The Way that Works
Who Are We? 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 14 viewsEphesians 2:1–10 reveals the stark difference between the way we used to walk and the way we now walk in Christ. We once followed a path shaped by the world, the flesh, and the enemy—a way that seemed right but led to destruction (Proverbs 14:12). But now, through Christ’s resurrection, we’ve been given a new mindset and a new operating system. This message challenges us to reframe how we make decisions, how we define success, and how we walk in the world—by faith, not flesh. Using a step-by-step process, we’ll explore how to shift from the default way of man to the divine way of Christ.
Notes
Transcript
✨ Title & Subtitle
✨ Title & Subtitle
Series: Who Are We
Title: “The Way That Works”
Subtitle: From Worldly Reasoning to Resurrection Living
🔥 Opening Paragraph & Hook
🔥 Opening Paragraph & Hook
We’ve all made choices that felt right in the moment—only to regret them later. Maybe it was the job we took that stole our peace, the relationship we chased that left us wounded, or the compromise we made that felt like survival but became a trap. We live in a world that trains us to trust our gut, follow our heart, and make decisions based on what seems reasonable, convenient, or popular. But Proverbs 14:12 warns us,
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”
Jesus reinforces this concept with the broad way that leads to destruction and the narrow way of life and peace that few find.
This gut system is the default operating system of our old self—driven by emotion, self-interest, insecurities, and cultural influence. But when we were raised with Christ, we were given more than forgiveness—we were given a new framework for decision-making. We no longer follow the ways of the world.
🔑 Hook Phrase: “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
This is resurrection living: learning to think, choose, and live based on the wisdom of Jesus, not the whims of man. If we want to step fully into our new identity, we must learn how to come to Christ-centered conclusions, not culture-shaped assumptions.
🧭 Sermon Outline:
🧭 Sermon Outline:
Last week we started our series in Ephesians understanding Who we are in Christ and as a Church. We realized how special we are to God who orchestrated a plan before the beginning of time to redeem us through his Son Christ Jesus. We have been sealed with the Spirit of promise and are assured that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Now, it’s time to start living in our new reality. As you apply the truth of who you are it will affect the decisions you make and the conclusions you draw.
🔑 Hook Phrase: “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
To live in the Resurrection we must modus Operendi: We do this by changing the way we think, speak, and “Changing the Way You Come to Conclusions” or the decisions we make.
To live in the Resurrection we must modus Operendi: We do this by changing the way we think, speak, and “Changing the Way You Come to Conclusions” or the decisions we make.
✅ Diagnose the Default
✅ Diagnose the Default
📖 Ephesians 2:1–3; Proverbs 14:12; Romans 8:6–8
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Before Christ, our conclusions were based on dead thinking—what felt good, looked good, or pleased others. We were driven by flesh and deception.
We followed the course of this world.
We followed the course of this world.
Selfishness - I’m going to take care of me first.
Ambition - The more I have the better I am.
Self Worship - I seek the approval of others more than anything.
We followed the spirit of disobedience.
We followed the spirit of disobedience.
Satan himself: The prince and power of the air.
The lie that true freedom is rebellion against God or God’s authority.
6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Spiritually, that’s exactly what many of us have done—we’ve followed the same patterns, trusted the same instincts, and leaned on the same reasoning that failed us before…hoping this time it’ll work. But if the thinking that led us into brokenness hasn’t changed, the outcome won’t either.
That’s why we must diagnose the default. Resurrection life requires a resurrection mindset. Until we acknowledge that our way isn’t working, we’ll never fully embrace His way. 🔑 “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
🎨 Illustration Insight
Churches that are in decline but want to use the same leadership to recover.
💬 Application: If you don’t know what’s driving you, you’ll keep crashing into the same wall.
🕯️ Discern the Difference
🕯️ Discern the Difference
📖 Ephesians 2:4–5; 1 Corinthians 2:14–16
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
“But God…” changed the narrative. His love awakens us to truth and spiritual discernment. We now see through the lens of the Spirit.
When we were bankrupt, God shared his riches of mercy and grace.
When we were bankrupt, God shared his riches of mercy and grace.
When you had gone as far down the rabbit hole you could go, God pulled you out.
When you had gone as far down the rabbit hole you could go, God pulled you out.
His mercy kept you from death, and his grace gave you new life.
His mercy kept you from death, and his grace gave you new life.
The Spirit has made us alive to the truth.
The Spirit has made us alive to the truth.
We walk to the beat of a different drum.
We walk to the beat of a different drum.
We receive truth that the world can’t receive.
We receive truth that the world can’t receive.
14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
The world doesn’t lack information—it lacks discernment. Just because something makes sense on paper doesn’t mean it reflects the mind of Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual eyes to recognize what the natural mind misses. Without that spiritual discernment, we keep calling dysfunction “normal” and deception “wisdom.” But in Christ, we see differently—we see truth where there was once confusion. We stop reacting from the flesh and start reasoning by the Spirit.
🔑 “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
💬 Application: You can’t live differently until you think differently.
🪜 Decide from Resurrection Ground
🪜 Decide from Resurrection Ground
📖 Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:1–2; Romans 12:2
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
You’ve been raised and seated with Christ. This changes your vantage point—you now reason from above, not beneath.
In Christ we have a seat at the table.
In Christ we have a seat at the table.
We are not the beggars looking for scraps from the rich man table. We are seated at the table with Christ.
We are not the beggars looking for scraps from the rich man table. We are seated at the table with Christ.
We have position in Christ.
We have position in Christ.
Are we making decisions from the vantage point of in Christ?
