First Be, Then Do

In one paragraph

This sermon walked through Ephesians 4:17-32, with Pastor setting up the passage by reading all three opening chapters of Ephesians aloud so the congregation could hear the foundation before any instruction began. The core argument was that knowing who you are in Christ comes before any effort to live like it. Being precedes doing. the preacher opened by reading the first three chapters of...

Read together

1. Romans 5:5 read as an encouraging word to lead into worship at the opening of the service
2. Ecclesiastes 12 The preacher opened to it by accident on his first day of seminary, hoping for encouragement, and read the warning about endless books and study
3. Ephesians 4:1 cited as the opening urge to walk worthy, before the main passage
4. Ephesians 4:17-32 announced as the main passage for the morning
5. Ephesians 1:1-14 read aloud as part of a survey of the first three chapters, covering blessing, election, redemption, and the seal of the Holy Spirit
6. Ephesians 1:15-23 read aloud continuing the survey, covering Paul's prayer for wisdom and the greatness of God's power toward believers
7. Ephesians 2:1-10 read aloud covering the description of being dead in sin, God's mercy, salvation by grace through faith, and being created for good works
8. Ephesians 2:11-22 read aloud covering Gentiles brought near by the blood of Christ, the dividing wall broken down, and the church as God's dwelling
9. Ephesians 3:1-21 read aloud covering the mystery revealed, Paul's prayer for the church to know the love of Christ, and the doxology
10. Ephesians 4:17-24 expounded as the main teaching passage on walking no longer as Gentiles, putting off the old self, and putting on the new self
11. Romans 12:1-2 cited as a parallel to Ephesians 4 on renewing the mind, presenting bodies as a living sacrifice, and not being conformed to the world
12. Colossians 3 referenced as a parallel passage on putting off the old self and putting on the new self, noted as likely written within two weeks of Ephesians 4
13. Luke 15 referenced as the prodigal son story illustrating the sequence of futility and God running out to meet the returning sinner
14. 1 Corinthians 1:18 quoted to the effect that the message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing but the power of God to those being saved

Talk about it

1. Pastor Nathan read through the first three chapters of Ephesians before moving to the instructional section, and said 'the being precedes the doing.' What does it look like practically to rest in who you are in Christ before focusing on what you should do?
2. Pastor Nathan described the sequence from hardness of heart to darkness to licentiousness, and compared it to the prodigal son. Have you ever recognized that sequence in your own life, and what did coming back look like?
3. Pastor Nathan said our practice of moving from darkness toward light is not a straight line but has hills and valleys, and that 'any growth we get is because we're just being obedient to the still small voice of God.' What makes it hard to hear and respond to that still small voice?
4. Pastor Nathan warned against both legalism and licentiousness, saying some people even call licentiousness 'liberty in Christ.' Where have you seen those two ditches show up, and how do you stay on the road between them?
5. Pastor Nathan tied communion directly to sanctification, saying the cup represents not just salvation but being 'saved and made pure.' How does regularly remembering Christ's death shape the way you live between now and when you see Him face to face?