God’s Dwelling Place (Ephesians Pt. 19) | Francis Chan

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with one another as followers of Christ. The speaker shares their personal desire to experience the church as described in Ephesians 4, where believers are tenderhearted, forgiving, and kind to one another. They express a deep longing for God's presence to dwell among them, just like in the Old Testament Tabernacle or Temple. This message encourages listeners to prioritize building relationships with others, being honest about their struggles, and seeking to live out the teachings of Ephesians 4.

Key Scripture References

• Ephesians 4:30 - This verse emphasizes the importance of not grieving the Holy Spirit by harboring bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. The speaker reflects on how this passage has impacted their understanding of God's nature and their desire to live in harmony with others.
• Ephesians 4:29 - This verse connects the idea of not grieving the Holy Spirit to the importance of speaking truthfully and kindly to one another. The speaker highlights how this principle is rooted in Old Testament teachings, such as Psalm 4 and Zechariah 8.
• Psalm 4:4 - This verse emphasizes the importance of not letting the sun go down on anger. The speaker reflects on how God has always desired for His people to live in harmony with one another, even from the earliest days of humanity (Genesis 3).
• Acts 2:1-47 - This passage describes the early church's experience of living in unity and being filled with the Holy Spirit. The speaker sees this as a model for what God desires for His people today.
• 2 Corinthians 3:18 - This verse highlights the greater glory available to believers through Christ, which surpasses even the Old Testament Tabernacle or Temple. The speaker expresses their desire to experience this glory in their lives and relationships.

Key Takeaways

• The importance of living in harmony with one another as followers of Christ.
• The need to prioritize building relationships with others, being honest about struggles, and seeking to live out the teachings of Ephesians 4.
• The speaker's personal desire to experience God's presence dwelling among them, just like in the Old Testament Tabernacle or Temple.

Reflection Questions

• What are some areas in your life where you struggle with bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice?
• How can you prioritize building relationships with others and living out the teachings of Ephesians 4 in your daily life?
• Do you desire to experience God's presence dwelling among you, just like in the Old Testament Tabernacle or Temple? What steps can you take to make this a reality?

Call to Action

The speaker encourages listeners to take seriously the teachings of Ephesians 4 and prioritize building relationships with others. They emphasize that God's presence is available to dwell among His people when they live in harmony with one another, just like in the Old Testament Tabernacle or Temple. The call to action is for listeners to seek to live out these principles in their daily lives, even if it requires difficult changes and sacrifices.