09/05/2026
"Hand, Mouth, and Heart"
Ephesians 4:28-32
“Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
In this section of Ephesians, Paul continues to exhort the saints in Ephesus to “put off the old and put on the new,” listing specific behaviors that impact one another. Looking at the hand, the mouth, and the heart, Paul reveals the beauty of what they can be in obeying God’s commands and contrasts this with the corruption of following their old ways.
Paul highlights another consequence of “putting off the old and putting on the new” when he says, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” What does this mean? How can we grieve the Holy Spirit? What happens if we are grieving the Holy Spirit? How can we stop? Understanding Paul’s exhortations correctly helps us evaluate our walk with Christ and influences our pursuit of sanctification.
Invite friends and family to worship in-person with us on Sunday at 8:00 (Chapel), 9:30 or 11:00 a.m. or online at pcpc.org/live/, the PCPC App with an iOS or Android device, or YouTube.
