Sermon Tone Analysis

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Sunday, August 24, 2008
*Put off the old to put on the new*
Ephesians 4:17-24
/22 //You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 //to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 //and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness./
Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
-----------
Last week *I left you in our holy huddle* where I had *compared* the *local church* to a *football team* with Jesus Christ as the *team owner*.
The *thrust* of last week’s message was that as owner, *Jesus has appointed a team of coaches* to train, equip and prepare *the entire team* for *works of service* that will *build up the whole team* to be effective in bringing others *into a saving and sanctifying relationship* with Jesus Christ.
This is *the time of year* when young boys turn out for football with *visions of playing in the game* at some position, dreaming of *making at least one important play* that helps their team win the game.
And, *because of that vision*, none of the boys need an invitation to *place themselves under the mentorship* of their coaches.
The *desire alone *to be on the team and to *play in the game* is *enough* to initiate communication *with the coaches*, even if it’s only non-verbal communication, that “*we want to contribute to the success* of our team.”
*Two weeks ago* the focus was on the *importance of the team being unified* around the One who *brought us on to the team*.
We heard from the Apostle Paul *how important* it was that we *always bear in mind* that it was *through God’s mercy and grace* that each of us were *placed on the team*.
So, anytime we are *tempted to withhold love* and *forgiveness* from another team member, we need to *remember* on what *basis* we, ourselves, were *made members on the team*.
It *wasn’t* because of *our own righteousness*.
It was strictly on the *merits of Christ’s righteousness*.
Thus Paul *opened chapter 4* of Ephesians with these words: *Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)*
/1 //As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 //Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 //Make every effort to keep the unity// of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
/
So, here we are *again in our holy huddle*, ready to hear Paul’s *next instructions*.
We are *a team* that has been *formed entirely on the basis of God’s redeeming action* of giving His Son Jesus Christ to be the *substitute sacrifice* for our sin.
There is *no other way* to be a member of God’s team.
Christ Himself has *demonstrated His love for us* *in this* that while we were *still sinners*, He died for us.
That is *the extent to which Christ went* to bring us on to His team.
Therefore, it should *not be a surprise* to any one of us that *our calling* as members of His team is to */Be completely humble/*/ and gentle; /to /be *patient*, *bearing with one another* in love./
Thus, when we begin to *think of ourselves* as having the *right to not be put upon* or *offended* or that we *really are not obligated* to */make every effort/*/ to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace,/ then we have *forgotten on what basis* we are even *members* of this team *in the first place*.
When we *suffer from this memory loss* it fosters an *independent spirit*, which Paul is saying *undermines the unity* that is ours in Christ.
This *same independent spirit* gives us the *right to be offended* and to *disassociate ourselves* from the team that Christ has placed us in.
In the past couple of weeks, *hundreds of boys* in the Kent area have *shown up on the football fields* with the hope of being *part of a winning* football team.
All of them *soon discover*, if they didn’t *realize it prior*, that *team unity and cohesiveness is vital to a winning team*.
Showing up for *practice every time* it’s scheduled, *working hard* on the drills, *learning the playbook*, doing *what the coaches tell them to do* – these are just *basic to the preparation* and *training* that takes place *on every football field* where teams are being *built to win games*.
We have *among us many* who have *coached* sports teams and *several* who *continue* to do so.
You can *ask any one of them* what it is like *when a player develops an independent spirit*.
I just heard it from *Shaquille** O'Neal* during an *interview* about what was *different about this Olympic basketball team* from the *previous*.
He said, “*Your question has the answer*.
It’s the word *team*.
*/We are a team this time/*,” he said.
Clearly, Paul is saying that *church is a team sport*.
The *body of Christ is a single body* whose members are *different* from each other but are *all linked together* to make *one unit* and they function *under the leadership of one head*, who is Christ.
This is *how Paul said it* in the last two verses in our study from last week.
*Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV)*
/15 //Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 //From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
/
In this *4th chapter of Ephesians, *Paul has outlined for us a *strategy* for how a *local church family* is able to *grow* and *build itself up* in love.
*His strategy* calls for a *very intentional focus* on Jesus Christ, the owner of the team.
