How did you learn Christ? (Not just learn ABOUT Christ?)

Today I want to challenge us to acknowledge that changed behavior doesn’t happen without a change of what you know.

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 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. —Ephesians 4:17-25

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. —Ephesians 4:17

• This is what limiting your learning to experience, observation, and passions can produce.

• 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! 21 assuming that you have heard him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,

• Jesus is the Content of Christian Learning: “You learned Christ”

  You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. —John 5:39–40 39

• Jesus is the Communicator of Christian Learning: “You Heard Him”

  27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. —John 10:27

20 But that is not the way you learned Christ! 21 assuming that you have heard him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, —Ephesians 4:20

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. —Ephesians 4:22-24

• The putting off of the “Old Self” looks like Repentance.
• The putting on of the “New Self” Looks like Obedience.
• And look what connects those two: “To be renewed in the spirit of your minds”
• That looks a lot like Christian Belief. A change of MIND

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. —Ephesians 4:25

Pastor’s Challenge
- What rhythm do you have in your life for Learning Christ with others?
- And lastly remember: 5-12-5-5-12 4-1-21-1