TITLE: A Change for Life TEXT: Ephesians 4:17-31 THEME: The believer should be made new by putting on the righteousness of Christ

TITLE: A Change for Life

TEXT: Ephesians 4:17-31

THEME: The believer should be made new by putting on the righteousness of Christ

Ephesians 4:17-31 Section Headings


• New International Version: Living As Children of Light.



• New Living Translation: Living As Children of Light




• New Revised Standard Version: The Old Life and the New/Rules for the New Life





• New American Standard Version: The Christian's





• New American Standard Version: The Christian's Walk

• New American Bible: Renewal in Christ/Rules for the New Life





• New American Standard Version: The Christian's Walk

• New American Bible: Renewal in Christ/Rules for the New Life

• The Message: The Old Way Has to Go

Ephesians 4:17-24

• 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. [18] They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Ephesians 4:17-24

[19] Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. [21] Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

Ephesians 4:17-24

• [22] 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; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds; [24] and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The objective of today's text:

To teach you how to experience transformation from your old way of life to

your new way of life.

What is needed to experience transformation in your life?

I. Change Your Thoughts (17-24)

I. Change Your Thoughts (17-24)

A. From Conformity to the World (17-19)

Ephesians 4:22-23

[22] 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; [23] to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

Proverbs 23:7

For as a man thinketh in his heart so is he.

1. Change your thoughts (17-24)

• A. From Conformity to the World (17-19)

• B. To Transformation in Christ (20-24)

Romans 12:2

• Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Other who have taught this

• The most important things in life are the thoughts you choose to frame. (Marcus Aurelius)



• What we think about when we are free to think about what we will—that is what we are or soon will become. (A.W. Tozer



• What we think about when we are free to think about what we will—that is what we are or soon will become. (A.W. Tozer)

• A person is what he thinks about all day. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)


• The mind is like a clock that is constantly running down; it has to be wound up daily with good thoughts. (Fulton J. Sheen


• The mind is like a clock that is constantly running down; it has to be wound up daily with good thoughts. (Fulton J. Sheen)

• Good thoughts are blessed guests, and should be heartily welcomed, well-fed, and much sought after. Like rose leaves, they give out a sweet smell, if laid up in the jar of memory. (Charles Spurgeon



• Good thoughts are blessed guests, and should be heartily welcomed, well-fed, and much sought after. Like rose leaves, they give out a sweet smell, if laid up in the jar of memory. (Charles Spurgeon)

• Change your thoughts and change your world. (Norman Vincent Peale



• Good thoughts are blessed guests, and should be heartily welcomed, well-fed, and much sought after. Like rose leaves, they give out a sweet smell, if laid up in the jar of memory. (Charles Spurgeon)

• Change your thoughts and change your world. (Norman Vincent Peale)

• We feel the way we do because of what we are thinking at the time. (David Burns)

Phillippians 4:8

• “8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Ephesians 4:23

• There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.

Biblical truths to help our thoughts:

• Things are working out for the best. (Romans 8:28)- My life verse


• Things are working out for the best. (Romans 8:28)- My life verse.

• Christ will finish in me the work he has begun. (Philippians 1:6



• Christ will finish in me the work he has begun. (Philippians 1:6)

• God has turned his back on my sin. (Isaiah 38:17



• Christ will finish in me the work he has begun. (Philippians 1:6)

• God has turned his back on my sin. (Isaiah 38:17)

• God will never turn his back on me. (Hebrews 13:5


From this series:

• I belong to God, and that will never change. (Ephesians 1:5


From this series:

• I belong to God, and that will never change. (Ephesians 1:5)

• I have access to everything I truly need. (2 Corinthians 9:8


From this series:


• I have access to everything I truly need. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

• My future is bright. (Ephesians 1:18


From this series:


• I have access to everything I truly need. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

• My future is bright. (Ephesians 1:18)

• Living in God's love is the key to living in Power. (Ephesians 3:19)


II. Change your words. (25-29)

• A. Speak Truthfully (25)



• B. Speak Patiently (26-27)



• B. Speak Patiently (26-27)

• C. Speak Wholesomely (29)

EPH 4:25

• Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

EPH 4:29

• Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen

1 Corinthians 14:3

• But one who prophecies is helping other grow in the Lord, encouraging them and comforting them.

C.J. Ducasse

• To speak of ‘mere words’ is much like speaking of ‘mere dynamite.’

Words

• Don't use foul or abusive language—no matter how right you are and now matter how wrong they are

Words

• Don't use foul or abusive language—no matter how right you are and now matter how wrong they are.

• Don't use foul abusive language—no matter how much they deserve to get blasted.

Words

• Don't use foul or abusive language—no matter how right you are and now matter how wrong they are.

• Don't use foul abusive language—no matter how much they deserve to get blasted.

• Don't use foul or abusive language—even if they used it first

When you're tempted to say something wrong, don't say

anything at all.

J. Ogden Armour

• "Most men talk too much. Much of my success has been due to keeping my mouth shut."

Ephesians 4:29

• Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Principle

• When I talk to you, I talk about you.


III. Change your actions.

• A. Do something useful (28)

Ephesians 4:28

• If you are a thief, stop stealing. Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.

Seek Win-Win

• If I treat you in such a way that I win and you lose, Christ isn't glorified and his work on suffers.

Seek Win-Win


• If I treat you in such a way that I lose and you win, same thing happens.

Seek Win-Win


• If I treat you in such a way that I lose and you win, same thing happens.

• If I treat you in a way that I win and you win, then Christ is glorified and his church is edified.

III. Change your actions.

• A. Do something useful (28)

• B. Be Kind and Compassionate (30-32)

Ephesians 4:26

• "Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down while you're still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the devil.

Anger

• Anger has the ability to seep through the layers of our being and make us rotten on the inside. Anger destroys relationships. It splits churches. It rips families apart. Anger can cause you to become obsessed; soon it dominates your thoughts, it dominates your words and it controls your actions.

Ephesians 4

• (v. 31) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger ... These are thoughts

Ephesians 4

• (v. 31) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger ... These are thoughts.

• (v. 31) ...harsh words and slander... These are words

Ephesians 4

• (v. 31) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger ... These are thoughts.

• (v. 31) ...harsh words and slander... These are words.

• (v. 31) ...as well as all types of malicious behaviour. These are actions.

Every time you think a godly thought, you sow a seed of

transformation into the core of your being.

Every time you speak an uplifting word, you sow a seed of

transformation into the core of your being.

Every time you act with generosity and kindness, you sow

a seed of transformation.

Saying

“The beatings will stop when morale improves.”

Jane Leavy on Mantle's last press conference on July 11, 2002.

• It was a standing-room-only conference. His comic timing was still acute, but the robust physique, the popeye muscles, and the untroubled face of American plenty were gone. His tracksuit hung on his desiccated frame …. He looked like death.

Jane Leavy on Mantle's last press conference on July 11, 2002.

• "God gave me a great body and an ability to play baseball," he said. "God gave me everything, and I just … pffft!" What would be remembered most was the anguished plea to children: "I'd like to say to the kids out there, if you're looking for a role model, this is a role model. Don't be like me."

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TITLE: A Change for Life TEXT: Ephesians 4:17-31 THEME: The believer should be made new by putting on the righteousness of Christ