Christian Communication Ephesians 4:25-5:2

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Christian Communication Ephesians 425-52
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The Imitation of God

• Eph 51 Be imitators of God, therefore, as
  dearly loved children.

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The Imitation of Christ

• Eph 52 Live a life of love, just as Christ
  loved us and gave himself up for us.

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The Resulting Behavior

• These are the practical results of being a
  Christian.
• If being a Christian does not affect our
  behavior, we are not much of a Christian.

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Topics

• a. Communication.
• b. Interpersonal Communication.
• c. Conflict Resolution.
• d. Happy Relationships.

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Analysis of the Passage Statement Form

• Prohibition
• Positive
• Rationale

Prohibition
Positive
Rationale
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Statement One Truth
Prohibition

• 425 Therefore each of you must
  put off falsehood
• and speak truthfully to
  his neighbor,
• for we are all members of
  one body.

Positive
Rationale
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Statement Two Anger

• Prohibition In your anger do not sin
• Positive Do not let the sun go down while you
  are still angry,
• Rationale 427 and do not give the devil a
  foothold.

ANGER!!
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Dealing With Anger

• 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!!
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Anger in the World Today

• Road Rage
• Sports Rage
• Communication Rage
• This is particularly in focus in this passage.

ANGER!!
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Anger is a Reasonable Emotion Sometimes Helpful.

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

ANGER!!
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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.

ANGER
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A mans wisdom gives him patience it is to his
glory to overlook an offense.

• Proverbs 1911

ANGER!!
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An Untrue Proverb
ANGER!!

• Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words
  will never hurt me.
• "Careful with fire" is good advice we know.
  "Careful with words" is ten times doubly so.
  ---William Carleton

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The Power of Words
ANGER!!

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

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Statement Three Stealing

• Prohibition 428 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.

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Statement Four Unwholesome Talk

• Prohibition 429 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.

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Summary Statement

• 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
• with whom you were sealed for the day of
  redemption.
• The Holy Spirit is grieved by our evil words!

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Statement Five Bitterness

• 431 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger,
  brawling and slander, along with every form of
  malice.
• 432 Be kind and compassionate to one another,
  forgiving each other,
• just as in Christ God forgave you.

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Statement Six Love

• Positive 51 Be imitators of God, therefore, as
  dearly loved children
• Positive 52 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.

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Statement Seven Purity

• Prohibition 53 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 Gods
  holy people.

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Statement Eight Evil Talk

• Prohibition 54 Nor should there be
• obscenity,
• foolish talk
• or coarse joking,
• Rationale which are out of place,
• Positive but rather thanksgiving.

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Statement Nine

• 55 For of this you can be sure
• 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.

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Summary

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