Four Rules of Communication

In "Four Rules of Communication," Pastor Robert McNutt steps away from the Romans series to stir up the church by way of reminder (2 Peter 1:12-13) with a foundational teaching from Ephesians 4:25-32. Ephesians tells believers where to sit with Christ in the heavenlies, how to walk worthy of their calling, and how to stand against the devil, and this passage applies the call to put off the old self and put on the new through renewed minds. Paul's first application is communication, and Pastor McNutt draws four rules from the text. First, be honest: others cannot read our minds, nonverbal cues are never conclusive, and honesty is more than not lying; half-truths and lawyering are deceit, and we must be reconciled to our brother before we worship (Matthew 5:23-24). Second, keep current: be angry and do not sin, and do not let the sun go down on your anger or give the devil a foothold. Love may cover some offenses (1 Peter 4:8), but sin harming the body must be addressed, after checking our facts, attitude, timing, words, and prayers. Third, attack the problem, not the person: the tongue is a fire (James 3), and attacking a person criticizes his Creator, so speak only what builds up and gives grace to those who hear. Fourth, act, don't react: put away bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander, and malice, and instead be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving, as God in Christ forgave us. Changing habits is hard, but God provides the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13), and the church as God's family can build one another up because our righteous Advocate has forgiven us.