Jesus' Relationaships — Shaped by Love

(S) — INTRO — Familial characteristics

Thomas…Dan, Mark...

Why? Come from the same DNA — Adopted son/daughter

Series — Followers of Jesus — Adopted into his sonship as God’s children

Read Ephesians 5:1–2

You are his dear children — There is a familial likeness — Created in His image — Made for this — Holy (yikes)

Ephesians 4:24 “Put on your new nature, you are created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

A Jesus-Shaped Life — Christ likeness — New nature

A key to better understand what it is to live a Jesus-shaped life, is to look at Jesus in his relationships...

How he interacted with his family... friends...followers...and even his enemies...

There is one trait of Jesus that is the most obvious in all his relationships — How he loved

(S) — This is the context of Paul’s message — Relationships among the early followers of Jesus. How they treated each other.

Ephesians 4:1–2 (NLT)

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Living a Jesus-shaped life means loving each other like Jesus

Bibles — Notes — Prayer

What is something you value the most?

Relationships: Family — Friends — Church

Besides their faith and belief in Jesus — Their relationships with each other

Evident by Paul’s love for the church — Prisoner (writing)— Beg (implore you) — Always be…because of your...

How many of you love this church? Besides your faith, do the relationships in it matter most?

(S) — Unity in the body...

No one follows Christ alone!

Jesus didn’t come to the world to be in isolation — Family...friends...followers...

He put every effort into being in relationship with others —those easy to love and those hard to love.

Relationships can get messy! — They did among the first followers of Jesus as well.

25-31 — List of 4 specific problems among believers ...

Was it important for Paul to address this? Because the church was always meant to be people who best reflected the love of Jesus to the world

“A parishioner caught up in the inspiring words of his pastor shouted out a number of “amens” to affirm the truths being proclaimed. But, as the minister became more specific in what was meant and how the truths should be applied to daily life, the man grew more and more quiet, until he sat silent in his pew. Noticing the difference, his pastor asked him at the door why he had lost his enthusiasm for the message. The man answered hesitantly, “Because you quit preaching and began to meddle.” (1)

Do we always get it right? Are we sometimes the problem in the church today?

(S) — Is there a need for all of us to live more of a Jesus-shaped life!

4 ways relationships are damaged...impeding the mission/unity of the body of Christ

I. Spreading Untruth

Ephesians 4:25 (NLT)

So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

Putting away falsehood — Saying anything contrary to the gospel...

Where this untruth come from? Satan the father of lies —

Read john 8:44

Untruth is a contradiction to who Jesus is and His way. Untruth damages our relationships.

(S) — Misguided truth — More accidental the intentional —

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” — Mark Twain

Is it true? Do we know the source? Does it come from God’s word, the spirit in us? If not we must recognize where it comes from — …my truth or Jesus’

Romans 1:25 “They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.”

What we say matters as much or more than how we say it — Lying damages our relationships…and worse turns others away from Jesus who is truth

Galatians 2:4 “some so-called believers —false ones —who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus.

Most know someone who has left the church — Hurt by people they were in relationships with....

"2020 — 22% of churched adults stopped going to in-person or online Church” — Barna research

The lie — We don’t need the church…relationships...Jesus

Spreading untruth damages relationships…impedes the mission/unity of the body of Christ

(S) —

II. Unrestrained Emotions

Ephesians 4:26–27 (NLT)

“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Notice anger is not the problem…what is? Where it leads us. When our anger it gets the best of us, who looks the fool?

Righteous anger...

But unbridled emotions give the devil a foothold, a place in your heart — Do not give the devil the opportunity to damage our relationships

“Give satan and inch and he’ll be a ruler.”

(S) — ‘Give em a foot and he’ll want your soul’ so don’t give him a seat at the table...

When we give satan a foothold, he’ll always want more of us

What can we do? Resist! Let Jesus’ ways shape our lives and keep us in check

James 4:7 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Unrestrained emotions damage relationships....impeding the mission/unity of the body of Christ

(S) —

III. Uncharitable Piety

Ephesians 4:28 (NLT)

If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.

Stealing — a hot button issue for the early church?

“Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop!”

Read Matthew 19:18-21

(S) —

“Stealing is an expression of non-productivity that takes away from the person and the group as a whole.” Ephesians: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition

Explain

Are we giving all we can? Are we doing all we can? Are we fully devoted to living a Jesus-shaped life?

Uncharitable piety damage relationships....impeding the mission/unity of the body of Christ

(S) —

III. Unwholesome Talk

Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV)

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

“Evil talk, corrupt words” — Words with no intent of building up. When our our old nature, who we were before we met christ, rears its ugly head...

Matthew 5:22 “But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.”

Does what we say to each other build up the kingdom of God?

(S) —

Spreading Untruth — Unrestrained Emotions — Uncharitable Piety — Unwholesome Talk

All damage relationships in the body of Christ! Paul says, it also grieves the spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)

Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

All followers of Jesus resemble the father...the best of God in us — Living a Jesus-Shaped Life shaped by love, means acting like it!

When we do

We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT)

We by our relationships with each other open the door for others to know the love of God — Jesus

We’ve all done something we never intended…an untruth spoken, emotions getting the best of us, held back in our charity, and spoken hurtful words...

Relationships are messy…they get strained and can at times get the best of us.

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

(S) — Bottom line

Relationships can GET the best of us, or they can BE the BEST of God in us!

When they are shaped by love...

Are your relationships shaped by love? Is there a relationship that needs the best of God in you right now?

Application

Take a temperature check — consider how you relate to others — Is love the underlying motive? If so then…if not....

Ephesians 5:1–2 (NLT)

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ — who loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

What mattered most to Paul…? Paul loved the church, the people in it, and it’s mission.

I have witnessed your love for each other in this church…the people and its mission...

Living a Jesus-shaped life can be contagious...

Relationships can GET the best of us, or they can BE the BEST of God in us!

Resources

1 — Ephesians: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition (3. The Specific Commands Given 4:25–32)