TO LISTEN, SLOW TO
REMEMBER
— At any moment, just remember your
for good and your potential for evil is really . Remember that.
— Surrender this formidable weapon to our Heavenly Father. Christians are to offer their bodies, all the parts of the body as a living
to God.
CONFESS
— Own the
, you have begun with your words. Own the scorching that has been a habit and cut it out. There is no place for sarcasm in marriage, .
Our mouth cannot be
, it can only be
.
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must
live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are
in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
—Ephesians 4:17-19 NIV
There was no religious morality associated with paganism.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. —Ephesians 4:20-21 NIV
- That people have individual rights
- That everyone has individual dignity
- That women should be treated with the same respect that a man should be treated with.
- The poor should not be picked on.
- They should be given the same dignity and status and rights as rich people.
- That sexual harassment, as well as sexual abuse, is wrong.
Christianity impacted the entire Western world by bringing this idea that men, women and children are made in the
of God, and therefore have
value.
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 theof your ; 24 and to put on the , created to be like God in true and . —Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV
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
29 And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts[a] that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them. —Ephesians 4:29 Phillips Translation
29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. —Ephesians 4:29 The Message
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. —Ephesians 4:30-32 NIV
You can’t be a
as long as you’re
.
You have not been called to
people the way they’ve treated you, but to treat people the way God in Christ
you.
- Where do I have
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. —Ephesians 4:29-32 NIV