FOCUS TEXT: Ephesians 4:15-16, 4:25-5:2

In our worship service this past Sunday we explored what the Bible teaches about belonging in God’s family. We compared belonging in God’s family to a marriage relationship calling the Church to reject superficial love and instead commit to a more mature love for God’s family. And what does a more mature love for the family of God mean? It means embracing a deep commitment to speaking truth in love to one another. Belonging to Christ and His Church involves setting aside autonomy, self-determination, and self-direction and taking up humility, mutuality, and submission to one another.

Ephesians 4:15-16 says: “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him Who is the head, into Christ, from Whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” Verse 25 then says: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”

From these verses we learn that “Speaking the truth in love” means reminding family members to depend on Jesus, helping family members become more like Jesus, working with family members to walk in unity together despite our differences, equipping members to serve joyfully, and encouraging members to love like Jesus. Often speaking truth will involve correction, encouragement, admonishment, reproof, and training.

At the end of the message we were encouraged to examine our love for God and for His people to see whether they are exercising mature love or superficial love for God and His Church. We were called to practice a more mature and covenantal love by committing to speak truth in love and by becoming a member of the Anchor family.

We were encouraged to be in humble, confessional, and truth speaking community through active participation in a discipleship group. We were encouraged to commit to mature love by becoming a Church member.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What do you think keeps Christians from speaking truth in love? What keeps Christians from listening and submitting to one another?

• How might humility, prayer, and the work of the Spirit transform the way we speak & listen?

• Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. How might God’s love guide our speaking & listening?

PRAYER FOCUS

Take time to examine your thinking, heart, and actions concerning the Church. Ask God to show you whether your love is superficial or mature. Ask the Lord to empower you to give a more mature love to God’s family.

MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 2:15-16