. Our good deeds, done in humility and respect, have the power to silence critics and point others to Christ. [18:57]
• 4. True Freedom Expressed Through Restraint Freedom in Christ is not the license to do whatever we want, but the power to choose what is best for others and for God’s glory. The greatest expression of freedom is the willingness to lay it down, following Christ’s example of restraint and sacrificial love. In a world that equates freedom with self-assertion, choosing to serve and submit becomes a radical act of faith. [20:23]
• 5. Christ’s Example: Suffering, Submission, and Trust Jesus endured suffering and injustice without retaliation, entrusting Himself to God who judges justly. His silence before His accusers and His willingness to bear our sins on the cross set the pattern for our own lives. When we face hardship or are called to submit, we look to Christ, knowing that our Shepherd is with us, providing peace and purpose even in the midst of life’s storms. [37:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:18] - Psalm 23: The Lord as Shepherd
• [01:01] - God’s Unfathomable Nature
• [02:08] - Personal Update and Gratitude
• [03:39] - Veterans Day: Honoring Service
• [04:28] - The Cost of Volunteering
• [06:35] - Surrendering Rights for the Common Good
• [07:28] - The Christian Call to Surrender
• [08:48] - Submission and Spiritual Positioning
• [10:39] - Submitting Without Surrendering Values
• [12:30] - Motivation: For the Lord’s Sake
• [14:37] - Respecting Human Authority
• [19:26] - Silencing Ignorant Talk by Doing Good
• [20:23] - True Freedom in Christ
• [23:22] - Submission in the Workplace
• [26:48] - Bearing Unjust Suffering
• [30:23] - Pushing the Envelope of Doing Good
• [34:12] - Practical Goodness: Serving the Community
• [36:34] - Christ’s Example of Submission
• [39:29] - Finding Peace in the Eye of the Storm
• [41:36] - Communion: Remembering the Shepherd

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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### Bible Reading

Psalm 23 (ESV)
> The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
> He makes me lie down in green pastures.
> He leads me beside still waters.
> He restores my soul.
> He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
> Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
> I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
> your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
> You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
> you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
> Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
> and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

1 Peter 2:13-25 (ESV)
> Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
> Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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### Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 23, what are some specific ways the Lord acts as a shepherd to his people?
2. According to 1 Peter 2, what is the purpose behind submitting to every human authority?
3. The sermon compared the voluntary surrender of rights by soldiers to the Christian life. What are some rights or freedoms that Christians are called to lay down, according to the message? [[07:28]]
4. What example does Christ set for us in how he responded to suffering and injustice? [[37:01]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that God is both unfathomable and approachable, like the deep ocean but also a safe shore. How does this tension affect the way believers relate to God? [[01:22]]
2. Why does Peter (and the sermon) emphasize that submission is “for the Lord’s sake” and not just for the sake of the authorities themselves? [[12:30]]
3. How does the act of doing good in the face of opposition or ignorance serve as a witness to the world, according to both Peter and the sermon? [[18:57]]
4. In what ways does Christ’s example of suffering without retaliation challenge the way Christians typically respond to unfair treatment? [[37:01]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about God leading us to “green pastures and still waters” even when chaos is all around. Is there an area of your life right now where you need to trust God’s guidance and rest, even though things feel out of control? What would it look like to let God shepherd you in that area? [[01:22]]
2. Think about a right or freedom you value (like expressing your opinion, or standing up for yourself at work). Is there a situation where God might be calling you to lay that down for the sake of someone else or for the sake of the gospel? How would that feel? [[07:28]]
3. The sermon said, “We can submit to authority because it’s the way to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” Is there a place in your life (work, family, community) where you’re tempted to argue or assert your rights, but God might be calling you to do good instead? What would that look like? [[18:57]]
4. When was the last time you did good for someone who didn’t deserve it, or who might even have been against you? How did that experience affect you or them? [[30:23]]
5. The message challenged us to “push the envelope of doing good” so much that if it were illegal, there’d be enough evidence to convict us. What is one practical way you or your group could do more good in your community this month? [[30:51]]
6. Christ suffered without retaliating and entrusted himself to God. Is there a situation where you’re tempted to get even or defend yourself? What would it look like to follow Christ’s example and trust God with the outcome? [[37:01]]
7. Communion is described as a reminder of God’s ongoing provision and peace. How can you let the reality of Christ as your Shepherd shape your attitude and actions this week, especially when you face stress or conflict? [[41:36]]

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