Cultivating the Habit of Good Communication

Passage

Ephesians 4:17-32
James 3:9-12

‍Sermon Summary

After the Apostle Paul explains the Gospel in Ephesians chapters 1-3, he begins to display what it should look like in our daily lives as we live out the Gospel in our bodies and in our relationships. One area that is of utmost importance to Paul is our speech. As Jesus says in Luke 6:45, "for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." In other words, how we communicate with others is a window into the condition of our hearts and an indication of whether we have been and are being transformed by the Gospel. In Ephesians 4:17-32, Paul highlights 5 ways that the gospel should transform the way we talk to one another.

1. [Optional starter question] What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
2. Which of the 5 ways that the Gospel should transform our speech can you see evidence of growth in your life?
3. Did any of the 5 ways surprise you? Which one would you have most easily overlooked or missed?
4. How does James 3:9 - 12 serve as a helpful reminder for how your speech can and should be transformed?
5. Have you read or studied Ecclesiastes before? If so, did the sermon shift your perspective in any way?

Prayer Prompts

• Thank you, Father, for helping me to understand__________
• Forgive me, Jesus, for __________ (cynicism, apathy or arrogance)
• Help me, Holy Spirit, to trust you when__________

Resources Consulted

• Relationships: A Mess Worth Making, Tim Lane and Paul Tripp