WEEKLY SERMON REFLECTIONS

Each week, take 5 days to dive deeper into the heart of our Sunday sermons! Through key insights and scripture, this format will allow for further personal reflection and spiritual growth. Keeping this at the dinner table, discuss it with family and/or friends.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK:

“Lord God, help us to be a conduit of your love and grace to others. Lead us in our relationships and put a guard over our mouths, that we would speak only that which edifies and is life giving. Teach us to not sin when we are angry, but to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with others, even when it’s difficult. Let the best part of us that is served to others be Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

DAY
01

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

-EPHESIANS 4:29

REFLECTION:

We need to give thought and effort into preparing our hearts for our interactions with one another…instead of letting the moment dictate our response.

RESPONSE:

What is a piece of YOU like? What attitude are you serving up to others? What type of speech does God want us to let out of our mouths?

DAY
02

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.

-EPHESIANS 4:25-27

REFLECTION:

We are to speak truth, live truth and truthfully live. Give any anger an expiration date and don’t give the kingdom of darkness something to cook with.

RESPONSE:

How can you balance being honest about your feelings, including anger, with the command not to sin in your anger? What steps can you take to resolve conflicts in a way that promotes unity and peace?

DAY
03

He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

-EPHESIANS 4:28

REFLECTION:

Some people default to ‘stealing’ from their relationships. They are constantly taking, but rarely giving. When someone is self-centered they often suck the relationship dry and it becomes all about them.

RESPONSE:

Have you ever been in a relationship with someone where it seems to be all about them? Have you ever been that person? How can we be more intentional in our relationships and put others before ourselves?

DAY
04

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

-EPHESIANS 4:31

REFLECTION:

These give an opportunity to the Devil–this grieves the Holy Spirit and sucks the potential out of the relationship that God wants to restore. Stop being in Hell’s kitchen and giving the enemy ingredients to cook with.

RESPONSE:

How can we speak truth in love and serve up a piece of Jesus to others instead of rotten fruit that spoils every opportunity for flourishing?

DAY
05

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

-JAMES 3:17–18

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

-EPHESIANS 4:32–5:2

REFLECTION:

A piece of you should be a piece of Christ…kindness, understanding, forgiving–a fragrance of something good.

RESPONSE:

What thoughts can we purpose in our minds that will lead us to life giving interactions with others?