Sermon

1. Sermon • Truthing in Love • Eph 4:15-16 • Introduction

2. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] 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

3. The Dance: • -between God’s immediate power and our significant choices • -between our dependent faith and our active love • -between individual experience and the dynamics of the social group,

4. -between leadership and mutuality within the social group • -between the relationally destructive dynamics of sin and the constructive dynamics of gracious love • -between remaining sin and emergent love

5. “The most magnificent institutional structure imaginable is a community living out how Ephesians 4 weds pastoral leadership with every member mutuality” • David Powlison

6. IT TAKES EVERYBODY • TO BUILD THE BODY

7. Christ centered truth telling exposes our idols, motives, and our hearts in such a way that the work of Christ is seen as the only answer

8. “Deception, lying, and half-truths endanger communities and undermine our best efforts — they have from the beginning. Large and small, they break communities apart, distort our relationship with God, and separate us from one another.” • -Christine Pohl

9. There’s a bit of Hyacinth Bucket in all of us.

10. What are the duties required in the ninth commandment? • Answer: The duties required in the ninth commandment are: • -the preserving and promoting of truth between one another, and the good name of our neighbor, as well as our own;

11. -appearing and standing for the truth; and from the heart, freely, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things • -a charitable esteem of our neighbor -loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; sorrowing for, and covering of their infirmities;

12. -freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, defending their innocence; a ready receiving of a good report, and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, concerning them; • -discouraging talebearers, flatterers, and slanderers;

13. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment? • Answer: The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are: • -all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature;

14. -giving false evidence, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, • -passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; • -rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked

15. -forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calls for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; • -speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning,

16. -speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, tale bearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstruing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, • -aggravating smaller faults;

17. - hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession; • -unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense;

18. -evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy

19. HOW DO WE LIVE OUT TRUTHING IN LOVE? • How do we move forward when at times we’re so far off base?

20. Discover the core of all truth – 4:21 • Remember that Christ centered truth telling exposes our idols, motives, and our hearts in such a way that the work of Christ is seen as the only answer

21. I’m a bigger sinner than I dare admit, and more loved, forgiven, and accepted than I dare imagine.

22. “When we allow God’s grace, truth, love, and righteousness to be the framework for interpreting community life and relationships, then individuals and congregations are in a better position to address their sins and failures.

23. Because of grace, we can see more clearly and acknowledge more truthfully the gap between our goodness and God’s. We can also more confidently face our need to repent and change.” • - Christine Pohl