These are things I have written down in the back of my bible, you know, those pages that say 'notes' and are sometimes left empty...well here are a few I want to share.
*The act of forgiveness is the consummate expression of Christ-likeness.
*What we do and what we say divulge who we really are!
*We need to be held accountable for loving each other.
A sermon from Ephesians 4:25 - 32 "Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. 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. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
1. vs. 25 We are members of the same family (the body of Christ) we have a kindred spirit - us together as the family of God
2. vs. 26 Don't be controlled by your emotions - there's no place for this in the family of God. The world will know us, Christians, by the way we love one another. *sometimes we have to overlook things & not be offended, it's God's job to change people.
3. vs. 27 Don't become a tool in the devil's hand - don't give the devil an opportunity to bring disgrace to God and to divide us - the body of Christ!
4. vs. 28 Be purposeful in doing good things for people - return a kind word when you are treated harshly.
5. vs. 29 Be purposeful in building one another up! Don't say things that run someone down/look for good points in people's lives and emphasize it!
6. vs. 30 Don't offend the person of God - it hinders God's work/the Holy Spirit
7. vs. 31 & 32 Don't hold smoldering resentment - have a soft heart/be gracious
