One Body, One Vision Pt. 4 - Renewed People, Renewing Place

Jamaal Williams

17 Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thoughts.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts.
19 They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more.

20 But that is not how you came to know Christ,
21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus,
22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires,
23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.

25 Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another.
26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and don’t give the devil an opportunity.
28 Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need.
29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.
30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.
32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

–Ephesians 4:17-32

Big Idea: Renewed people live a better story together by the Spirit for the world.

1. Leave the Old Life (vv. 17–19)

• “You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do.”
• Life without God is:
• Darkened in understanding
• Alienated from the life of God
• Hardened in heart

2. Learn the New Life (vv. 20–24)

• “But that is not how you learned Christ.”
• Transformation involves:
  • Put off the old self
  • Be renewed in the Spirit
  • Put on the new self
• Renewal Defined
  • Renewal is not self-improvement.
  • It’s participation in the life of Christ.
    • The old self is taken off
    • The Spirit renews the mind
    • The new self is put on

3. Live the Renewed Life (vv. 25–32)

• Renewal looks like this:
• Truth replaces pretense
• Grace replaces gossip
• Compassion replaces criticism
• Renewal in Relationships
  • Renewal touches every part of life:
    • Speech: Words that build up
    • Work: Hands that give, not take advantage
    • Anger: Hearts that forgive
• The Spirit’s Sensitivity
  • “Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.”
  • When we divide, gossip, or withhold forgiveness, the Spirit grieves.
  • When we build up, forgive, and show compassion, the Spirit rejoices.
• Gospel Power of Forgiveness
  • “Be kind and compassionate… forgiving one another, as God forgave you in Christ.”

4. Conclusion/Application

• Let’s be Dream Disciples—
• Resilient Apprentices, Sacrificial Friends, Adventurous Guides, Courageous Storytellers—
• living out the better story God is writing through us.