Sermon Tone Analysis

Outline

Intro

Bible project summary of Ephesians Chapter 1-3

Three

Three stooges skit of stooges bickering and not working together

Ephesians

Unity ()

(ESV)

4 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

“a prisoner for the Lord” - Paul imprisoned in Rome for preaching the gospel.

How can one live worthy of the calling?

The Greek word for “worthy” (axios) refers to a balance, as on scales.

Thus, believers are to live “in balance” with their calling.

How they act should match what they believe.

How can one live worthy of the calling?

The Greek word for “worthy” (axios) refers to a balance, as on scales.

Thus, believers are to live “in balance” with their calling.

How they act should match what they believe.

“humility and gentleness” - Both the Greek and Roman cultures considered humility and gentleness to be weak character traits showing a lack of self-respect

Both the Greek and Roman cultures considered humility and gentleness to be weak character traits showing a lack of self-respect

Humility is an attitude

Humility is an attitude, and gentleness is the action derived from it.

Gentle people do not attempt to grab for positions of importance or assert authority over others.

Gentle people accept God’s dealings with them without arguing or resisting.

Gentle people are considerate of others.

If everyone in a church had the characteristics of humility and gentleness, conflicts would disappear and members would have strength and power in their service.

Gentleness is the action derived from it

Gentle people do not attempt to grab for positions of importance or assert authority over others.

Gentle people accept God’s dealings with them without arguing or resisting.

Gentle people are considerate of others.

If everyone in a church had the characteristics of humility and gentleness, conflicts would disappear and members would have strength and power in their service.

Patience conveys the quality of being able to handle one another’s faults and failures and refusing to avenge wrongs.

Patience (also translated “long-suffering”) conveys the quality of being able to handle one another’s faults and failures and refusing to avenge wrongs.

No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so believers must be patient with one another despite their faults

No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so believers must be patient with one another despite their faults

Bearing with one another presupposes that, at times, loving others will be a burden.

Believers must be willing to carry the load without expecting reward, thanks, or return.

Bearing with one another presupposes that, at times, loving others will be a burden.

Believers must be willing to carry the load without expecting reward, thanks, or return.

Perhaps no other virtue seems so foreign to our culture as patience.

Perhaps no other virtue seems so foreign to our culture as patience.

Be honest: Do you ever stand by the microwave, tapping your foot impatiently as you wait for it to heat something?

Microwave vs “the old days”

Mexico time story

Unity

Movies with friends sticking together.

Eg.

Scooby Doo and Shaggy

Your friends (Reggie)

Marriage

Families

Country

Church

CRBC

CRBC

Woodlands

Mexico

All of these areas would have unity if they practiced what Paul is saying

Jesus disciples

There is remarkable diversity among the 12 apostles, including fishermen, a tax collector (Matthew), and a zealous revolutionary (Simon the Cananaean).

Judas Iscariot is always listed last

There is remarkable diversity among the 12 apostles, including fishermen, a tax collector (Matthew), and a zealous revolutionary (Simon the Cananaean).

Judas Iscariot is always listed last

There is remarkable diversity among the 12 apostles, including fishermen, a tax collector (Matthew), and a zealous revolutionary (Simon the Cananaean).

Judas Iscariot is always listed last

Simon … the Zealot.

The Zealots were political activists who were radically opposed to Roman rule.

Simon … the Zealot.

“Zealot” comes from the Greek word zēlōtēs.

The Zealots were political activists who were radically opposed to Roman rule.

Apart from Jesus’ call and influence on their lives, Matthew and Simon would have had deep animosity toward each other, with Matthew (as a tax collector) working in the service of Rome, and Simon (as a Zealot) seeking to overthrow Rome.

Matthew and Simon would have had deep animosity toward each other, with Matthew (as a tax collector) working in the service of Rome, and Simon (as a Zealot) seeking to overthrow Rome.

See if anyone has solved the riddle.

in each case the oneness expresses both the uniqueness of the item and its foundational value for unity.

All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

(ESV)

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

in each case the oneness expresses both the uniqueness of the item and its foundational value for unity.

All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

What’s the pattern?

(answer: One)

in each case the oneness expresses both the uniqueness of the item and its foundational value for unity.

All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

This represented two things:

Uniqueness of each item listed

One = unity

All seven express the reality that there is only one gospel and that to believe that gospel is to enter into the unity it creates.

(ESV)

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Qualifications for being an “Apostles”

Qualifications

to have seen the risen Christ,

to have been sent out by him to preach the gospel,

to be working on behalf of the kingdom, building its foundation (as noted in 2:20).

Paul also notes “signs, wonders, and miracles” as marks of a true apostle ().

“Apostles” included the eleven men Jesus called (without Judas), plus others who are called apostles—such as Paul himself (), Matthias (), Barnabas (), Jesus’ brother James (), Silas (), Andronicus and Junias ().