August 11th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

Living as Children of Light

Lectionary Readings — Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost — August 11, 2024

2 Samuel 18:5-9,15,31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35,41-51

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Call to Worship (based on Ephesians 4:25-5:2)

Leader: Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us gather to worship our Lord and to live as children of light.

People: We come together, seeking to put away falsehood and speak truth to our neighbors.

Leader: In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

People: We commit to resolving our conflicts quickly and not giving the devil a foothold.

Leader: Let us work honestly with our own hands, so that we may have something to share with those in need.

People: We will use our words to build others up, not to tear them down, that it may benefit those who listen.

Leader: Let us put away all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice.

People: Instead, we choose to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave us.

Leader: As dearly loved children of God, let us walk in the way of love.

People: We will follow Christ's example, who loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Leader: With hearts united in love and purpose, let us lift our voices in praise to our gracious God.

All: Almighty God, we come before You as Your beloved children. Help us to imitate Christ in all we do, that our lives may be a pleasing offering to You. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on John 6:35,41-51)

Let us pray.

Gracious and loving God, we come before You today with hearts hungry for Your presence and souls thirsting for Your truth. We thank You for Jesus, the Bread of Life, who nourishes us with His very being.

Lord Jesus, You declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." We come to You now, bringing our spiritual hunger and thirst, trusting in Your promise to satisfy our deepest needs.

Heavenly Father, we confess that like those who grumbled against Jesus, we too sometimes struggle to understand and accept the profound mysteries of faith. Open our hearts and minds to receive the truth of Your Word. Help us to see beyond the physical and temporal, to grasp the eternal life You offer through Your Son.

We thank You, Lord, for drawing us to Yourself. We acknowledge that our coming to Christ is not by our own doing, but by Your grace. Thank You for the gift of faith that enables us to believe in the One You have sent.

Jesus, Bread of Life, You gave Your flesh for the life of the world. As we worship today, we remember Your sacrifice on the cross. We are grateful for the eternal life You provide, a life that begins now and extends beyond death.

Lord, we pray for those among us who are spiritually hungry or feeling empty. May they find true satisfaction in You. For those wrestling with doubt or struggling to believe, we ask that You reveal Yourself to them in new and powerful ways.

As we gather in Your presence, nourish us with Your Word. Teach us to hunger for righteousness and to find our sustenance in You alone. May our worship today draw us closer to You and to one another, strengthening us for the journey of faith.

We lift up those in our community and around the world who lack physical bread. Guide us in being Your hands and feet, sharing both physical and spiritual nourishment with those in need.

Sovereign God, as we continue in worship, may we experience the living bread that came down from heaven. Transform us by Your Spirit, that we may live as those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: LIVING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT

Scripture: Ephesians 4:25-5:2 (NRSV)

Introduction

• Share a personal story or contemporary illustration about the challenge of living authentically as Christians in today's world.

• Briefly introduce the passage from Ephesians 4:25-5:2, highlighting Paul's practical instructions for living out our new identity in Christ.

I. SPEAK TRUTH IN LOVE

Authentic and Honest: Discuss Paul's call for truthful communication within the Christian community.

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:25 "So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another."

Explanation:

• Highlight the importance of truthfulness in building trust and unity.

• Discuss the concept of being "members of one another" and its implications for honest communication.

Application: Encourage the congregation to practice speaking truth in love, fostering authentic relationships within the church and beyond.

II. MANAGE ANGER RIGHTEOUSLY

Controlled and Resolute: Explore Paul's guidance on dealing with anger.

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:26-27 "Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil."

Explanation:

• Acknowledge anger as a natural emotion while emphasizing the importance of managing it properly.

• Discuss the danger of unresolved anger and its potential to give the devil a foothold.

Application: Challenge the congregation to deal with conflicts quickly and righteously, not allowing anger to fester or lead to sin.

III. BUILD UP WITH WORDS AND ACTIONS

Constructive and Generous: Examine Paul's instructions on speech and behavior that benefit others.

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:28-29 "Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear."

Explanation:

• Highlight the shift from destructive behaviors (stealing, evil talk) to constructive actions (honest work, edifying speech).

• Discuss how our words and actions can be channels of God's grace to others.

Application: Motivate the congregation to use their words and actions intentionally to build up others and meet needs in the community.

IV. IMITATE GOD'S LOVE

Forgiving and Self-giving: Discuss Paul's call to imitate God's character and Christ's love.

Scripture Reference: Ephesians 4:32-5:2 "and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Explanation:

• Emphasize the qualities of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness as reflections of God's character.

• Explore what it means to "live in love" and imitate Christ's sacrificial love.

Application: Encourage the congregation to cultivate a lifestyle of forgiveness and self-giving love, reflecting God's character in their daily interactions.

Conclusion

• Reflect on the practical ways we can live as children of light, emphasizing truthfulness, righteous anger management, edifying speech and actions, and Christ-like love.

• Encourage the congregation to apply these principles in their daily lives, contributing to the growth and unity of the church and witnessing to the world.

• Close with a call to action, challenging the congregation to intentionally live out their identity in Christ.

Closing Prayer

Loving Father, we thank You for Your Word that guides us in living as children of light. Help us to speak truth in love, manage our anger righteously, build others up with our words and actions, and imitate Your love in all we do. Empower us by Your Spirit to live out these truths, that we may grow in Christ-likeness and bear witness to Your transforming grace. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers