ICE BREAKER:
What are (humorous or serious) mistakes that you made once in your life and immediately concluded that you would never do again? (Ex. Touching hot stove or electric fence)
READ Ephesians 5:15-17 SERMON DIGESTION: Your chance to give any personal input on the sermon.
DISCUSS:
Pastor Thomas paralleled the word ‘wisdom’ with the term “God-centered.” Wise living is God-centered living. It is living with Jesus at the center of your concerns and choices.
Verse 16 declares that wise living is making the best use of your time.
Verse 17 declares that wise living is living out “the will of the Lord.”
Are you deliberate about linking your small life story with God’s larger story going on around you every day?
SERMON DIGESTION: Your chance to give any personal input on the sermon.
Discuss: What are your primary reasons for living a God-honoring life? When sin tempts or grabs you what reasons are primarily powerful in turning you around? READ Ephesians 5:1-2 What motives does Paul list for holy living in 5:1-2? There are at least 3.
The church family in Ephesus lived in a multi-cultural, pagan society that was held together through the demonic and sexualized worship of Greek gods. It was a culture thick with un-holy practices and beliefs.
READ 5:3-4 Pastor Thomas unpacked this section by arguing that “a major part of walking in love, as Christ loved us, is treating others in holy ways not in harmful ways.”
After the list of instructions from 4:1-5:4 Paul gives 4 motivations for holy living in 5:5-21. Why is it critical to put Gospel-centered motivations alongside Gospel-centered commands? READ 5:5-7 to hear Motivation for Holy Living #1
READ 5:7-14 to hear Motivation for Holy Living #2 Pastor Thomas summarized this motivation as: “You are a blazing light that can give life. Become who you are.”
Sermon Title - When the Body Breaks: How to Fight for Unity (Eph. 4:24-5:2)
ICE-BREAKER: 3 Myths to ponder and discuss.
SERMON DIGESTION: Your chance to give any personal input on the sermon.
FURTHER DISCUSSION: Pastor Thomas repeatedly posed the question, “What are your goals for your relational conflicts?”
Reflecting on Paul’s specific instructions: v.25. -Do you manipulate the truth to avoid or minimize conflict? How is this a sinful and relationally damaging way to function? -Is there any way that you need to be more honest or clear in the way you relate to others? v.26-27. -What are Paul’s 3 “do nots” in these verses for avoiding unrighteous anger? Put them in your own words. -Give examples of righteous anger in personal relationships. How can that anger be used to solve conflicts and mature relationships? v.28. -What is most difficult for you to be generous with? Why? -What biblical truths encourage us to generous? (not commands but reasons) v.29. -If you could change one thing about the way you use your tongue what would it be? What are you doing to make that change? v.31-32. -Are you nursing any of the attitudes in v.31 toward any person? -How are the truths in 5:1-2 supposed to fuel you toward a 4:32 lifestyle? Do they? Why or why not? At times, God will "break our bones" (by making us feel the pain of his displeasure with us because of our sinful and ungodly choices or by his loving discipline of us) in order to bring us to a place where we can know him more fully, and feel the joy in Christ more completely. This should cause us to be glad and rejoice.
For His Glory, Pastor Jason |
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