Become Who You Are

CrossWay Community Church

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Become Who You Are

May 12, 2024 • Brett Wendle • Ephesians 4:17–24

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview:

Those who are new creations can and should live as new creations.

1. No longer be who you were (vv. 17-19)

A. The lifestyle of non-Christians is the product of a futile mind (v. 17)

B. Their hard hearts have led to dark minds, separation from God, and a surrender to impurity. (vv. 18-19)

2. How to become who you are (vv. 20-24)

A. Remember how you learned (and learned from) Christ (vv. 20-21)

B. Keep putting off your corrupt old self, being renewed in mind by truth, and putting on the godly new self (vv. 22-24)

Digging Deeper:

1. Chameleons are an Amazon species of lizard that can adapt their appearance to match their surroundings in order to stay camouflaged and safe. How might Christians live like spiritual chameleons?

2. Why might Christians live like spiritual chameleons?

3. How can we tell if we are living like spiritual chameleons?

4. Pastor Brett helped us see that this passage is a call no longer to “be who we were” but instead “be who we are." What is meant by this?

5. Pastor Brett said that we who are new creations can and should live like new creations. Where in this text do we see that we can live as new creations? Where in this text do we see that we should live like new creations?

6. How might God want to use the description of the condition of unbelievers in vv. 17-19 to grow deeper compassion for unbelievers in our hearts? What might be the fruit of that in our interactions with unbelievers?

7. In vv. 18-19, hardness of heart lies at the bottom of the other realities mentioned. Why is this significant to see?

8. How does remembering how we learned Christ (and from Christ) (vv. 20-21), enable us to “be who we are”? What might that look like, practically speaking?

9. Our lives (how we “walk”) are profoundly shaped by our thinking. What are you bringing into your mind and heart that are helping you think rightly about God and who he has recreated you to be in Christ?

10. Are there inputs into your mind and heart that tempt you to think in ways that do not align with God’s truth? If so, what are those things? How are they not helpful?

11. If you’re a follower of Jesus, how is your life different now compared to before you knew Jesus?

12. In what ways is your life now countercultural to the rest of society because you are a Christian?

13. How does the gospel motivate you to live distinctly?

14.How is the old life without Christ different from a new life with Christ according to verses 22-24?

Prayer

Marriage Made New

June 16, 2024 • Brett Wendle • Ephesians 5:22–33

Sermon Overview: Married Christians, in your use of and response to authority, imitate Christ and the church. 1. Wives must respect their husbands' authority. (5:22-24) 2. Husbands must love their wives sacrificially and for their spiritual good (5:25-33) Digging Deeper: Read Ephesians 5:22-33 1. Verses 22-24 and 33 refer to the respect for the Husband’s authority. How did the sermon help us understand this? 2. Brett said, “Jesus modeled the headship, and headship conveys authority.” What did he mean by this? 3. How is the Biblical view of submission different from the secular view? Consider Jesus’s submission to the Father (his own identity and purpose didn’t change as He submitted to the Father) versus one-sided dominance, individual autonomy, downplayed leadership, and loss of the wife’s dignity. 4. Discuss what is implied and not implied in a wife’s’ submission to her husband 5. According to verse 25, for what purpose did God give authority to Husbands? 6. What are the limits of a husband's authority? How can a husband sin or fail in exercising his authority? 7. How does the way Christ loves the church (v. 25) inform how husbands should love their wives? 8. What can a husband do for the spiritual good of his wife? 9. What are some practical ways a husband can show sacrificial love to his wife and a wife can show respect and support to her husband? 10. Reflect on a relationship in your life where you can apply the principles of sacrificial love and respect. How might this change the dynamic of that relationship? http://11.how can marriage build in us a servant’s heart today? 12. Marriage can be challenging. Will you be willing to seek help, and if so, where can the spouses go for help/counseling? Hints: Elders, godly women and men http://13.how/what do singles and those aspiring to marry prepare themselves to be good spouses within the church now? For example, by visiting or inviting a married family's home, learning from their struggles, and understanding the lessons from their marriage. http://14.how can we encourage/pray for husbands and wives of Crossway? Prayer

