Imitating God: Walking in Love, Light, and Wisdom
Summary
In today's gathering, we delved into Ephesians 5, exploring the profound call to live as imitators of God. This chapter challenges us to walk in love, light, and wisdom, reflecting the transformative power of Christ in our lives. We began by revisiting the journey through Ephesians, where we've been reminded of the grace, redemption, and unity we have in Christ. As we continue into chapter 5, we are urged to be imitators of God, living lives that reflect His love and holiness.
The call to "walk in love" is rooted in the sacrificial love of Christ, who gave Himself for us. This love is not just an emotion but a commitment to live in a way that honors God and serves others. We are reminded that our lives should be a fragrant offering to God, free from sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness. Instead, our lives should be marked by thanksgiving and holiness, reflecting the light of Christ in a world often shrouded in darkness.
Walking in light means living in a way that exposes and dispels darkness. We are called to be children of light, producing the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth. This requires discernment and a deliberate effort to understand what pleases the Lord. Our lives should be a testimony to the transformative power of Christ, shining His light in every corner of our existence.
Finally, walking in wisdom involves making the best use of our time, understanding the will of the Lord, and being filled with the Spirit. This wisdom guides us away from foolishness and towards a life of gratitude, humility, and mutual submission. As we encourage one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we build a community that reflects the love and wisdom of Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Imitating God in Love: We are called to be imitators of God, living lives marked by love and sacrifice, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. This love is not passive but active, requiring us to live in a way that honors God and serves others. [09:06]
- Walking in Light: As children of light, we are to live in a way that exposes and dispels darkness. Our lives should produce the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth, reflecting the transformative power of Christ. [13:41]
- Discernment and Holiness: Walking in light requires discernment and a deliberate effort to understand what pleases the Lord. Our lives should be a testimony to the transformative power of Christ, shining His light in every corner of our existence. [17:16]
- Wisdom and Time Management: Walking in wisdom involves making the best use of our time, understanding the will of the Lord, and being filled with the Spirit. This wisdom guides us away from foolishness and towards a life of gratitude, humility, and mutual submission. [24:12]
- Community and Encouragement: As we encourage one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we build a community that reflects the love and wisdom of Christ. Our actions should reflect our walk, as we now walk in wisdom. [39:02]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:14] - Introduction to Ephesians 5
- [09:06] - Be Imitators of God
- [13:41] - Walking in Love
- [17:16] - Avoiding Immorality
- [20:16] - The Call to Holiness
- [24:12] - Grace and Transformation
- [28:02] - Deceptive Words and Partnership
- [32:04] - Walking in Light
- [36:18] - Exposing Darkness
- [39:02] - Walking in Wisdom
- [44:21] - Conclusion and Next Steps
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Ephesians 5
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:1-21
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the three main ways Paul instructs believers to walk in Ephesians 5? How are these walks described in the sermon? [09:06]
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to "walk in love" as described in Ephesians 5:2? How is Christ's love exemplified in this passage? [13:41]
3. How does the sermon describe the transformation from darkness to light in a believer's life, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:8? [32:04]
4. What does the sermon say about the importance of wisdom in a believer's life, particularly in relation to time management and understanding God's will? [39:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "imitators of God" challenge the way believers live their daily lives? What practical steps can be taken to embody this imitation? [09:06]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that walking in light involves more than just avoiding sin? How does it relate to actively exposing darkness? [36:18]
3. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "making the best use of your time" in Ephesians 5:16? What implications does this have for a believer's daily routine? [39:02]
4. What role does community play in walking in wisdom, according to the sermon? How can believers encourage one another in this walk? [44:21]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. In what areas do you feel challenged to be an imitator of God, and what specific changes can you make to align more closely with this calling? [09:06]
2. Consider a situation where you might be tempted to engage in "foolish talk" or "crude joking." How can you prepare yourself to respond differently in such situations? [17:16]
3. Identify a specific area of your life where you feel you are not walking in light. What steps can you take this week to bring that area into the light of Christ? [32:04]
4. Think about how you currently manage your time. What is one practical change you can make to ensure you are making the best use of your time in a way that honors God? [39:02]
5. How can you actively participate in building a community that reflects the love and wisdom of Christ? What role can you play in encouraging others through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs? [44:21]
6. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did you seek God's wisdom in that decision, and what can you learn from that experience to apply to future decisions? [39:02]
7. Identify one person in your life who may be living in darkness. How can you be a light to them this week, and what specific actions can you take to share the love of Christ with them? [36:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Living a Life of Active Love
Living as imitators of God calls us to embody the sacrificial love of Christ in our daily lives. This love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate commitment to honor God and serve others. It requires us to live in a way that reflects the love and holiness of God, making our lives a fragrant offering to Him. By avoiding sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness, we can focus on thanksgiving and holiness, allowing the light of Christ to shine through us in a world often filled with darkness. [09:06]
Ephesians 4:32-5:2 (ESV): "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Reflection: Who in your life can you actively show Christ-like love to today, and what specific action can you take to demonstrate this love?
