Live Like You Mean It

What are you doing with your life?

Not your job. Not your hobbies. Not your to-do list. What are you doing that actually matters for the Kingdom of God?

This week in our Thrive Together series, we stepped into Ephesians 4:1-16, where Paul transitions from identity to action. From belief to behavior. From theology to lifestyle. And his challenge is clear: live like you mean it.

Walk Worthy (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Paul urges the Ephesians to walk worthy of the calling they’ve received. That doesn’t mean earning salvation, it means reflecting salvation in the way they live.

Walking worthy is about humility, gentleness, patience, and love. It’s about unity...not just in belief, but in practice. We are one body, filled with one Spirit, with one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father.1

You don’t have to be perfect—but you do have to be intentional.

Our default setting is sin, which leads to pride and division. So walking worthy requires swimming against that current. It means daily choosing to live in a way that builds unity and reflects Christ. If we’re not consciously living for the Kingdom, we’ll unconsciously drift away from it.

Use Your Gift (Ephesians 4:7-12)

Unity doesn’t mean uniformity. Every believer is uniquely gifted by God—not just with talents, but with spiritual gifts empowered by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building up the church. Your gift isn’t meant to sit on the sidelines. It’s meant to serve the body.

Whether you’re gifted in encouragement, leadership, mercy, teaching, or something else entirely—you were designed to make a difference. And when you don’t use your gift, the church suffers. We become less than we were meant to be.

This isn’t about position or title. It’s about stepping into your God-given purpose and embracing the role He’s given you.

So ask yourself: Have I discovered my spiritual gift? Am I using it to build others up? Or am I still treating church like I'm a consumer instead of a contributor?

Grow Up (Ephesians 4:13-16)

Paul takes it a step further: it’s not enough to walk worthy or use your gift. You have to grow. Spiritual maturity isn’t about age, it’s about movement. Are you progressing in your faith, or are you coasting? Because coasting isn’t neutral. You can't sit still. You will always go backward. If you’re not actively growing, you’re slowly drifting away from the person God intends you to be.

Paul says we are to no longer be children, tossed by waves and blown around by every wind of teaching. Instead, we are to grow in every way into Christ, our head, and support each other in love as we grow together.

Maturity is resisting the pull of comfort and culture. It’s facing forward and pushing through, even when the current is strong. It’s letting go of spiritual training wheels and trusting that God will teach you to ride.

Your Invitation: Start Polishing Again

Maybe your faith has started to tarnish. Like a silver platter forgotten in a thrift store, you don’t shine like you used to. You have no reflection. But the truth is, you still can again.

If you’ve been sitting still, spiritually stuck, or unsure what to do next, it’s time to:

• Walk worthy of your calling

• Discover and use your spiritual gift

• Pursue maturity and growth

Don’t let life pass you by. Don’t let fear or apathy keep you from thriving. Live like you mean it.

Take a moment to reflect:

• Am I walking in humility and unity?

• Am I using the gift God has given me?

• Am I actively growing, or just coasting?

Want to go deeper? Watch the full sermon here:

Live Like You Mean It | Mt. Olive Church

This is what you’re meant to do with your life. And this is how we thrive together.