Main Idea: Word are where the heart is

I. Words reveal the direction of our hearts (3:1-5)

II. Words reveal the destructiveness of our hearts (3:6-8)

III. Words reveal the deceitfulness of our hearts (3:9-12)

Main Idea: True faith proves itself through action.

I. Expression of True Faith (2:14-17)

II. Evidence of True Faith (2:18-19)

III. Examples of True Faith (2:20-26)

Main Idea: Avoid Favoritism for the gospel levels everything.

I. Avoid Favoritism

II. The Levelers: Image Bearers and Depraved

III. The Great Leveler: Jesus

Main Idea: Listen with your behavior, not only your ears.

1. Listen with acceptance, not anger (1:19-21)

2. Listen with doing, not deceiving (yourself) (1:22-27)

I. God gives wisdom to those who ask prayerfully (1:5)

II. God gives wisdom to those who ask wholeheartedly (1:6-8)

III. God gives wisdom to those who ask humbly (1:9-11)

Main Idea: Trials are an opportunity for joy and growth in the Christian life.

I. Trials are an opportunity for joy (v1-2)

II. Trials are an opportunity for growth (v3-4)

I. Unity in the Spirit arises from the unity of the Trinity. Ephesians 4:4-6

II. Unity in the Spirit is obscured by our own immaturity. Ephesians 4:1-2

III. Unity in the Spirit is maintained with humility. Ephesians 3:1-3

Main idea: Because of the Spirit, your potential to produce the fruit of Christlike character is beyond your own ability.

I. What is the fruit of the Spirit?

Gal 5:22-23

II. The way to bear fruit is through crucifixion. Galatians 5:24

III. The way to bear fruit is to keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

Main Idea: Within us is a civil war of desire, won by the Spirit when we walk with Him rather than follow our hearts.

I. The Civil War of Desires,

Galatians 5:16-17

II. Two Ways to Wage War: By the Spirit or the Law,

Galatians 5:18

III. Assessing the Enemy Within,

Galatians 5:19-21

I. Children of God are led by the Spirit to kill sin. 8:14

II. Children of God, by the Spirit, have an inner assurance to cry “Abba, Father!” 8:15-16