Sermon Notes

Unity: Your Words Matter!

Ephesians 4:17-24

“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.” (Ephesians 4:17-32 ESV)

LET YOUR WORDS BE HONEST: Don’t Lie and Speak the Truth (v.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 4:25

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

LET YOUR WORDS BE POSITIVE: Don’t Use Your Words to Tear Others Down (vv. 26-27)

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27

“Proverbs 29:11 says, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise person holds it in check.” (CSB)

LET YOUR WORDS BE UPLIFTING: USE THEM TO BUILD OTHERS UP (vv. 29-30)

“29-30 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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth,…” (Amplified Bible Ephesians 4:29)

WHERE WE SHOULD BE AWARE OF OUR WORDS:

-In the church among the Body

-Out in public, as others are watching us

-In your family with your kids

-In your marriage with your spouse

-Your own self-talk