Ephesians, Pt 12
We protect our houses and our cars with security systems, locks, or cameras. We are mindful to keep our insurance current and adequate. Yet, ironically, we often are less concerned about the only long-lasting thing we have, our souls.
Do we maintain the good condition of our souls by working to eliminate ungodly anger from our lives? Are we mindful to keep our hearts free from footholds for the enemy to creep in? Many of us acknowledge that our relationships are the most precious things we have in this life under the sun, but do we pause to realize that the condition of our hearts is the number one factor influencing our relationships?
Well, we’re pausing to do that today!
Angry Sunset, by Jim Feaster
Anchor Texts:
Ephesians 4:25-32 NLV - (The New Life Version) - Last week we used the EASY Version, a limited vocabulary version translated for new English speakers or people with limited reading capacity. This week I want to highlight another easy to read version catering to the same demographics. The NLV was written by missionaries in the Canadian Arctic who worked with First Nations people who had limited English reading skills. I particularly enjoy how verse 25 begins - it’s clear and simple - stop lying and tell the truth!
Questions to Ponder:
Read Eph 4:26 - Paul says “Be angry,” as if it’s expected that we should be angry. What kind of anger is appropriate for Christians given what the rest of this passage says? What boundaries to anger are there? Give some examples of “righteous anger.”
Read Ephesians 4:31. How what kind of anger is talked about here, is it different than the anger first mentioned in v. 26? How?
The words that come out of our mouths are central to this passage. According to the passage, what do lies, anger, and corrupting talk do within the church? What do they do to our witness as Christians to the world?
Being kind and tenderhearted sounds nice (v. 32), but what makes this so hard to do even with Christian brothers and sisters?
Christians are not always truthful, kind, peaceful, hard-working people. So what would you say to a non-Christian who pushes back on the church for being people who don’t embody Christ’s commands? What “defense” of Christianity can you give to the many people who say “Christianity clearly doesn’t work”?
The Theme in Song:
I just discovered the band “Land of Color” this week. This song is from their 2021 album “Show Me What it Means.” The song “Don’t Let the Enemy in” has been stuck in my head all week, and it seemed quite fitting, since I’m preaching on the passage that inspires this song: “don’t give the devil a foothold.'“