Renewal Through Life With God
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Joined Together, Growing Together
Ephesians 4:17-32 (ESV)
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Sermon Outline
Life with God is needed to renew every area of our lives.
1. Corrupt Deceitful Desires
v22 “former manner of life… corrupt through deceitful desires”
v18-19 “due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous…”
2. Darkened Understanding
vv17-18 “… futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding…”
3. Renewed Life With God
v18 “alienated from the life of God”
v24 “… the new self, created after the likeness of God…”
v23 “be renewed in the spirit of your minds” (v32 “tenderhearted”)
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, we desperately need your help. We don’t want hard hearts. We don’t want to be ruled by corrupt desires. We don’t want minds that are darkened in their understanding. Our thoughts and actions betray us. We have pursued what you have forbidden. We have acted without regard for our neighbor. We have developed greater skill in justifying ourselves than in living justified lives. Forgive us our sins. Teach us the way of Christ. Work your gracious Spirit to soften our hearts, renew our minds, and bind us to you. Have mercy on us. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
How can you tell when someone is alienated from the life of God?
What are examples of corrupted desires? How can good desires become problematic?
How do our desires deceive us?
What difference does faith in God make in our thinking? Do Christian beliefs have influence to shape all of our thoughts? Is thinking as a Christian different in any way than thinking as a non-Christian?
What has Jesus done that makes a deep difference within those who believe in him? How are desires renewed? How is thinking renewed?
How can Christians change how they experience and relate to problematic thoughts? How can Christians serve God while problematic desires remain? What helps?
Why is it important to thoroughly embrace the life God calls us to? Why is halfhearted commitment insufficient? What is attractive or compelling about fully embracing this new life?