UNITED - Week 6

UNITED
New Life in Christ - Pt. 2
•Even when the world is divided, the church of Jesus Christ is called to be United.
•Picture: United Prayer Night
1. Live in Love
Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

1John 4:16 God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
John 15:13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
2. Live Pure
Ephesians 5:3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.

Pew Research Center survey: When it comes to sex between unmarried adults who are in a committed relationship, the gap between Christians and the unaffiliated is less stark: roughly 79%, religiously unaffiliated Americans say it’s okay. A majority of Christians, 57% say sex between unmarried adults in a committed relationship is sometimes or always acceptable.

Stats from integrityjourney.org:
•Every second=$3,075.64 is being spent on pornography ($10,800,000 an hour.)
•Every second=28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography.
•Every second=372 Internet users are typing adult search terms into search engines.
•Every 39 minutes= a new pornographic video is being created in the United States.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
Ephesians 5:4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
Ephesians 5:5-6 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.
Picture: Tsunami
3. Live in the Light
Ephesians 5:7 Don’t participate in the things these people do.
> Living in the Light means not Participating in Darkness anymore.
Ephesians 5:8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

Colossians 1:12-13 …giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. (ESV)

1 John 1:5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.
Ephesians 5:9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
> Living in the Light means Producing Fruit in our lives.

1) Doing Good Works

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

2) Living Righteously

Ephesians 4:24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

3) Speaking Truthfully
Ephesians 4:15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love.
> Living in the Light means Pleasing the Lord.
Ephesians 5:10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
> Living in the Light means Proclaiming the Truth of Christ to those who are Lost.
Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
Ephesians 5:13-14 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
4. Live Wisely
Ephesians 5:15-18 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.
5. Live in the Spirit
Ephesians 5:18-20 Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.