Ephesians 4:17-5:4
And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds. – Ephesians 4:23
Paul reminds us that salvation is not just a title; it is a complete transformation of life. Before knowing Christ, our hearts were hardened and cut off from God’s life, chasing after selfish desires. But as members of FMC as One, we have learned Christ differently! We are called to strip off our old, corrupt selves and put on a new identity—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
The Practice of Family: Built Up Together
What does this new life look like within our FMC family? Our internal transformation must work outward into concrete, daily choices:
1. Speak Truth: Stop lying. We speak truthfully because we belong to each other as one body.
2. Manage Anger: Do not let anger fester into bitterness, giving the devil a foothold to divide the church.
3. Edify with Words: Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.
4. Forgive Freely: Get rid of rage and slander. Instead, extend kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.
The Climax: Imitating Our Heavenly Father This transformation is not mere moralism; it is imitation rooted in deep gratitude. We are called to “be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love.” God’s character is most beautifully revealed in Christ’s self-sacrifice on the cross for us. As children of the same Father, our life as FMC as One becomes an echo of that sacrificial love, radically changing how we treat one another during this camp and beyond.
Reflection:
1. In what areas of your life do you still struggle with the “old self” (e.g., speech, anger, hidden attitudes)? How can your small group help you “put on the new self”?
2. The text emphasizes building each other up with words because we are “members of one body.” How can we practically cultivate a culture of encouragement and forgiveness within FMC to make “FMC as One” a living reality?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for welcoming us into the FMC family. Forgive us for the times when our words or anger have grieved Your Holy Spirit and disrupted the unity of the body. Teach us to lay aside our old ways and to clothe ourselves with Christ today. May our love for one another reflect Your sacrificial love on the cross. Knit our hearts together, that we may truly walk as one in FMC. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Paul reminds us that salvation is not just a title; it is a complete transformation of life. Before knowing Christ, our hearts were hardened and cut off from God’s life, chasing after selfish desires. But as members of FMC as One, we have learned Christ differently! We are called to strip off our old, corrupt selves and put on a new identity—created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
The Practice of Family: Built Up Together
What does this new life look like within our FMC family? Our internal transformation must work outward into concrete, daily choices:
1. Speak Truth: Stop lying. We speak truthfully because we belong to each other as one body.
2. Manage Anger: Do not let anger fester into bitterness, giving the devil a foothold to divide the church.
3. Edify with Words: Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.
4. Forgive Freely: Get rid of rage and slander. Instead, extend kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.
The Climax: Imitating Our Heavenly Father This transformation is not mere moralism; it is imitation rooted in deep gratitude. We are called to “be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love.” God’s character is most beautifully revealed in Christ’s self-sacrifice on the cross for us. As children of the same Father, our life as FMC as One becomes an echo of that sacrificial love, radically changing how we treat one another during this camp and beyond.
Reflection:
1. In what areas of your life do you still struggle with the “old self” (e.g., speech, anger, hidden attitudes)? How can your small group help you “put on the new self”?
2. The text emphasizes building each other up with words because we are “members of one body.” How can we practically cultivate a culture of encouragement and forgiveness within FMC to make “FMC as One” a living reality?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for welcoming us into the FMC family. Forgive us for the times when our words or anger have grieved Your Holy Spirit and disrupted the unity of the body. Teach us to lay aside our old ways and to clothe ourselves with Christ today. May our love for one another reflect Your sacrificial love on the cross. Knit our hearts together, that we may truly walk as one in FMC. In Jesus’ name, Amen.