Therefore, I am *urging each of us to recommit ourselves to Christ* as our *highest* and *most valued priority*.
I am challenging everyone of us to *take control of our calendars* so that our days and our weeks *reflect* that *Jesus Christ truly is our Lord*, the Head of His Church.
*Paul’s strategy* also calls for a *very intentional effort* to maintain the *unity of the team* by expressing *support and encouragement *at every turn and in every situation.
It may be *like playing cards*.
You work with *the hand you are dealt*.
Good players don’t just make the best of it, *they work* to turn it into *a winning hand*.
It is Christ who has *put this team together*.
As a result, all of us are *brothers and sisters* called to humbly serve our Lord *side by side* in worship and evangelism.
Because of this truth, I *unashamedly am challenging **New** **Heights* to an even *higher view* of the *local church* than we may presently hold.
For I believe the *Scriptures tell us* that it is *through the local body of Christ* where *our love for Christ* is given the *best opportunity* to develop and be *employed*.
It is in the context of a *local assembly* of believers where our *faith is best lived out*, not in isolation from the world, but in its *most effective impact* on the world.
For I am *convinced* that *faithful, obedient, loving Christians*, who are committed to the mission of a local church that is faithfully serving Christ, have the *greatest potential for impacting the unbelieving world* that surrounds them.
And thus, I hope to *persuade you* through the *truth of Ephesians 4* and through the *work of the Holy Spirit* applying the truth to your life, that *there is not one thing* that you would want to *commit yourself to more* than to *Christ*, to *His Church* and to *His work* in the world.
And Paul is giving us *a strategy* to make that *happen right here* at New Heights Christian Church.
I invite you to *stand with me* as we read together the text for today.
We are reading from:
*Ephesians 4:17-24 (NIV)*
/17 //So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 //They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.
19 //Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
/
 
/20 //You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
21 //Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
*22 */*/You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 /**/to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 /**/and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
/*
You may be seated.
-- Here’s how I would *summarize verses 1-24* at this point.
*Firstly*, our *team* has *gathered* and we have *all affirmed* that *we are* *committed to team unity*.
We recognize that we are *members of the team because* we have been *forgiven much* and thus we are *all prepared to extend much forgiveness*.
*Secondly*, we understand that *Jesus Christ is the head* of our team, that He has *assigned some* of our members to serve as *His coaching staff* to *equip* and *prepare* our team for works of service.
We also recognize that *each of us is uniquely fitted* for this team and are *committed to do our part* to make our team *successful*.
*Thirdly*, from the *text* we now look at, we also recognize that *our past still tries to pull us back* into its grip and beckons us to *return to the lifestyle* we left behind.
Thus, it is important that we are *committed to take full advantage of being members of a united body of believers*, making certain that we are *keeping our focus on living in Christ* and that we are *in a healthy relationship* with our *coaches* and the *fellow members* of our team.
Just *how important* is this?
When a *child hears dad say*, “I’m *telling* you, *don’t* do that again.
I *insist* on it.
*Don’t even think* about it,” what *level of importance* would you *assign* to dad’s instruction?
*Not very* important?
*Mildly* important?
Or, *very* important?
I suppose the *tone of voice* does play a role in *how we would respond*.
But, it would be *hard to suggest* that dad’s instructions are anything less than *very important*.
Now *listen* to Paul.
*Ephesians 4:17-24 (NIV)*
/17 //So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
/
Not only is Paul’s *instruction firm and clear*, but he also gives *rationale for his urgent instruction*.
First, Paul *attaches the authority* of the Lordship of *Christ* to his instruction.
That *raises the degree* of importance immediately *to the top*.
Second, Paul says that *the lifestyle of Gentiles* is a *futile way* to live.
It is a *waste*.
It is like *chasing shadows*, like *blowing bubbles*.
It is like *giving one’s life to empty goals* that leave no benefit to anyone.
I get *the impression* that these *good friends* of Paul are *on the verge of being snookered* by the *false promises* and *deceptive schemes* of their godless culture.
I would like to give you *an assignment*.
*Listen carefully to the promises* that are being made by our culture.
Listen carefully and *write them down*.
Listen, as well, to the *arguments to justify behavior* that is *contrary* to the truth of *God’s word*.
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