Thinking more like Jesus always comes with opposition. I wrote a song last night. Here are some of the lyrics:

Have you ever been reading a verse in the scripture and had it explode in your soul? Sometimes it explodes before you even realize why. Here is one that has been ringing in my soul:

Do you know the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist? It's found in Luke chapter one. He's a priest that is randomly chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense. While he's in there, an angel shows up and tells him that God will give him a child who will usher in the coming of the Savior.

I was recently reflecting on Luke 19:1-10 in the scripture. It's the story of Zacchaeus. He is an unjust tax collector who tries to get a look at Jesus as he passes by. Jesus notices him and goes over his house for dinner.

“ An idea, whether right or wrong, that captures the minds of a nation’s youth will soon work its way into every area of society, especially in our multimedia age. Ideas determine consequences.” –the American Covenant

Aren’t you tired of thin answers? Aren’t you tired of slippery responses to life’s big problems that don’t really address the issue?

What happens when I die? How much money is enough?

What is marriage and relationships supposed to look like? How do I be a dad?

What can I do with my life that actually matters?

How should I act to towards the poor?

Who is God?

Right now, we are seeing the resurgence of the authentic lifestyle Christianity. Millions of people have looked in a million directions for pleasure and purpose only to realize that it cannot ultimately be found outside of Jesus. Look to Him today. Look to Him. Never be embarrassed or ashamed to walk in a room with Jesus as your king.

Day 1) Ephesians 4:25

25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

What should be the trademark of our conversations with one another?

What is the motivation behind putting away falsehood and speaking truth? (see 1Cor 12:12-27)

How does your connection with other Christians impact the way you live?

Day 2) Ephesians 4:32

32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Describe the characteristics that make these special relationships with other believers possible?

Why are we quick to forgive? (see Matt 18:21-35, Matt 6: 14-15)

Is there anyone in life you need to forgive and be tenderhearted towards?

Day 3) Ephesians 5:21

21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

What does it mean to submit to one another?

Why do we submit to each other?

What do we value? (see Matt 6:19-21, 2Cor 5:14-15)

Take time today to envision a community of believers who actually do this. Write out what it would look like.

Day 4) Ephesians 5:33

33However, let each of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Wives fundamentally look for love. Husbands fundamentally look for respect. Read through how the apostle Paul outlines the mutual submission of husband to Christ and wife to husband (see Eph 5:22-33).

How is this radically different than our culture?

Paul compares the marriage relationship to our relationship with Christ. What does it mean to you to be the bride of Christ?

Day 5) Ephesians 6:1-4

1Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2”Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3”that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

When we are children we are commanded to obey our parents. Once we become adults, we must continue to honor our parents. Have you honored your father and mother?

How does Paul encourage fathers to behave towards their children? (see Heb 12:5-13)

Notice how everyone is under authority. Parents are accountable to God. According to these passages, put some language around a healthy family.

Day 6) Ephesians 6:5-9

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is slave or free. 9Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

In this passage Paul outlines the employer and employee relationship. How should employees act? (see Col 3:23-25)

What does it mean to do your work “as for the Lord and not for men?”

How should you act if you are the employer?

What authority is everyone ultimately accountable to?

How does this impact the way you are at work?

Day 7) Ephesians 6:11-12

11Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

In dealing with relationships, who is your real enemy?

Satan has schemes. How do we stand strong amidst his schemes? (see Eph 6:13-20)

Think about each piece of armor. How do you put that on?

1) Ephesians 4:1-3
¹I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

What is the first thing we do with love? What are some of the characteristics of our new walk? (See Philippians 2:2-5, Galatians 5:16-24) What does this look like for you?

2) Ephesians 4:21-22
²¹assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²²to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.

What are we called to put off? How do we do it? (See Romans 12:1-2, James 5:16, Romans 6:12-14) Reflect on things God has changed in you by grace.

3) Ephesians 4:23-24
²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

What are we called to put on by faith? What does it look like? (See 1 Peter 1:13-21, 1 Corinthians 13) It is Christ’s love in you that must come out. How can you express that love today?

4) Ephesians 4:30-31
³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

This new self is marked by a relationship with the Holy Spirit. What must we be careful not to do? What does this relationship look like? (See John 16:7-15, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 7:37-39) How do you apply this truth?

5) Ephesians 5:1-2
¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

What does it mean to you to imitate God? What example did Jesus set?(See Luke 10:25-37)

6) Ephesians 5:4-6
⁴Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

What should mark our speech? Scripture teaches that empty words mean nothing. A changed heart will always be seen through a changed life. (See 1 John 3:7-10) What convicts the believer when they sin? Why can true Christians continue the practice of sin? How should we handle sin? (See Galatians 6:1-2)

7) Ephesians 5:15-17
¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

The believer is accountable to live as a citizen of another world. Where is our citizenship (See Philippians 3:20) What must we do with the limited time God has given us? (Luke 19:11-27)

1) Ephesians 4:1-3
¹I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

What is the first thing we do with love? What are some of the characteristics of our new walk? (See Philippians 2:2-5, Galatians 5:16-24) What does this look like for you?

2) Ephesians 4:21-22
²¹assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²²to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires.

What are we called to put off? How do we do it? (See Romans 12:1-2, James 5:16, Romans 6:12-14) Reflect on things God has changed in you by grace.

3) Ephesians 4:23-24
²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

What are we called to put on by faith? What does it look like? (See 1 Peter 1:13-21, 1 Corinthians 13) It is Christ’s love in you that must come out. How can you express that love today?

4) Ephesians 4:30-31
³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

This new self is marked by a relationship with the Holy Spirit. What must we be careful not to do? What does this relationship look like? (See John 16:7-15, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 7:37-39) How do you apply this truth?

5) Ephesians 5:1-2
¹ Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

What does it mean to you to imitate God? What example did Jesus set?(See Luke 10:25-37)

6) Ephesians 5:4-6
⁴Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. ⁵For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

What should mark our speech? Scripture teaches that empty words mean nothing. A changed heart will always be seen through a changed life. (See 1 John 3:7-10) What convicts the believer when they sin? Why can true Christians continue the practice of sin? How should we handle sin? (See Galatians 6:1-2)

7) Ephesians 5:15-17
¹⁵ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

The believer is accountable to live as a citizen of another world. Where is our citizenship (See Philippians 3:20) What must we do with the limited time God has given us? (Luke 19:11-27)