Me and My Big Mouth: Sanctifying Our Speech (Ephesians 4:17-32)

Series: Me and My Big Mouth

Sermon Title: Sanctifying Our Speech

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-32

Date: July 15, 2018

 

Last week's WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Pray this prayer at the beginning of each day: "Heavenly father, I give you my tongue today, to glorify You this day.  Remind me to be quick to listen and slow to speak."

Quick to listen and slow to speak.

 

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, having their understanding darkened, begin alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;...  (Ephesians 4:17-18)

• Their gods were all about themselves.

...who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  (Ephesians 4:19)

• NIV: Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  (Ephesians 4:20-21)

• "Jesus, Paul, and the early church were advocating for what most of us assume."  -Andy Stanley
• All men, women, and children are made in the image of God and have equal value.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;...  (Ephesians 4:22)

...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  (Ephesians 4:23-24)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,...  (Ephesians 4:29a)

• Avoid fish mouth.
• Avoid sandal mouth.

...but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  (Ephesians 4:29b)

• The point is to be helpful.
• Are people better off for having talked to us?
• Are people better off for having read our social media?

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  (Ephesians 4:30)

• Don't say something to someone God loves that makes God go "Oh no! Why would you say that?"
• "My mom said that there has to be a line somewhere where there is something that God does not like."  -Sherri Lynn

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  (Ephesians 4:31, NLT)

• "Bitterness not only affects what we say but how we say it."  -Andy Stanley
• You can't be a builder if you are bitter.
• Forgiveness is giving someone from the past what they don't deserve so you can give to those around you what they do deserve or need.
• Get rid of all words that:
  • demean
    • communicates that you don't really matter.
  • degrade
    • means you don't measure up.
  • disrespect
    • communicates you are not worthy of my respect.
• Don't forget that this is about me and my big mouth!

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

• WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Meditate on these two questions:
  1. Where do I have work to do?
  2. Who hopes I get to work soon?
• This will make your life better and make you better at life.