NBBC Summer Family Week - Ephesians 4:17, 25, 28-29, 30

Introduction: Friends, thank you for joining together this week as we’ve looked at the importance of being together all week long. We considered that the Holy Spirit makes our times together really good and He’s the One Who draws us together, like a magnet (cf. Eph 4:3).

Tuesday, we looked at what the Holy Spirit uses to draw us together is all that we have in common (cf. Eph 4:4-7).

Last night, we looked at how our times together should be spent, encouraging one another to be more like Jesus Christ (Eph 4:14-16).

Tonight, I want for us to consider what are the things that we should be doing to encourage us to be more like Jesus Christ. Let’s begin by looking at Ephesians 4:20-21.

Ephesians 4:20–21 “20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,”

If we’re going to encourage one another to be more like Jesus, then we need to discourage one another from sinning.

We discourage one another from sinning because no sin was found in Jesus.

We also discourage one another from sinning because, when we sin, we make the Holy Spirit sad; Ephesians 4:30 “30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

Let’s look at some ways that we can discourage one another from sinning but also encourage words and actions that please the Lord.

Ephesians 4:25 “25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”

We need to stop lying.

We need to tell the truth, in love (cf. Eph 4:15)

We speak the truth because of how the Holy Spirit has changed us, that we are part of the Church, God’s people, God’s family - we’re family and families should not lie to each other.

Ephesians 4:28 “28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”

We don’t steal.

Things.

Attention.

Time

We work to be generous to others in need.

Ex. Colton

Ephesians 4:29 “29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

We don’t use words that displease the Lord.

Trying to make people laugh at things they should not laugh at.

Speaking hateful, unkind words to anyone, even yelling at your parents.

Instead, we have the opportunity to use our words to encourage others, every moment that we have with them.

Ex. Bicycle ministry - Harvey, Daphne, Quincy, Anna Kate, Selah, Harold.

Conclusion: If you do not find this desire in you, that likely means you have not been saved from your sins. Jesus died to forgive our sins and lives to give us new life through God’s Spirit. I’d love to speak with you more about what this means. Let’s discourage sin in each other and encourage a life that pleases the Lord among one another.