Day 2: Shining as Children of Light
Walking in light means living in a way that exposes and dispels darkness. As children of light, we are called to produce the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth. This requires discernment and a deliberate effort to understand what pleases the Lord. Our lives should be a testimony to the transformative power of Christ, shining His light in every corner of our existence. By living in this way, we reflect the light of Christ in a world that often prefers darkness. [13:41]
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (ESV): "For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can let the light of Christ shine more brightly, and how can you take a step towards that today?
Day 3: Discernment in Pursuit of Holiness
Walking in light requires discernment and a deliberate effort to understand what pleases the Lord. Our lives should be a testimony to the transformative power of Christ, shining His light in every corner of our existence. This involves making conscious choices to avoid immorality and embrace holiness, allowing our lives to reflect the goodness, righteousness, and truth of Christ. By doing so, we become beacons of His light in a world that often chooses darkness. [17:16]
Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV): "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
Reflection: What specific decision or habit in your life requires greater discernment to align with God's holiness, and what step can you take today to pursue that?
Day 4: Embracing Wisdom and Time Management
Walking in wisdom involves making the best use of our time, understanding the will of the Lord, and being filled with the Spirit. This wisdom guides us away from foolishness and towards a life of gratitude, humility, and mutual submission. By embracing wisdom, we can live lives that reflect the love and wisdom of Christ, making the most of every opportunity to serve Him and others. [24:12]
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
Reflection: How can you better manage your time today to align with God's will, and what specific change can you make to prioritize His wisdom in your daily routine?
Day 5: Building a Community of Encouragement
As we encourage one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we build a community that reflects the love and wisdom of Christ. Our actions should reflect our walk, as we now walk in wisdom. By fostering a community of encouragement, we can support one another in our spiritual journeys, creating an environment where the love and wisdom of Christ are evident to all. [39:02]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Who in your community can you encourage today with a word, song, or prayer, and how can you intentionally build them up in their faith journey?
Quotes
Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you as is proper among the saints. [00:02:20] (21 seconds)
Let there be no filthy. Let there be no filthiness, no foolish talk, no crude joking, which is out of place. But instead, let there be thanksgiving for you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexual immoral or impure or who is covetous, that is an idolatry, has no inheritance in the kingdom of God. [00:03:23] (24 seconds)
Walk as children of light. For the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. [00:04:13] (21 seconds)
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making mellowing to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence of Christ. [00:04:55] (23 seconds)
But if I could be honest, the same should be true for disciples. Imagine this. What if we as disciples purposely lived out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? What if we live that out in every aspect of our lives, whether at work, in the stores, with our families, wherever we go, the world could clearly see and recognize us as disciples and therefore be imitators of the one that we're following. [00:11:35] (40 seconds)
Beloved is a term of endearment, of affection, emphasizing a deeply, intimately, and dearly loved, showing that we are loved by him. And because of this limitless love, we should strive to imitate God in a way that glorifies him. Check this out, with the innocence and the sincerity of a beloved child. [00:12:43] (25 seconds)
This imagery of God, of Christ giving up his life in exchange for ours is unimaginable. We have this picture that we may think in our minds of what it could be or how it could be or maybe kind of what he went through, his feelings and his thoughts. But I'm coming here to tell you that we have no clue of what Christ did for us. [00:14:02] (23 seconds)
He could have called a legion of angels and and and rewrote history in just like this. But he freely gave up his life. He freely was beaten. He freely was sped upon. He freely bled for us. And and and this sacrifice that he did, this was a sacrifice. It was the perfect sacrifice because we know in the Old Testament times that they were sacrificing goats and bulls and things like that. But Christ came to be a perfect sacrifice. [00:14:54] (31 seconds)
Paul is saying that your current state, if your current state or characteristics and behaviors clearly define you as sexual immoral, impure, or someone that's pursuing something that doesn't belong to you, and you continue in this state without repentance, then you will find yourself having no inheritance in the kingdom. Inheritance. It represents the eternal reward and the blessings that God grants to his disciple. It signifies salvation and participation in his kingdom. [00:23:26] (34 seconds)
In verse nine, the fruit of light reveals the spiritual growth of a maturing disciple. As we grow in Christ, this transformation should become more and more visible. Fruit here, it represents the outward evidence or results of what's happening on the inside. Just as a healthy tree produces good fruit, a person walking in God's life will naturally produce Teacher and conversation with a multi-ru Rememًa Queen, in the city and in the city of Mary T hustle, who we'll pick you up for now and in entireí, and this central district of superb archetype scene will not continue to get out of faith to obliged to works. [00:31:40] (25 seconds)
As we witness the chaos of the world unfolding right before our eyes, we must turn away from all foolishness and unfruitful habits. There's planes falling out of the skies. There are bird flu. There's wars and rumors of wars. There's tornadoes in crazy places, places that we've never seen. There's no time for us to continue in foolishness. [00:40:31] (23 seconds)
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