Together We Are the Church

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Now let’s look at Galatians.

Galatians 5:22–26 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

These aren’t just “feelings” but a way to live. They are actions. They are the way we do things.

Let’s consider these emotions.

The Wrong Way

Enemy

Repression

Whipping them into shape

Master

Go with the flow

Get in touch with -

God’s Way

What is positive about emotions?

Let folk respond

They cause us to respond in some way. Often we have learned the wrong way. Sometimes we even define them incorrectly.

They are to be Servants

Emotions and the Christian Life Emotions and the Christian Life

“Our emotions area meant to work (instinctively) in a way that (serves) us by supporting us in (righteous living). “

God given

Active Approach

Colossians 3:5–10 CSB

5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them. 8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.

Emotions and the Christian Life Emotions and the Christian Life

Be (Honest)

Emotions and the Christian Life Emotions and the Christian Life

(Repent) for Wrong Behavior

Emotions and the Christian Life Emotions and the Christian Life

(Decide) from the heart to Change

Emotions and the Christian Life Emotions and the Christian Life

Exercise (Authority) as Sons and Daughters of God

Emotions and the Christian Life Emotions and the Christian Life

(Apply) Basic Christian Teaching in Daily Life

Emotions and the Christian Life Emotions and the Christian Life

Take a (Faith) Stance

Learning to Love One Another

Christian Personal Relationships 2. LEARNING TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

When our primary relationships are working well, life is good and when they aren't, we suffer.

How do we love one another?

Let folk respond

Tremendous changes; changes in social relationships; radical changes in values and morals; individuals left on their own to figure it out.

The Problem

Christian Personal Relationships 2. LEARNING TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

To individuals

a. The rapid change and loss of social groupings leads to isolation, insecurity, loneliness, and extreme need for emotional approval.

b. The lack of consistent standards and support in living them leads to self-doubt and problems with self-worth.

c. Fear of commitment develops because people are taught to be independent and believe there is no authority outside themselves.

Christian Personal Relationships 2. LEARNING TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

Christians can focus on emotional dimensions, even emotionalizing the Scripture. Example: The fruit of the Spirit is seen in an emotional light.

-Example: Accepting "love dying" as a basis for divorce

c. Christian values are attacked and made to seem "old-fashioned" and even antagonistic to currently accepted values.

How do We Change?

Rely on God’s power and His desire for us.

Romans 5:5 CSB

5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

1 John 4:19 CSB

19 We love because he first loved us.

We decide to build one another up rather than to be self concerned.

We commit ourselves to love one another as brothers and sisters.

We actively seek to serve.

Christian Personal Relationships 2. LEARNING TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER

The Kingdom of God is not just a system of belief, but a new social order.

-A family conformed to God's ways, transformed by his love.

Let's hear and obey Jesus: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12).

Spiritual Gifts

What?

1 Corinthians 14:1–2 CSB

1 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the person who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

Normal Christian Life - Teacher 9. DISCOVERING AND USING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Love replaces the gifts.

-Not so: 1 Cor. 13:1,2; 14:1. Love undergirds the gifts. (This merely affirms that fruit supersedes gifts

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 13

13 If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.

What are some of the spiritual gifts?

Allow folk to respond

Normal Christian Life - Teacher 9. DISCOVERING AND USING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Definition: the Greek word for gifts is "charismata" which literally means "grace-gifts" or "spiritual gifts."

Purpose

Edification

1 Corinthians 12:6–7 CSB

6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:

1 Corinthians 14:12 CSB

12 So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26 CSB

26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

Evangelism

Acts 3:1–11 CSB

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. 4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him. 11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade.

Acts 4:4 CSB

4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Personal Blessing

1 Corinthians 14:4 CSB

4 The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Highlights

1 Corinthians 12:11 CSB

11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.

1 Corinthians 14:32 CSB

32 And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets,

1 Corinthians 14:26–33 CSB

26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1 Corinthians 12:13–14 CSB

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14 Indeed, the body is not one part but many.

Conclusion

Emotional maturity along with our skill of loving one another allows us to handle the gifts of the Spirit that we are given and in so doing allow us to continue to grow in each area:

Emotions and the Christian Life

Learning to Love One Another

Using the gifts of the Spirit

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