In “The New Self” (God’s House series), Garrett Bookout (Oak Hollow church of Christ, April 12, 2026) shows from Ephesians 4:17–32 that real change is not only possible but required for every Christian. We must put off the old self and put on the new self created in God’s likeness.

Many people believe “I am who I am” or “people don’t change,” but the Bible says otherwise. In this sermon on Ephesians 4:17–32, minister Garrett Bookout explains why personal transformation is so difficult—we rarely see our own need, we often enjoy our sin, and we usually attack symptoms instead of the heart. Paul commands us to stop living like the Gentiles (futility of mind, hardened hearts, sensuality, and impurity) and instead to “put off your old self,” be “renewed in the spirit of your minds,” and “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Garrett walks through the practical outworking of that new identity: speaking truth instead of lies, handling anger without sin, replacing stealing with honest work that enables generosity, using words that build others up instead of tearing them down, and refusing to grieve the Holy Spirit. He closes by reminding us that only God can change the heart; therefore we must pray and invite the Spirit to do what we cannot do on our own. A clear, hope-filled call to genuine Christian change.

1. **Introduction: The Challenge of Change** (0:00–1:55)
- Common mindset: “I am who I am,” “people don’t change,” “once a cheater always a cheater.”
- Biblical reality: We are not only *able* to change—we are *required* to change.

2. **Why Change Is So Difficult** (1:55–10:28)
- Reason 1: We don’t think we need to change (easier to see faults in others).
- Reason 2: We don’t *want* to change (sin feels good; gossip, anger, lust, etc., serve self).
- Reason 3: We don’t know *how* to change—we attack symptoms instead of the root (boat-and-water analogy: bailing water vs. patching the hole).
- Jesus taught that evil comes from the heart; therefore the heart must be the focus.

3. **The Biblical Command – Don’t Walk as the Gentiles Do** (10:50–16:04)
- Ephesians 4:17–19
- Futility of mind, darkened understanding.
- Alienated from the life of God because of ignorance rooted in hard hearts.
- Given over to sensuality and every impurity.

4. **How We Learned Christ: Old Self → New Self** (16:16–19:33)
- Ephesians 4:20–24
- Put off the old self (corrupted by deceitful desires).
- Be renewed in the spirit of your minds.
- Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

5. **Practical Marks of the New Self** (19:33–33:47)
- **Truthfulness** (4:25) – Put away falsehood; speak truth to one another (we are members of one body).
- **Anger** (4:26–27) – Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger; give no opportunity to the devil.
- **Work & Generosity** (4:28) – Stop stealing; labor honestly so you can share with those in need.
- **Speech** (4:29) – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only what builds up and gives grace.
- **The Holy Spirit** (4:30) – Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by whom you were sealed.
- **Heart Attitude** (4:31–32) – Put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, and malice; instead be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving as God in Christ forgave you.

6. **Conclusion & Application** (33:47–end)
- Change happens inside first—by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Practical step: Pray and ask God to tenderize your heart and strengthen you.
- Invitation: Prayer, counsel, study, or baptism available today.