Sermon Tone Analysis

Sunday, August 31, 2008 – Opening Day for a Week of Prayer!

*Words that build up*

Ephesians 4:25-32

/29 //Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen./

Ephesians 4:29 NIV

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During the *previous three weeks*, we have been examining *Paul’s teaching* from his letter to the *church in **Ephesus*, focusing on the *4th chapter*.

Today, we will *complete the chapter*, setting us up for *next Sunday* when we will look at the *chapter as a whole*, though, so far we have always attempted to *keep the whole in mind* as we examine the *parts*.

In the *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 everyday and every week of our lives *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 is Christ who has *put this team together*.

As a result, all of us are *brothers and sisters* and are 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* that *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.

*From our first message* 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*.

The *thrust* of the message two weeks ago 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.

*Last week,* we saw, nearly too vividly, that *our past still tries to pull us back* into its grip and beckon 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.

Last week I issued a challenge in the form of two questions.

I am re-issuing that challenge this morning.

Those questions are in your bulletin as an insert.

*So far* in this 4th chapter of Ephesians, we have been *urged* to *walk in a manner worthy of our calling*.

That calling includes *being patient* with one another and being *committed* to *maintaining the unity* of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Thus this question: (1) Are *you* committed to maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in *this* local portion of the larger body of Christ?

In the *middle* of the chapter, Paul *describes the purpose* of the *apostles*, prophets, *evangelists* and *pastor-teachers*.

They are to *equip the saints* for the works of ministry, for *building up the body* of Christ.

Now very *practically speaking*, I need to know *if we’ve got a deal here* or not.

Paul says *something terribly profound* in verse 16, that *with the equipping comes the responsibility* of every member of the body *to function properly* or *do his or her part* in order to *make the body grow* and build itself up in love.

That sure *sounds* to me *like the striking of a deal* *between the saints* and the *pastor-teachers*.

So, the* proposal* that I am making is this: If you *indicate to us*, the *elders* of this church, that you *want to be equipped for works of service so that New Heights Christian Church will be built up and that after being equipped you will do your part so that New Heights is built up in love,* then, we, the elders, will *meet with you personally* or in *small groups* to *design a course* that is mutually agreeable so that the *equipping can begin* and the *building up can happen*.

So, *the second question* is, (2) *do we have a deal?*

At the *conclusion* of this service, if you are led to *answer* and *sign* the *bulletin insert*, would you please *give the bottom half* to an *usher*, *elder* or put it in the *offering box*.

Lord willing, I will *respond to you* early this week.

Here in *chapter 4 of Ephesians*, Paul is urging us to *remember our calling* as members of Christ’s body and to *live lives worthy* of that calling.

Here is Paul’s opening statement: *Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)*

/1 //As// a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

/

What does *a “worthy” life* look like?

(4:1) Essentially, Paul has been painting a partial picture of the worthy life in this chapter.

Here are *three highlights* stated as *resolutions* from an obedient *follower* of Christ:

*1.

vv.

2-6* I will *work to protect the unity* that the Holy Spirit creates.

I have *bound myself to peaceful unity* through a disposition of *humility*, patience and *forgiveness*.

*2.

vv.

14-16* I will *speak words of truth* with the goal of *strengthening* the hearers’ *relationship with Christ* and their relationship *with fellow Christians*.

*3.

vv.

14-24* I will always *examine* my own teachings and the *teachings* of others *in light of God’s Word* so that love, *humility*, righteousness and *holiness flourish* in the church and so that *deceitful scheming*, deceitful desires and the *hardening of hearts* can be *prevented*.

So far, those are *portraits of a worthy life* that is fulfilling the *calling* that God *gives His followers*.

Let’s see if the *concluding verses of Ephesians 4 adds another portrait* or simply *reinforces* these that have *already been presented*.

*Ephesians 4:25-32 **(NIV)*

/25 //Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

26 //“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 //and do not give the devil a foothold//.

28 //He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

/

/ /

*/29 /**/Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

/*/30 //And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 //Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

32 //Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

/

*This text* that we look at today gives us *an important opportunity* to understand the vital necessity of *studying a text within its context*.

The *opening verse* makes the point.

V.25 We *rightfully conclude* from these words that *to not speak truthfully to our neighbor, to withhold truth from a fellow member of the body of Christ, we will injure the whole body in some way*, as a result.

*If I know* that someone has *stolen your cell phone* and placed it *behind the rear tires* of your car in the parking lot and *I don’t tell you* as I have ability, I have *failed to put off falsehood* and *failed to speak truthfully* to my neighbor.

But, without *the larger context*, it is also possible for us to *arrive at some conclusions* that would be *nearly as injurious* as the *failure to obey* these instructions.

Let me *illustrate*.

Were one to construe by Paul’s instruction in verse 25 that *we should always tell everyone in the church family whatever factual thought that happens to be on our minds at the time*, I believe we would be *wrongly applying this verse*.

If the *factual thought* that is residing in my brain at this moment *happens to be* that a certain person recently *failed to live up to my expectation*, broke a promise to me and I am *looking for supporters* of my plot to take *revenge*, then that *so called truth is not* what Paul is speaking of in verse 25. *How do I know*?

I believe I can give *3 answers*.

*First*, has Paul already *given* me *instructions* about *what I should do when* someone *fails* to live up to my *expectations* and even breaks a *promise*?

I only have to go back to *verse 2 *when Paul says: /be *patient*, *bearing with* one another in love/ to know *that I must filter all my grievances through a disposition or attitude of love and patience and forbearance*.

Plotting *revenge* would be *unacceptable *for me as a Christian.

*Second*, *what I am experiencing* within my own thought processes may be *suffering from a significant lack of information* or even possibly a *lack of remembrance*.

My *thought processes* may even be *faulty*.

How many times have we come to a *false conclusion* simply due to *our own forgetfulness*?

“I am so *upset with you* for *not* showing up for our *dinner engagement* last night?

What *kind of friend* are you, anyway?”

-  “*But*, friend, I believe *we agreed* to have dinner together next week, *not this week*.”

-  “O, *I’m sorry*.

I *forgot* to check my calendar.

*I was so sure* it was for last night.

Please *forgive me*.”

You see, immediately *before verse 25*, Paul stated in verses 22-24, /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./

If I am *living according to my former way of life* it is quite possible that the *factual thoughts* that I am entertaining are *shaped* and *corrupted* by deceitful desires.

Paul says, *my thoughts need to be made new through a new attitude that is being bathed in righteousness and holiness*.

We may have *jumped to a wrong conclusion prematurely* and to *speak* our wrong conclusion will likely *do more harm* than good.

Thus, Paul is *not saying* that we are to *consider every factual thought* residing in our brain *as being truthful*.

*Some* of our *thoughts* may actually be *corrupted data* because they were *filtered through deceitful desires*.

*Third*, Paul’s instructions in verses 15 & 16 *highlight the mission assignment of our words*.

As Christians, *our words have been tagged with an assignment*.

Look for that assignment in these instructions:

*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.