christian-communication

Click on the above link to download the slideshow  “Christian Communication”   (189 KB)

Preview:-

Eph 5:1 : Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.

Eph 5:2 : Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.

If being a Christian does not affect our behavior, we are not much of a Christian.

Prohibition: “In your anger do not sin”….Positive: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, Rationale:  and do not give the devil a foothold.

Eat a third and drink a third and leave the remaining third of your stomach empty. Then, when you get angry, there will be sufficient room for your rage. —-Babylonian Talmud tractate gittin.

Anger in the World Today:-

1.Road Rage
2.Sports Rage
3.Communication Rage

Be angry, but do not sin! We must stay in control of our emotions. But they made me do it! We cannot blame others-we must control ourselves.

Signs of Anger in Communication:-
- Stomping out of meetings.
- Firing off angry letters.
- Yelling, screaming and shouting.
- Refusing to speak or communicate.
- Name calling.
- Refusing to listen.
- Belittling, put downs and sarcasm.

Words can be like baseball bats when used maliciously. ——Sidney Madwed
Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. —–Rudyard Kipling

Prohibition: He who has been stealing must steal no longer,
Positive: but must work, doing something useful with his own hands,
Rationale: that he may have something to share with those in need.

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

Positive: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Positive: and live a life of love, (Literally: Walk in love)
Rationale: just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Prohibition: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity,
or of greed,  Rationale: because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Prohibition: 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
Rationale: which are out of place,
Positive: but rather thanksgiving.

Prohibition: No immoral, impure or greedy person- such a man is an idolater-
Rationale: has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

For you were once darkness, (Past, negative)
but now you are light in the Lord. (Rationale)
Live as children of light (Exhortation)

christian-relationships

Click on the above link to download the slideshow  “Christian Relationships”   (528 KB)

Preview:-

True Christianity positively affects our relationships. Christianity is not all about doctrinal disputes but about how we live. Christianity should affect our home and work relationships.

Submit on one another out of reverence for Christ. The Christ-like spirit is not being interested in getting all that you have coming, We are all to be willing to submit to one another. This is not matter as to what our status may be, we are to be willing to give in and back down for the sake of Christ, so that the kingdom of God can be advanced. In our relationships, if we both yield, it may takes a little doing to work it out. But if both refuse to yield, there can only be disaster.

Consider eight categories of relationships : wives to husbands, husbands, fathers to children, children to parents, slaves to masters, and masters to slaves. We do not have slaves and masters today but we do have employees and employers. The principles that govern these relationship also govern workplace relationships.

Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands. In each of these relationship categories, we find the instruction to the people and then the reasoning or logic behind the instruction. Here, the analogy is that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.

Since wives are to submit to their husbands then the next part is very important. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. Sometimes husbands are very quick to insist upon submission from their wives. When husbands invoke the rule do, they must take the whole package. This includes husbands being as loving, kind, and self-sacrificial as Christ was to the church. Remember that Christ gave his life on both a daily basis and in one great sacrificial offering for the church.
Maybe we are instructed in the part that is the hardest. So, wives are to submit and husbands are to love. If a husband loves his wife with the tender and sacrificial love that Christ loved the church, it will not be too hard to submit to him.

We need to understand that authority and power exist. This authority exists in the world, the home, the church, and the family. We do not want to exist in the absence of power, but in the Christian regulation of power. Acknowledging the existence of power is not excuse of abuse. Abuse must not exist in the family or in the work place. This principle is best summarized in the instruction to children. Discipline is not to provoke but to instruct.

Along these same lines, Christian authority implies love and Self-sacrifice. Christ and his life is the model for the Christian in everything. In this passage, it is clearly shown how much Christ gave up for us. He is the model of sacrificial leadership and authority.

If one follows the model of Christ, the Christianity eradicates and regulates abuse.

Changing subjects slightly, these instructions tell us that service is to the Lord and not to men. Others may not appreciate you diligence and sacrifice, but Christ certainly does. We are to do all things as if we were doing them for the Lord and not for men.

