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Be Church! Living up into who we are

Ephesians 5:3-8 (ESV)

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 5:3-4

Ephesians 5:3-4 (ESV)

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Stymptom #1: Immorality

Scriptures referenced: Matthew 5:27-28; James 1:14-15

Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV)

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Stymptom #2: Greed

Stymptom #3: Obscenity

Idolatry also known as Discontent

Loss of the Kingdom

Gratitude

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Be Church! Living up into who we are

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Scriptures referenced: Genesis 1:26, Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7; 20:26; 21:8, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Matthew 5:48

Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

Then God said, "Let us make man* in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Leviticus 11:44-45 (ESV)

For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."

Leviticus 19:2 (ESV)

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

Leviticus 20:7 (ESV)

Leviticus 20:26 (ESV)

Leviticus 21:8 (ESV)

You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV)

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Matthew 5:48 (ESV)

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, John 13:35

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;* 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

John 13:35 (ESV)

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Scriptures referenced: Romans 8:15, Matthew 6:9, Galatians 4:6-7, John 1:12

Romans 8:15 (ESV)

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.*

Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV)

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

John 1:12 (ESV)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Scriptures referenced: John 15:13

John 15:13 (ESV)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

--DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS and THINGS TO PONDER--

For your personal discipleship, discussion with family, your Life-Group, or your watch party:

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Be Church! Living up into who we are

Ephesians 4:20-24 (ESV)

But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self,* which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 13:11, Ephesians 4:31, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Ephesians 4:13-15

1 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

Ephesians 4:31 (NLV)

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV)

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

1 Corinthians 14:20 (ESV)

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Ephesians 4:13-15 (NLT)

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:22-23, Romans 12:2

Ephesians 4:22-23 (NLT)

Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:24, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 1:13-16, Romans 6:12-14

Ephesians 4:24 (NLT)

Put on your new nature, created to be like God--truly righteous and holy.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)

So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy."

Romans 6:12-14 (NLT)

Do not let sin control the way you live;* do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace.

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Be Church! Living up into who we are

Ephesians 4:17-19 (ESV)

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Scriptures referenced:

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:18

Ephesians 4:18 (ESV)

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Scriptures referenced: Ephesian 4:15, Ephesians 4:16

Ephesian 4:15 (ESV)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Scriptures referenced: Ephesian 4:18

Ephesian 4:18 (ESV)

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Ephesian 4:18 (ESV)

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

Ephesian 4:19 (ESV)

They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

Ephesian 4:19 (ESV)

They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.

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Ephesians 4:14-16 (ESV)

So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Scriptures referenced: John 8:43-45 NIV, John 8:32 NIV, John 8:36 NIV

John 8:43-45 (NIV)

Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

John 8:32 (NIV)

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 8:36 (NIV)

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:15

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Scriptures referenced: Ephesian 4:15, Ephesians 4:16

Ephesian 4:15 (ESV)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

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Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:12 (ESV)

To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:13

Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,* to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:13

Ephesians 4:13 (ESV)

Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,* to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

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Ephesians 4:7-10 (NKJV)

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."* (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first* descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Scriptures referenced: Matthew 25:15, Ephesians 3:8-9 (NKJV)

Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 12:4–6

1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Rom 12:4–6 (ESV)

For as in one body we have many members,* and the members do not all have the same function so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

Scriptures referenced: Ephesians 4:8, Psalm 68:18

Eph 4:8 (NKJV)

Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men."

Psalms 68:18 (NKJV)

You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; You have received gifts among men, Even from the rebellious, That the LORD God might dwell there.

Scriptures referenced: 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

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Matthew 21:1-11 (NKJV)

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage,* at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose [them] and bring [them] to Me. 3 "And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 All* this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' "* 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set [Him]* on them.

Scriptures referenced: Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,* 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,* 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,* being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards,* not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being* might boast in the presence of God.

Scriptures referenced: Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV)

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore* and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age." Amen.*

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John 4 (NKJV)

Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from [His] journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink."

Scriptures referenced: John 4:6-9

John 4:6-9 (NKJV)

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from [His] journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

Scriptures referenced: John 4:26

John 4:26 (NKJV)

Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am [He]."

Scriptures referenced: John 13:35

Jhn 13:35 )NKJV)

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Scriptures referenced: Matthew 9:35

Matthew 9:35 (NKJV)

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.*

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Ephesians 3:14-15, Ephesians 3:20, Matthew 6:1-9, Psalm 95:6-7

Notes:

Ephesians 3:16-17

Ephesians 3:17 (The Living Bible) And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him.

Ephesians 3:14 & 16 ESV For this reason I bow my knees before the Father . . . that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—

Notes:

Ephesians 3:17-19, Philippians 1:9-11, 1 John 3:1-3

Notes:

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