Are we making decisions from the vantage point of in Christ?
Resurrection sets our affections on things above.
Resurrection sets our affections on things above.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Where you sit shapes how you see.
Where you sit shapes how you see.
If you’re seated in fear, you’ll see life through the lens of anxiety.
If you’re seated in fear, you’ll see life through the lens of anxiety.
If you’re seated in pride, you’ll judge everything through self-preservation.
If you’re seated in pride, you’ll judge everything through self-preservation.
But when you realize you’ve been raised and seated with Christ, your view changes.
But when you realize you’ve been raised and seated with Christ, your view changes.
From resurrection ground, you don’t just react to what’s around you—you respond to who is above you.
From resurrection ground, you don’t just react to what’s around you—you respond to who is above you.
Decisions made from heaven’s seat will always lead to heaven’s peace.
Decisions made from heaven’s seat will always lead to heaven’s peace.
🔑 “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
💬 Application: Every conclusion I come to I must consider: “Does this align with where I’m seated in Christ?”
🛡️ Depend on Grace, Not Gut
🛡️ Depend on Grace, Not Gut
📖 Ephesians 2:8–9; Galatians 3:3
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
We’re not saved by instinct or self-effort but by grace. We can’t trust our gut when it’s been trained by the world—we trust God’s grace.
“The Just shall live by Faith”
“The Just shall live by Faith”
Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
We place our trust in the things hidden from this world.
We place our trust in the things hidden from this world.
We trust in the evidence of God.
We trust in the evidence of God.
You will never finish in the flesh was God started in the Spirit.
You will never finish in the flesh was God started in the Spirit.
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
Our instincts are shaped by our upbringing, trauma, culture, and ego—not always truth. That’s why even well-meaning people can make deeply flawed decisions. The gut may give a quick read, but grace gives a true one. Grace teaches us to wait, to listen, to lean—not on our understanding, but on God’s Word and Spirit. You don’t have to keep trusting your gut when God offers you grace.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
🔑 “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
💬 Application: Grace is not just how we’re saved; it’s how we make sense of life.
👣 Demonstrate the Difference
👣 Demonstrate the Difference
📖 Ephesians 2:10; James 3:13; Matthew 7:24–27
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Your life should look different because your logic is different.
Good works are the fruit of wise conclusions rooted in Christ.
Good works are the fruit of wise conclusions rooted in Christ.
God has begun a good work in you.
God has begun a good work in you.
His workmanship in you produces good works in others.
His workmanship in you produces good works in others.
Your good works cause others to glorify God.
Your good works cause others to glorify God.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
What you believe will always show up in how you behave. You can’t claim to be living in the resurrection and still operate by the world’s blueprint. Your walk tells the story of your wisdom. The good works we walk in don’t earn our salvation, they express it. They are the living proof that the resurrection is real in us. So let your life be a billboard for the way of Christ.
🔑 “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” —Lao Tzu
💬 Application: People should see the resurrection in how you walk, work, and weigh decisions.
🧠 Conclusion
🧠 Conclusion
We no longer walk according to what seems right—we walk according to the One who is right. Christ’s resurrection didn’t just forgive our past—it restructured our path. When we embrace our new identity, we stop trusting our instincts and start trusting His instructions.
🔑 Remember: “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
🛠️ Action Steps
🛠️ Action Steps
🙏 Ask Before Acting: Before any big decision this week, pray: “Jesus, does this reflect where I’m seated with You?”
📖 Renew Your Thinking: Spend 10 minutes daily reading Scripture that helps reset your mindset (Romans 12, Colossians 3).
🔄 Walk It Out: Identify one area where your actions haven’t matched your new identity—and change your course.
🙌 Altar Call
🙌 Altar Call
The truth is—many of us are still making decisions from the old map. We keep trusting the same instincts that led us into confusion, heartbreak, or spiritual dryness. It feels right… but it leads to dead ends. But today, Jesus is inviting you to recalibrate your compass. You don’t have to keep trusting your gut when you’ve been given the guidance of His grace. You don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of what seems right—when you can walk confidently in who is right.
It’s time to surrender the throne of your reasoning.
It’s time to trade dead-end decisions for resurrection direction.
It’s time to declare over your life:
🔑 “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
If that’s your prayer, come forward. Come this morning and commit your way to Christ. Lay down your default patterns and let the resurrection power of Christ reset your mind and your steps. Let Him show you a better way—The Way that Works.
🙏 Pastoral Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we confess that we’ve often leaned on our own understanding instead of leaning into Your truth. We’ve made decisions without You, and we’ve reaped confusion, fear, and regret. But today, we surrender the way that seems right, and we embrace You—the One who is right. Renew our minds. Redirect our steps. And let resurrection life flow through every choice we make. In Your name we pray, Amen.
📺 YouTube Discovery-Optimized Synopsis
📺 YouTube Discovery-Optimized Synopsis
What if your instincts are leading you the wrong way?
In this week’s message, “The Way That Works,” Pastor Bill Sizemore unpacks Ephesians 2:1–10 to show how your identity in Christ transforms the way you think, choose, and live. When we live by what feels right, we often end up confused, frustrated, and stuck. But resurrection living gives us a new lens—and a new direction.
🧭 Discover how to move from the world’s logic to Kingdom clarity.
💬 Hook: “I no longer follow what feels right—I follow who is right.”
➡️ Watch now to learn how to break the cycle of bad decisions and walk in the wisdom of Christ.
#WhoAreWe #Ephesians2 #ResurrectionLiving #ReliantMinistries #ChristianIdentity #KingdomMindset #Transformation #BibleTeaching
