Basics for Building Community

Ephesians 4:17-32

Ephesians 4:17–32 NKJV

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Pray

Community

Wendell Berry

People drift around until they find a suitable community. But no community is suitable. There is plenty wrong with them all. I could construct an airtight argument for not settling in my own community.

The intentional community idea assumes that when you say you love your neighbor as yourself, you have some kind of right to go out and pick your neighbor. I think that the ideal of loving your neighbor has to take on the possibility that he may be somebody you’re going to have great difficulty loving or liking or even tolerating

Folks are looking for community

Are you willing to put in the work to “build” a community?

Basics for Building Community

Put in the Effort

Negatives in the mature Christian life

1. Walk not as other Gentiles

2. Let not the sun go down upon your anger/wrath

3. Let him that stole steal no more

4. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth

5. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God

Be renewed in the spirit of your mind

Ephesians 4:23 NKJV

23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

We are to put off the old man

Throw out the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19–21)

Galatians 5:19–21 NKJV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Christian may neglect his mind

If he does, he may act like a lost person

But he is urged not to do so

The danger of neglecting proper mind input and reaction

The downward road (Rom. 1:18–32)

This can be avoided by renewing the mind

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Our minds need renewing every day

Put on the new man

Ephesians 4:24 NKJV

24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

The Christian is a paradox

He also has the Holy Spirit residing in him

He has the power that raised Christ from the dead

He has all that he needs for victorious living

Labor so that you can give to those in need

Ephesians 4:28 NKJV

28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

Here is a unique purpose for working.

Why do you work?

Here is a better reason: To give to those in need

It is more blessed to give than to receive

Be kind one to another

1. If you are not very kind, you are not very spiritual

2. Kindness that results in being tender to the needs of others

3. Kindness that makes it easy to forgive

4. Kindness that demonstrates the love of Christ to others

Conclusion

Galatians 5:16–18 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Effort to Walk

Galatians 5:22–24 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Bear His fruit

As trees mature and produce more, so will our “community”

Pray