Practical Principles OverviewOverview vs. 1-16: unity | diversity | unity + calling and gifting vs. 17 onwards: contrasting values and standards 3 elements3 elements me – on unity | calling | gifting James – value and standards me – summarise “Obey the Word of God. If you hear only and do not act, you are only fooling yourself. Anyone who hears the Word of God and does not obey is like a man looking at his face in a mirror. After he sees himself and goes away, he forgets what he looks like. But the one who keeps looking into God’s perfect Law and does not forget it will do what it says and be happy as he does it. God’s Word makes men free” James 1:22-25 (NLV)

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIVUK) “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIVUK) “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”

Ephesians 4:1-6 (NIVUK) “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”

Maintain & Attain “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”“eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (v.3 – ESV) “we all attain to the unity of the faith”“we all attain to the unity of the faith” (v13 – ESV) A matter of perspectiveA matter of perspective In Christ we are already one – united in Spirit – our job is maintain this Need to attain unity in the faith – spiritual maturity Different giftsDifferent gifts Apostles | Prophets | Evangelists | Pastors | Teachers Build us up Value diversity

Team “Everyone is on the team and everyone gets to play”“Everyone is on the team and everyone gets to play” No-one is excluded “You” is plural – not singular Works of service aren’t restricted to church leadership LigamentsLigaments “short band of tough, flexible, fibrous tissue binding bones together in order to stabilise joints” A support mechanism

Put On New attitudes of mind True righteousness and holiness Truth Work Benefit listeners Kindness and compassion, forgiveness, sacrificial love Holiness, goodness, righteousness, truth, expose darkness with light Wisdom Take Off  Old futile thinking  Corrupted deceitful desires  Falsehood  Stealing  Unwholesome talk  Bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, malice  Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking  Foolishness Time for a Make Over Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit Live a life of love Be filled with the Holy Spirit