Walking The Road Less Travelled
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Published in the year 2000, Alone Together: Bowling Alone:The Collapse And Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam
Decline of social capital and decrease in civil discourse within the public arena
Building community within a virtual worship, teaching, and meeting space
In the age of a Coronavirus pandemic- oneness & community is being tested within our families and social groups- including within the family of God- the church
Transition To Body
Transition To Body
Paul a prisoner for the LORD i.e. unable to be there physically but still engaged and concerned for the Ephesians
Paul can offer encouragement!
Not by coincidence, happenstance, or accident
Body- How we walk the road less travelled
Body- How we walk the road less travelled
Walk Responsibly
Walk Responsibly
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
Walk- to conduct ones life, behave, live as habit of conduct
Manner worthily- manner corresponding to the necessity
Calling- invitation to experience of special privilege & responsibility
Calling (privilege & responsibility) to which you been called (body of Christ)
Walk Graciously
Walk Graciously
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
With All humility and gentleness
With All humility and gentleness
Humility
Gentleness- the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance, gentleness, humility, courtesy, considerateness, meekness in the older favorable sense
Ephesians 4:1–2 (IVPBBCNT): Although gentleness was a recognized virtue, most Greek writers viewed “meekness” in the sense of “humility” negatively, unless it was the socially appropriate self-abasement of a social inferior to a superior. On Paul’s captivity (probably in Rome)
Hence “The Road Less Traveled”
With Patience
With Patience
state of being able to bear up under provocation, forbearance, patience toward others
Bearing- hold up, lift up, prop up
Love (agape)- the quality of warm regard for and interest in another, esteem, affection, regard, love (without limitation to very intimate relationships, and very seldom in general Greek of sexual attraction).
Walk Conscientiously
Walk Conscientiously
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eager- to be especially conscientious in discharging an obligation, be zealous/eager, take pains, make every effort, be conscientious
Maintain- of holding on to something so as not to give it up or lose it
Unity- a state of oneness or of being in harmony and accord, unity
Bond- that which brings various entities into a unified relationship, uniting bond
Peace- harmony in personal relationships peace, harmony
Our peace unites us together
Note that we do create unity, we maintain it
We are connected/bonded by the Holy Spirit
And it is a bond of peace
Transition To Close
Transition To Close
Illustration: Lilo & Stitch
Lilo has anger problems. I just wanna dance. I practiced.
Experiment 626 “It has no place among us”
Experiment 626, show us that there something good inside of you.
What poor, defenseless planet has my monstrosity been released
Sister has a heart on the shirt
You are such a pain
“We are a broken family aren’t we?”
“I liked you better as a sister than a mom!”
When Lilo prays, she says: “It’s me again, I need someone to be my friend”
Maybe send me an Angel who will not abandon me
Who will be nice to me
And she get’s Experiment 626 which she names “Stitch”
It was dead this morning
We thought it was dead
It was hit by a truck
Family motto passed down from their father- the Hawaiian word ohana.
Just as the older sister tossed Stitch out o his ear, Lilo cries, “What about ohana?”
“Ohana means family, and in family no one gets left behind- or forgotten.”
The older sister says, “I hate it when you pull ohana on me.” Reluctantly the older sister agrees to keep Stitch.
That’s what Paul is doing in Ephesians 4:1-16
Close- One LORD, One Faith, One Baptism, One God & Father of All...
Close- One LORD, One Faith, One Baptism, One God & Father of 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.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;