True Righteousness and Holiness
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Scott Strickman
Sermon Series: Joined Together, Growing Together
Ephesians 4:17-24 (ESV)
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Sermon Outline
The invitation into the life of God includes putting off a way of life characterized by false righteousness and holiness, and learning the way of Christ as a renewed person.
1. Righteousness
v24 “in true righteousness”
2. Holiness
v24 “and holiness”
3. Godliness
v24 “the new self, created after the likeness of God”
v23 “be renewed in the spirit of your minds”
v20 “that is not the way you learned Christ!”
Prayer of Confession
Our Father, you are holy and righteous. We are not. We sometimes insist we are. At times we arrogantly believe we are. We boast, we judge, we rationalize, we manipulate. Our thoughts and actions betray corruption within. Forgive us all of our sins. Cleanse us from unrighteousness. Sanctify us and renew us. Thank you for your kindness to us through what Christ has done on our behalf. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
How can a desire to be right become problematic?
How do you know you are valuable? What do you look for, point to, or hold on to, to evaluate whether or not you are special or have worth?
What does Jesus say or do that opens your heart to God? How can you connect with God so the corruption within you has a place to go and be dealt with, and the life of God can come in to bring health within you?
How does “godliness” work? How do you live a godly life? How can you grow in true righteousness and holiness?
What role can Sunday worship at church play in the organization of your life? How does time and space get reoriented when your week begins with a gathering that is set apart by God for a special purpose? What mindset would help you engage worship in a more meaningful way?