The next principle is that we are to treat others as you would like to be treated if you were in their place. Sound like, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you, doesn’t it?

Christianity must affect our relationships. If it doesn’t, it is not much Christianity!

How have you been treating others? If you have not been treating other well in your relationships, isn’t it time to change?

live-as-children-of-light

Click on the above link to download the slideshow  “Live As Children of Light”   (284 KB)

Preview:-

Paul presents a stark contrast-a contrast between darkness and light. These are presented as a stark contrast, it is not an equivocal choice, it is an either or decision. Darkness represents all that is bad, light all that is good.

Ephesians 4:17 – “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.” What does this mean? Who were the Gentiles? To use a great simplification, The Jews were the people who believed in and followed after God. The Gentiles were those who rejected God and didn’t live according to his ways.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love” – Ephesians 5:1
We are to live a life of love to be like our father in heaven. God is love, and we are to imitate Him, we must live a life of love.  We are dearly loved children, since in chapter 1 and verse 5, we are told that God has adopted us as His children. We are motivated in this passage as God’s dear children. The synopsis is, summarized as, “Live a life of love.”

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Here is our contrast again. You were darkness. Now you are the light. Our adoption is complete. Our salvation is in place. Now comes our responsibility-“Live as Children of light!” Back to our original point. If you claim to be a Christian-live like a Christian. So in three verses we have the key thoughts of the passage.

Don’t live in darkness, live a life of love, live as children of the life. It comes down to this.
We have a choice, we can be changed into a new person or we can remain the same old person. We can continue with a futile life of we can change. This change only takes place through the power of God and Christ. In this case it is a clear choice between right and wrong-good and evil.

Christians are to be light in a dark world.

The light and darkness are closely mixed together. The light is present. If it were not, we would be immersed in total darkness. But the light and darkness are close by, almost intertwined. In the world, and in our lives. We must push out the darkness and choose the light.

These are five aspects of the contrast between Christian and non-Christian behavior shown in the passage. Behavior, Language, Anger, Time Management, and What’s Inside. Each of these aspects gives ways in which the Christian is to behave.

There is a difference between enjoying life and being given over to sensuality. The difference is one of degree.

Simply put, we are to put off falsehood and speak truthfully. That is the broad principle. Christians must always tell the truth-never falsehood. But remember earlier in this passage, it says that we are to speak the truth in love.

There is to be no obscenity, no foolish talk, no course joking. Ever know anyone who was constantly complaining, always moaning about what is wrong. That is not a Christian attitude. The Christian has a lot to be thankful for, and that attitude will come out in their talk. You can tell a Christian by the way he or she talks!

The next area for consideration is anger. The Bible never says that one is never to be angry. It simply says-in your anger-do not sin! We all get angry. The difference is that we must process and deal with this anger.

Don’t give the devil a foothold. That’s all the devil needs, a foothold. This is actually a military term, a foothold. Anger gives the Devil a foothold to pin us down.

We must get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, and malice. Instead, we are to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

The Christian is different than the non-Christian in their use of time. The Christian knows that each day could be his or her last. Therefore, he or she enjoys each day and makes the most of it. Could it be today that you know that this could be your last time to hear the gospel? Are you wise enough to get right with God while this opportunity exists?  The Christian must make the most of every opportunity.

Many people think that alcohol is the path to happiness. The contrast here is clear-Don’t get drunk on wine instead by filled with the Spirit. Ever hear a drunk person singing and making a fool of themselves? They think they are really something, very charming. The Christians is not to be filled with spirits-alcoholic spirits, but the spirit of God.

That spirit causes us to sing-to bubble over with enthusiasm, which literally means, God in us. We sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord.

summary:-

First, we must make sure that we make the choice to live a new life in Christ. Once we have made that choice, then…..

We must make every area of your life subject to Christ: Our behavior, language, anger, time, and motivation.

Let this lesson motivate you to be more Christ-like.

If you need to recommit your life to Christ-please do so.