Ephesians 4:1-6

Eph 4:1-6: Unity in the church
v1 "urge" to come alongside, a passionate plea. Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Your practical living should match your spiritual condition.
v2 be humble (attitude that says I'm not more important than you, how can I serve you? Phil 2:1-4), gentle (strength under the control of God, maturity), patient (with respect to each other, having a wide soul so you can deal with those around you, patience is hard), love (bear with each other in love 1 Pet 4:8).
v4 make every effort (do your best, a determined effort)

This Changes Everything: The Death of Death

Rom 6:9-11 Christ defeated death and sin.
1 Cor 15:50-58
1 Cor 15:13-19 - if the resurrection is not true, what we do is in vain.
v50-58 We will be given immortal, imperishable bodies. 1 Thess 4:13-18
Christ is a first fruit - the first to have victory over death forever. We are the harvest. Rev 21:4
v57 Thanks be to God! We have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
v58 Labor for the Lord is never in vain.

This Changes Everything: Resurrection Power

I am not the main character of God's Word.  It's not all about me, it's about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus is the only one who lived up to the law.
Phil 3:4-14 When Paul met Jesus, he pretty much threw all of his own accomplishments away because they were worthless. As long as Paul had breath, he would strain toward what is ahead and fulfill his calling.
2 Cor 5:18 God gave us the ministry of reconciliation, to help others know Christ and be reconciled to God. Give everything we have to fulfill our calling.

This Changes Everything: Made Right

Rom 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Justification: Made right. Declared righteous. Not the same as being forgiven (found guilty). I have been tried and found innocent - Not Guilty.
Rom 3:20-25, Isa 53:4-5, Col 2:13-14 Jesus was our substitute, he took our sin and gave us His righteousness.
1. Our righteousness comes from God, not our own efforts. Gal 2:15-16
2. All sin, guilt, and shame is removed! We need to walk in the victory of that! Rom 5:8-9
3. I have peace with God. Rom 5:1
4. I am free to know, love, and enjoy God as my Father! Room 8:1-2, 15

Insights from God's Word By Clive Gray

Jn 4:4-26, 39-41
God is at work in ways we don't even know. We can trust God and be amazed at what he does.
The Samaritan woman was surprised at the encounter, Jesus asking for a drink from her, what he knows about her, and that he knows about her husbands.
She becomes an accidental missionary, v39.
The disciples were surprised that Jesus was talking to her, Jesus was teaching them to spread the gospel to others.
The woman was surprised to be loved, and others were surprised that she was loved.
We need to lean on God completely and let Him work. Good wants me to be at the well, with Him, spending time with Him, and then be surprised at the results.
v26 "I who speak to you, am he. "

"What if..." Prayer

Acts 4:18-34
1. Bold means opening your mouth at some point. We should be talking about Jesus to others. v29
2. There's a difference between being bold and being weird. Don't be weird. :-)
3. Bold is outward focused. Focus on speaking to people who don't know Christ.
4. Bold is God-centered, not self-centered. v32 God-centered prayers bring unity.
5. Bold is bigger than us. v30 Prayer to point to Almighty God.
6. Bold is a prayer that was answered immediately. v31 Pray for God to make us bold.
*Don't settle for only what we can do - be BOLD through God's presence and power.

"What if..." Mission

Living your life on mission everyday.
Lk 14:25-35
-v26 Your relationship with Jesus must come before your relationships with everyone else. Mt 10:37
-v27 Be willing to lay down your life to follow Jesus. Heb 12:1-3. Die to yourself and your desires.
-v33 There is a cost to following Jesus. Count the cost, can you give/do what it takes? You must be willing to give up everything to be a true follower of Jesus.