May 2 - 1999 - LESSON: Ephesians 4:25

SERMON TITLE: Truth Speak

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. 1984 is a novel of social and political commentary written by George Orwell.
      1. Set in the society of the future, towards which Orwell believed both extreme right and left-wing totalitarianism were heading.
      2. It is the story of a middle-aged man and a young women who rebel.
  2. In this terrifying society there is no place for truth.
      1. Historical records are destroyed.
      2. Propaganda replaces information.
      3. All there was, was a form of "TRUTH SPEAK."
  3. Thought and love are punished.
    1. Privacy is impossible
    2. Placards everywhere say, "Big Brother is watching you."
      1. And literally Big Brother was watching.
      2. And listening
      3. And controlling.

MAIN BODY:

  1. First of all we need to learn what is true and not true.
    1. There are different versions of the truth.
      1. There are different ways of speaking the truth.
        1. Subject: haircuts, Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1999 09:21:27 -0500, From: Beverly.Hamilton@cnalife.com, To: sford@airmail.net, BERTLD@WCF.NET
          1. Haircuts...
            1. Women's version:
              1. Woman 1: Oh! You got a haircut! That's so cute!
              2. Woman 2: Do you think so? I wasn't sure when she gave me the mirror. I mean, you don't think it's too fluffy looking?
              3. Woman 1: Oh God no! No, it's perfect. I'd love to get my hair cut like that, but I think my face is too wide. I'm pretty much stuck with this stuff I think.
              4. Woman 2: Are you serious? I think your face is adorable. And you could easily get one of those layer cuts - that would look so cute I think. I was actually going to do that except that I was afraid it would accent my long neck.
              5. Woman 1: Oh - that's funny! I would love to have your neck! Anything to take attention away from this two-by-four I have for a shoulder line.
              6. Woman 2: Are you kidding? I know girls that would love to have your shoulders. Everything drapes so well on you. I mean, look at my arms - see how short they are? If I had your shoulders I could get clothes to fit me so much easier.........
            2. Men's version:
              1. Man 1: Haircut?
              2. Man 2: Yeah.

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    2. Secondly then we need to learn to speak the truth in love.
      1. In the reading for two weeks ago this section from Ephesians 4:15-25, NRSV begins:
        1. [15] But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
        2. [16] from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.
      2. Then, as we have noted Paul accurately describes a class of people whom he identifies as Gentiles.
        1. [17] Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds. [18] They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart. [19] They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
      3. He then points out that this is not the way we have learned
        1. [20] That is not the way you learned Christ! [21] For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus.
      4. We were taught to enter into a process of transformation
        1. [22] You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, [23] and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [24] and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

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      5. Now there is an obligation which is imposed and which we cannot escape.
  2. What happens when we do not speak the truth in love?
    1. Thoughts on anonymous criticism and criticism in general
    2. This is pretty much all negative
      1. It has a chilling influence on relationships
    3. 24 Ways To Better Communication
      1. This is a better way to speak the truth in love
      2. It takes into consideration the difficulties of communication.
      3. It demonstrates respect for one's self and the other individual or individuals in the process.
  3. Lastly as Paul encourages in Ephesians 4:25 NRSV: "So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another."
      1. [25] So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.
      2. We are members of one another.
  4. So putting away falsehood
    1. What is falsehood?
      1. It is not only a distortion of the truth.
      2. Putting away what is artificial
      3. Putting away our reluctance to speak the truth in love.
      4. There are issues that we must address, not only on a personal, but also on a family and community level.
  5. Let us speak the truth to our neighbors.
    1. We speak non-verbally
    2. We speak verbally
  6. We are consciously reminded that we are members of one another.

CONCLUSION:

  1. Here we have the elements of a systematic approach to life and communication.
    1. We can apply them or not.
    2. In their application is the way to the development of a true community.
    3. In their application lies our greatest joy

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