More Words of Wisdom - Ephesians 4

1. Prayer
Bread of heaven, you feed us
in the depths of grief, sin, and hostility.
Nourish us with your word
through the long hours of tears,
and in the dawning awareness
of our need for forgiveness,
so that we may be redeemed
by your steadfast love.
Amen.

2. The Church Calendar
August 8

3. Ephesians 4
more WORDS of WISDOM

4. Therefore each of you must put off
falsehood and speak truthfully to your
neighbor,
for we are all members of one body.
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let
the sun go down while you are still angry,
and do not give the devil a foothold.
Anyone who has been stealing must steal
no longer, but must work, doing
something useful with their own hands,
EPHESIANS 4:25-28 (NIV)

5. 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. And do not
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom
you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
brawling and slander, along with every
form of malice.
EPHESIANS 4:29-31 (NIV)

6. Be kind and compassionate
to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
EPHESIANS 4:32 (NIV)

7. What this adds up to, then, is this: no more
lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor
the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all
connected to each other, after all. When
you lie to others, you end up lying to
yourself. Go ahead and be angry. You do
well to be angry—but don’t use your anger
as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry.
Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil
that kind of foothold in your life.
EPHESIANS 4:25-27 (Message)

8. Did you use to make ends meet by
stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job
so that
you can help others who can’t work. Watch
the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty
come out of your mouth. Say only what
helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God.
Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit,
moving and breathing in you, is the most
intimate part
EPHESIANS 4:28-30 (Message)

9. Make a clean break with all
cutting, backbiting, profane talk.
Be gentle with one another, sensitive.
Forgive one another as quickly and
thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
EPHESIANS 4:31-32 (Message)

10. Ephesians 4
more WORDS of WISDOM

11. a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue
between individuals, based on asking and
answering questions to stimulate critical thinking
and to draw out ideas
and underlying presuppositions;
rooted in the belief that it is
more important to teach students
to think for themselves than to fill
their heads with the “right” answers
SOCRATIC METHOD

12. - Is there anyone you aren’t being honest with?
Why do you think that is? Do you see how
your dishonesty impacts the Body?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION…

13. - Is there anyone you aren’t being honest with?
Why do you think that is? Do you see how
your dishonesty impacts the Body?
- What are the things that make you angry?
Do you think God is angry at those things?
Do you hold on to your anger for too long?
Have you experienced what Paul refers to?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION…

14. - Is there anyone you aren’t being honest with?
Why do you think that is? Do you see how
your dishonesty impacts the Body?
- What are the things that make you angry?
Do you think God is angry at those things?
Do you hold on to your anger for too long?
Have you experienced what Paul refers to?
- What is the motivation for your work?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION…

15. - Is there anyone you aren’t being honest with?
Why do you think that is? Do you see how
your dishonesty impacts the Body?
- What are the things that make you angry?
Do you think God is angry at those things?
Do you hold on to your anger for too long?
Have you experienced what Paul refers to?
- What is the motivation for your work?
- Are the things you say/write/post helpful?
For who? How so?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION…

16. - What do the words you say about the
condition of your inner life? Are your words
to/about others gracious or grievous?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION…

17. - What do the words you say about the
condition of your inner life? Are your words
to/about others gracious or grievous?
- Are you able to be gentle with those who
see things differently, or those who have
wronged you in some way?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION…

18. - What do the words you say about the
condition of your inner life? Are your words
to/about others gracious or grievous?
- Are you able to be gentle with those who
see things differently, or those who have
wronged you in some way?
- Is there anyone you haven’t been able or
willing to forgive? How is that lack of
forgiveness effecting you? Do you see
yourself as one in need of forgiveness?
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION…

19. Bread of life,
you taught us to put away bitterness and anger,
and with tenderhearted kindness
to share the fruit of our labor with the needy.
Strengthen us by your grace,
that in communion with you,
we may forgive one another
and live in love as Christ loved us.
Amen.
Benediction