We're going to begin this morning least 11 messages on Chapter 4,

verse 17 through Chapter 5, verse 20.

It might seem like an odd unit to pull out of a book to preach on, but there are reasons.

We mentioned two of them.

Some of us on the staff and some of you in conversation with us have felt the need to ponder

the implications of our faith for the practical daily nitty gritty dimensions of our lives. Relations relationships at home in the church, at work.

That's what this text is all about.

This unit of scripture is a very practical unit.

Second reason is that I feel coming off of a 17 week series on hope in the spring and the summer that it begs to be

fleshed out more what effect that ought to have,

8 to 5 and 5 to midnight, daily.

That's what this text is all about.

And so there'll be sermon titles like

Speak truth to your neighbor a small place for anger

Don't steal, work, and give.

Make your mouth a means of grace.

Be kind to each other and so on.

You'll see they'll be very, very close to home.

A fair question then to ask me would be,

Pastor, why do you draw our attention

to such little daily relational matters

when there are such massive social and global issues to be concerned about, like tension and war in the Middle

...