BE. Intentional

Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17

BE. Intentional in Conversation

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29

“I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels.”

- John Calvin

The War of Words - Proverbs

• A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends (16:28)

• A wicked man listens to evil lips, a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue (17:4)

• Starting quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out (17:14)

• The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts (18:8)

• A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions (18:2)

• He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has flattering tongue (28:23)

• Do you see a man who speaks in hast? There is more hope for a fool than for him (29:20)

The War continues;Destructive & Corruptive Speech in Ephesians (4:25-31, 5:3-12)

• Falsehood• Anger laced speech• Corrupting talk• Bitter and wrathful clamor• Slander• Filthy talk• Foolish talk• Crude joking

- James 3

- Ephesians 3:7-12

Understanding the Language of the Gospel (Ephesians 1-3)

BE.

• We are the holy and set apart ones (saints)

• We are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing

• We are a chosen people destined to glorify His grace

• We are holy and blameless

• We are loved as adopted sons

• We are redeemed and forgiven

• We are in the inner circle - knowing the mysteries of God

• We are inheritors of the kingdom evidenced by the deposit of the Spirit

• We are HIS inheritance

• We are recipients of HIS mighty resurrection power working in us

• We are alive spiritually with Christ and no longer dead

• We are the holders of the covenant promises and hopes of God’s people

• We are near and not far from God

• We are united fellow citizens of God’s kingdom

• We are family in the Father's household

• We are a holy temple in the Lord, a dwelling place of the Spirit

• We are loved with a loves that surpasses knowledge

Speaking the language of the Gospel

Intentional & conversational everyday care and leadership

- Luke 6:43-46

Intentional & conversational everyday evangelism

(Eph. 6:19-20)

“If I only have an hour with someone, I will spend the first fifty five minutes asking them questions and finding out what is

troubling their heart and mind, and then in the last five minutes I will share something of the truth.”

- Francis Schaeffer

2 Stories

Everyone Has a gospel story

• Creation (My identity – WHO I AM)• Fall (My problem – WHAT IS WRONG)• Redemption (My solution – HOW CAN I BE SAVED)• Consummation (My hope –IF ONLY)

Genesis 3

• Creation - You were meant to be gods• Fall - You’re held back by God’s insecurities• Redemption - You can be free by disobeying God• Consummation - You will be gods

God’s gracious gospel story

• Creation - We are made in God’s image to reflect his glory, to love God and love others

• Fall - We have rebelled against God’s rule, but our self rule leads to conflict, slavery & judgment

• Redemption - God restores his rule by sending his Son and graciously enables us to live under his rule by paying the price for our judgement

• Consummation - God will recreate this broken world when Jesus returns

Questions to ask:

• What do you want?• Why? • How’s that working for you?

Conversational tools:

• Turn confirmation into reinterpretation• Turn advice into proclamation• Turn gossip into testimony (gossip the gospel)