Growing Together

Exploring what it means to be together as a community, as seen in the book of acts. (Acts 2:42-47)

Sermon Outline

allelon—one another

Useful tools use their words to build one another up rather than tear down (Ephesians 4:25, 29-30; Colossians 3:16)

• unwholesome—rotten fish
• teaching—instruct one another, share insights, truths, and wisdom with each other
• admonition—to warn or to caution others about danger or sin
  • First—Check your _________________________________ (1 Corinthians 4)
  • Second—Check your _________________________________ (1 Corinthians 4)
  • Third—Check your _________________________________ (Matthew 7:3-5)
  • Fourth—Check your _________________________________ (Matthew 18:15-17)
• “The ax forgets but the cut log does not.”

Useful tools are peace-makers rather than peace-breakers (Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32; James 3:13-19)

• A peace-breaker finds their wisdom from below. A peace-maker finds their wisdom from above.
• Peace-breakers operate according to WIIFM. Peace-makers operate according to WWJD
• The Bible calls us to be peace-makers for three reasons:
  • Because God has been gracious to you.
  • Because the alternative is bitterness. (Hebrews 12:15)
  • Because God expects you to do it. (Matthew 6:15)

Useful tools give selflessly to one another rather than selfishly take for themselves (Ephesians 4:28; Matthew 6:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

• Progressing from a inferior to a superior way of life
  • Steal in order to have.
  • Work in order to have.
  • Work in order to give.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What is one tool you can’t live without?
2. When you think about how you use your words, which of the misuses Paul refers to in Ephesians 4 do you not struggle with? Which do you struggle with the most?
   1. lying
   2. not speaking the truth (admonition)
   3. not speaking the truth in love
   4. coarse talking
   5. slander/gossip
   6. not building others up with your words
3. How can we make God’s word more at home in us? (Colossians)
4. In which relationships do you often find yourself acting as a peace-breaker?
5. In which relationships in your life are you more likely to function as a peace-maker?
6. When disagreements arise between people, what needs to happen to restore peace?
7. What qualities in James 3:17 do you need more of in your life?
8. On a continuum of selfishness to selflessness where would you place yourself? What steps can you take to pursue the selfless life God is calling us to?
9. Of all the commands in Ephesians 4:25-32 or all the ways we can be useful tools— which do you think God is challenging you to pursue this week? Write it down. If you are in a small group, share your thoughts with one another.