“Look Carefully Then How You Walk”

June 9, 2024 • Brett Wendle • Ephesians 5:15–21

Sermon Overview Be careful to live in a way marked by wisdom and the work of the Spirit. 1. Wisely use time according to Christ's will. (5:15-17) 2. Welcome the work of the Spirit. (5:18-21) Digging Deeper: Read Ephesians 5:15-21 1. Verse 16 says, "Because the days are evil". How did the sermon help us understand this? How does it inform our use of time? 2. Verse 17 calls us to understand the will of Christ. In this context, how can we identify Christ's priorities for our lives? And how do those priorities influence how we spend our time? 3. Discuss wise and unwise ways of making the best use of your time for Christ. 4. Consider your own use of time. How well does it line up with honoring and glorifying God? How are you using your time well? Where would you like to grow? 5. When it comes to your time, where could you use encouragement, advice, or accountability? 6. Verse 18 says, "be filled with the Spirit." How is being filled with the Holy Spirit different from being under the influence of alcohol? 7. How has Brett helped us understand the fullness of the Spirit in our lives? 8. The verses 19-21 describe a life filled with the Spirit. What should we pursue together? 9. How is singing together beneficial for one another and glorifies God? 10. Think about a member of our Gospel Community. Share a way they’ve been encouraging to you in your spiritual life. http://10.what is challenging/encouraging in your submission to one another (marriage, parenting, servitude, Gospel Community, accountability)? http://11.how does Christ’s Submission to God fuel our submission to one another? Prayer

"Walk as Children of Light"

June 2, 2024 • Brett Wendle • Ephesians 5:3–14

Discussion Questions Sermon Overview: Pursue God-pleasing purity together Because you are light in the Lord… Flee impurity of body, heart, and mouth (vv 3-7, 11a) Give thanks (v 4c) Bear fruit (vv 8-10) Expose evil in the world and one another (vv 11b-14) Digging Deeper: Read Ephesians 5:3-14 The passage describes two lifestyles, one that God’s people should pursue and another that God’s people should avoid. What are some of the descriptors used for each group? There are at least three ways to approach a lifestyle of following God: (1) try really hard to obey, (2) ignore the commands or (3) allow the gospel to motivate you to obedience. What difference does it make which approach you take? What are the consequences? (for example, if one tries to follow these commands by trying really hard, it could lead to pride if they are achieved or self-hatred if they are not. If one ignores these commands, there’s a grave warning at the end of verse 5.) We are light (vs. 8). Therefore we are called to flee impurity of body, heart & mouth (vv. 3-7, 11a). From the aspects of impurity mentioned in this passage, by which can you find yourself most tempted? Discuss what sexual purity and sexual immorality look like now. What are things the culture advocates as good and permissible that God would say is immoral? What are things that God would say is good that the culture would say is not good? As children of light, we are called to give thanks (v. 4c). How is a thankful heart an antidote to covetousness / greed / idolatry? Have you seen this reality play itself out in your own heart? Please share. As children of light we are called to bear fruit (vv. 8-10). In sharp contrast to the world, we are to live lives marked by what is "good and right and true.” (v. 9). What’s the difference between living a life that merely seeks to avoid certain (bad) things, versus pursuing a life that proactively seeks to do certain (good) things (“bear fruit”)? Bible-believing Christians often have a reputation for what we deny and reject, but not a matching reputation for gracious generosity towards others. Could that ever be true of you? How can you live in such a way that people realize that you love them as well as realizing that you live distinctively (even when that is unpopular)? Because we are light in the Lord, we are called to expose evil in the world and in one another (vv. 11b-14). How did Pastor Brett help us think through what that might look like practically? Given where he has you, how might God be calling you to live this out? What might it look like to do this poorly? What might it look like to do this well? How can we encourage one another to do this well (in a way that is pleasing to God)? Pursuing God-pleasing lives of purity and holiness is not something we can do well on our own. We need each other. What might it look like for your GC to be more intentional about pursuing holiness / purity together? What might be a good next step toward that? Prayer