The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States "Words and actions that build up the community" for Saturday, 25 February 2017

The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States "Words and actions that build up the community" for Saturday, 25 February 2017
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, stripping off falsehood, let everyone speak truth with his neighbor,[Ephesians 4:25 Zechariah 8:16] because we are intimately related to each other as parts of a body. 26 Be angry, but don’t sin[Ephesians 4:26 Psalm 4:5(4)] — don’t let the sun go down before you have dealt with the cause of your anger; 27 otherwise you leave room for the Adversary.
28 The thief must stop stealing; instead, he should make an honest living by his own efforts. This way he will be able to share with those in need.
29 Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you.
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These verses set out a challenging standard for Christian interactions. They call Christians to live by a simple guideline: “Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community.” Often, that stops being easy or simple when the community does something differently from the way we would have liked to see it done. But it is precisely at those times of change, when stress and tension tend to rise, that the guidelines in today’s reading become most crucial for all of us to live into.
• In his book When Christians Get It Wrong, Pastor Hamilton described a sad fact that we all know happens. He used the ironic but truthful chapter title, “When Christians are
Unchristian.”* Ephesians 4:32 said our ideal is to treat one another “in the same way God
forgave you in Christ.” Have you learned ways to “be angry without sinning” (verse 26)?
What steps can help you grow a character strong enough to treat others as God treats 
you? Have you been through times when it was helpful to hold back a comment or observation, even if it might be accurate? Are there other times, as verse 25 suggested,
when the truth is so needed and helpful that it would be wrong to keep silent? How can the
Holy Spirit help you discern when you should speak the truth without being unchristian?
Prayer: Creating, Redeeming God, your gracious acceptance has brought me life. Give me the courage to speak truth in love, the humility to say I’m sorry when I’m wrong and the heart to forgive others who admit a wrong. Amen.
* Adam Hamilton, When Christians Get It Wrong. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010 and 2013, chapter 1.
Family Activity: Jesus came to show God’s love to all people. Create a “Love one another” collage. Gather poster board, magazines, scissors, glue and markers. Invite one family member to write “Love one another” on the poster board. Ask each person to cut out pictures of various people and fasten them to the poster. Some family members might even want to draw pictures of people. When your family has completed the poster, take time to imagine what the lives of these different people are like. Say, “We often make assumptions or judgments about people we know and people we don’t know. God calls us to extend his love to all people. How can we each do a better job of following Jesus’ example and sharing God’s love with the world?” Ask God in prayer to help you do this.
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Steve Langhofer
Steve is a Congregational Care Pastor at Resurrection Leawood.
A reflection upon We are parts of each other in the same body(Ephesians 4:25) while walking alongside Jesus.
I say, “Lord, do you see that person seriously ill? What will become of him?” Jesus says, “Yes, I do. Visit him. Pray for his healing. You are in the same body.”
I say, “Lord, do you see that stranger? Who is she? What is she doing here?” Jesus says, “Yes, I do. This is your sister. Listen to her story. Learn from her. You are part of each other.”
I say, “Lord, do you see that man who disagrees with me? I don’t like him. He doesn’t like me.” Jesus says, “Yes, of course. Agree to disagree. Love him, anyway. You share the same blood.”
I say, “Lord, do you see those children running and jumping? I wish I had their energy. I feel old.” Jesus says, “Yes. Dream their dreams. Bless them, and you will be blessed. You are one family in me.”
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
•Kari Driskell and family on the death of her husband Eric Driskell, 2/15
• Jane Long and family on the death of her brother Tom Whittaker, 2/14
•Betty Walter and family on the death of her son Richard Fry, 2/12
•Ruth Christy and family on the death of her husband Ray Christy, 2/12
•Diane Browning and family on the death of her father Ray Christy, 2/12
•Eph Ehly and family on the death of his brother Harold Ehly, 2/12
• Lorie Stapp and family on the death of her husband Bill Stapp, 2/11
•Cynthia Stapp and family on the death of her father Bill Stapp, 2/11
• Mary Shewmake and family on the death of her mother Donna Crocker, 2/11
•Kay Heeren and family on the death of her husband Marvin Heeren, 2/9
• Jeanie Meyer and family on the death of her husband Adam Smith, 2/7
•Teresa Chien and family on the death of her husband Robert “Bob” Chien, 2/6
• Lisa Guenther and family on the death of her uncle Joseph Guenther, 1/30
•Rhett Place and family on the death of his grandmother Ardina Place, 1/5
•Ashley Place-Worth and family on the death of her grandmother Ardina Place, 1/5
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
913.897.0120
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