Belief That Changes Actions
Memory Verse:
'Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, '
Ephesians 4:15
'Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, '
Ephesians 4:15
Sermon Sentence: How we live should be guided by a truth higher than our own reasoning.
Day 1
Read Ephesians 4:17-24
These are not verses that are meant to give a complete overview of everything that Paul believes about behavior. Rather, they help us with the work of understanding the connection between belief and action. I know it feels unfair to say that everything that you do (action) is a result of something you believe, but it is a point that makes an observation worth considering. Every single day I find myself acting in a way that does not line up with my belief. That very fact gives me a great place to then consider why I should not be doing what I am doing, thus implementing a change. In the sermon, we talked about 5 of these actions that we should be living out. Pick one that you are struggling or have struggled with and think about the following questions.
Why do you think that you are struggling with this action step?
How does your action show a disconnect in what you say that you believe?
How does your action contradict the gospel to other people watching your life?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
These are not verses that are meant to give a complete overview of everything that Paul believes about behavior. Rather, they help us with the work of understanding the connection between belief and action. I know it feels unfair to say that everything that you do (action) is a result of something you believe, but it is a point that makes an observation worth considering. Every single day I find myself acting in a way that does not line up with my belief. That very fact gives me a great place to then consider why I should not be doing what I am doing, thus implementing a change. In the sermon, we talked about 5 of these actions that we should be living out. Pick one that you are struggling or have struggled with and think about the following questions.
- Speak truthfully and don’t be deceitful
- When you are angry, don’t let it take over.
- Be a giver and not a taker.
- Be careful with what you say.
- Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.
Why do you think that you are struggling with this action step?
How does your action show a disconnect in what you say that you believe?
How does your action contradict the gospel to other people watching your life?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 2
Read Proverbs 10:31-32; 15:2, 26, 28; 16:24
This is a really quick read and that makes us want to rush through this to the next task for the day. But there is a lot here. Think about your words for a little while. Right living will also produce right speaking. Notice how 10:31 uses the idea of “fruit” and “wisdom” together. There is a connection that is meant to be taken here. The words of God are loving and strong, encouraging when we need it and corrective when we need that. God spoke first to us and His word is preserved and kept for us in the form of the Bible. We should have the same consideration and care for the work of our words.
The passage in Ephesians from the sermon has already discussed the problem of anger in our actions. This takes that idea a bit further. What about the effect of anger on your words? Think about this as parents, children, or as spouses. For instance, I find myself constantly wanting to assert my authority without the reason for the moral, when it comes to parenting. Which, according to Paul’s method, is different than what he does when he tells us why we believe what we believe about our behavior. My answer to the frustration of not being heard or agreed with is to then get louder and more dominant with what MUST happen. When I do this, I have allowed anger to take over in my words and the fruit of my words is not knowledge. Surely you can find an example like mine in your life?
Read Ephesians 4:29. What does this mean to you personally?
Why do you think the phrase “as fits the occasion” is included in this idea?
What is the difference between building up and tearing down with words?
How does today’s devotion inform your prayers?
This is a really quick read and that makes us want to rush through this to the next task for the day. But there is a lot here. Think about your words for a little while. Right living will also produce right speaking. Notice how 10:31 uses the idea of “fruit” and “wisdom” together. There is a connection that is meant to be taken here. The words of God are loving and strong, encouraging when we need it and corrective when we need that. God spoke first to us and His word is preserved and kept for us in the form of the Bible. We should have the same consideration and care for the work of our words.
The passage in Ephesians from the sermon has already discussed the problem of anger in our actions. This takes that idea a bit further. What about the effect of anger on your words? Think about this as parents, children, or as spouses. For instance, I find myself constantly wanting to assert my authority without the reason for the moral, when it comes to parenting. Which, according to Paul’s method, is different than what he does when he tells us why we believe what we believe about our behavior. My answer to the frustration of not being heard or agreed with is to then get louder and more dominant with what MUST happen. When I do this, I have allowed anger to take over in my words and the fruit of my words is not knowledge. Surely you can find an example like mine in your life?
Read Ephesians 4:29. What does this mean to you personally?
Why do you think the phrase “as fits the occasion” is included in this idea?
What is the difference between building up and tearing down with words?
How does today’s devotion inform your prayers?
Day 3
Read Matthew 7:15-29
In this part of the sermon on the mount, Jesus focuses on telling the good from the bad. He is talking about how not everyone can be trusted to be out for the good and noble cause. Even those that claim they are can be “sheep in wolves clothing.” It is interesting that in talking to the people about this, he doesn’t authorize them to go out, make that judgment, or even reach a consensus together and then root that person out if they don’t pass the test. Maybe elsewhere he addresses this process, but here, he lands on a specific test that can show their true colors. In the end, the false prophets and the false disciples will be found out and have to answer for how they were. But as for now, you can protect yourself from those types of people by watching the fruit of everyone’s work. In other words, Jesus is declaring that good belief produces good actions. It is unavoidable. And bad beliefs (which I think it is safe to assume false prophets would be plagued with!) will produce bad actions. So words can be declared and proclaimed, but if just words are proclaimed and the fruit looks different, then you have a discrepancy that should be noticed.
Do you think that we are always a good judge of character or do you feel that sometimes we get it wrong when declaring the motives behind someone's words?
Why is it important to see that the ultimate end of the false prophet or disciple is judgment by God?
What would you say to the person that truly stresses over the idea of one day getting before God and knowing the possibility is there for Him to declare that He never knew them?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
In this part of the sermon on the mount, Jesus focuses on telling the good from the bad. He is talking about how not everyone can be trusted to be out for the good and noble cause. Even those that claim they are can be “sheep in wolves clothing.” It is interesting that in talking to the people about this, he doesn’t authorize them to go out, make that judgment, or even reach a consensus together and then root that person out if they don’t pass the test. Maybe elsewhere he addresses this process, but here, he lands on a specific test that can show their true colors. In the end, the false prophets and the false disciples will be found out and have to answer for how they were. But as for now, you can protect yourself from those types of people by watching the fruit of everyone’s work. In other words, Jesus is declaring that good belief produces good actions. It is unavoidable. And bad beliefs (which I think it is safe to assume false prophets would be plagued with!) will produce bad actions. So words can be declared and proclaimed, but if just words are proclaimed and the fruit looks different, then you have a discrepancy that should be noticed.
Do you think that we are always a good judge of character or do you feel that sometimes we get it wrong when declaring the motives behind someone's words?
Why is it important to see that the ultimate end of the false prophet or disciple is judgment by God?
What would you say to the person that truly stresses over the idea of one day getting before God and knowing the possibility is there for Him to declare that He never knew them?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 4
Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
When you think about it, it seems kind of strange that we are talking so much this week about the way that we act and things like watching what we say. Isn’t that pretty basic stuff when it comes to understanding the Bible? It is realizations like this that can make you feel like maybe you are not actually cut out for this whole thing. I mean, the fact that we are told to do that and it hits home is really kind of discouraging in the grand scheme of things.
It never ceases to amaze me that God chose the Church, the motley crue of riff-raff that we tend to be, to do all that He wants to accomplish on this earth. I think He could have chosen a greater crew, a more qualified few. It is humbling to think about. Which is a good place for us to be, humbled. It reminds us of the power that He is working in us. Not the power we are working for Him.
In what ways has God been reminding you of the power He is working in your life for the good of His will?
How do you see your life reflected in these verses?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
When you think about it, it seems kind of strange that we are talking so much this week about the way that we act and things like watching what we say. Isn’t that pretty basic stuff when it comes to understanding the Bible? It is realizations like this that can make you feel like maybe you are not actually cut out for this whole thing. I mean, the fact that we are told to do that and it hits home is really kind of discouraging in the grand scheme of things.
It never ceases to amaze me that God chose the Church, the motley crue of riff-raff that we tend to be, to do all that He wants to accomplish on this earth. I think He could have chosen a greater crew, a more qualified few. It is humbling to think about. Which is a good place for us to be, humbled. It reminds us of the power that He is working in us. Not the power we are working for Him.
In what ways has God been reminding you of the power He is working in your life for the good of His will?
How do you see your life reflected in these verses?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
Day 5
Read 1 Corinthians 3:16-23
The temple was symbolic in a very large way in the early church's life. It was symbolic of God dwelling among His people. His presence meant they were His people. The fact that they were His people meant His presence was with them. In the new language of the New Testament, we are the temple that God is dwelling in. It makes this whole thing way more personal, more intimate. It is the reason that Paul appeals to in this chapter to bring about unity in the church. Because the Church was made up of a bunch of little temples, little dwelling places of God. Therefore, why would one fight and be against the other? God would not be against Himself!
This is the wisdom that should drive our actions in how we live today. The logic that Paul uses here is for us to meditate on and realize that we have the same standard in our daily lives. In our home, there are little temples. In our church, there are little temples. In our neighborhoods, there are little temples.
What does it mean to realize that God’s temple is holy and you are that temple (v.17)?
What does it mean to become a fool that you might become wise (v.18)?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
The temple was symbolic in a very large way in the early church's life. It was symbolic of God dwelling among His people. His presence meant they were His people. The fact that they were His people meant His presence was with them. In the new language of the New Testament, we are the temple that God is dwelling in. It makes this whole thing way more personal, more intimate. It is the reason that Paul appeals to in this chapter to bring about unity in the church. Because the Church was made up of a bunch of little temples, little dwelling places of God. Therefore, why would one fight and be against the other? God would not be against Himself!
This is the wisdom that should drive our actions in how we live today. The logic that Paul uses here is for us to meditate on and realize that we have the same standard in our daily lives. In our home, there are little temples. In our church, there are little temples. In our neighborhoods, there are little temples.
What does it mean to realize that God’s temple is holy and you are that temple (v.17)?
What does it mean to become a fool that you might become wise (v.18)?
How does this become part of your prayer today?
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