Walking Wisely: Maximizing Time for God's Glory
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into Ephesians 5:15-16, focusing on the theme "Walk Wisely, Making the Most of Your Time." We began by acknowledging the current cultural climate, where Christianity is often mocked, and emphasized the need for righteous anger and sadness over such disrespect. This should drive us to introspection and evangelism, as the world is in dire need of the gospel.
Ephesians 5:15-16 calls us to be careful in how we live, urging us to walk wisely and make the most of our time because the days are evil. We explored the concept of time as a divine gift, created by God, who has given us enough time each day to accomplish His will. The challenge is not the lack of time but how we manage it. We must prioritize our relationship with God, family, and work in that order, ensuring that none of these areas suffer due to poor time management.
We discussed the importance of setting priorities and being disciplined in our daily lives. Walking wisely involves making time for God through prayer, Bible study, and worship. It also means investing in our families and fulfilling our responsibilities at work. We must avoid being enslaved by time and instead lead our time, planning our days to be good stewards of this precious resource.
We also reflected on historical and biblical figures like Noah, David, and the disciples, who faced immense challenges yet made wise use of their time. Their lives remind us that despite the hardships, we have more conveniences today that should allow us to serve God more effectively.
In conclusion, we are called to make the most of our time, recognizing that it is a gift from God. We must be intentional in our daily activities, ensuring that we are not wasting time on meaningless pursuits but using it to glorify God and fulfill His purposes.
### Key Takeaways
1. Righteous Anger and Evangelism: The mocking of Christianity in today's culture should stir righteous anger and sadness within us. This emotional response should lead us to introspection and a renewed commitment to sharing the gospel. We are called to be part of the solution, spreading the light of Christ in a dark world. [39:55]
2. Time as a Divine Gift: God has given us enough time each day to accomplish His will. The challenge is not the lack of time but how we manage it. We must prioritize our relationship with God, ensuring that we spend time in prayer, Bible study, and worship. This divine perspective on time helps us to walk wisely and make the most of our days. [46:52]
3. Setting Priorities: Our first priority should be our relationship with God, followed by our family and then our work. This order ensures that none of these areas suffer due to poor time management. We must be disciplined, saying no to distractions and yes to what truly matters. [49:43]
4. Historical and Biblical Examples: Figures like Noah, David, and the disciples faced immense challenges yet made wise use of their time. Their lives remind us that despite the hardships, we have more conveniences today that should allow us to serve God more effectively. We must learn from their examples and be faithful stewards of our time. [01:06:04]
5. Intentional Living: We are called to make the most of our time, recognizing that it is a gift from God. This involves being intentional in our daily activities, ensuring that we are not wasting time on meaningless pursuits but using it to glorify God and fulfill His purposes. We must plan our days wisely and be open to God's leading, allowing Him to reschedule our plans for His glory. [01:16:01]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[39:55] - Righteous Anger and Evangelism
[41:16] - Cultural Mockery of Christianity
[42:14] - Introduction to Ephesians 5
[43:35] - Walk Wisely, Make the Most of Your Time
[45:40] - God's Perspective on Time
[46:52] - Time as a Divine Gift
[47:49] - Walk Wisely: Practical Steps
[49:43] - Prioritizing God, Family, and Work
[50:35] - Family Priorities
[52:38] - The Importance of Work
[54:13] - Investing in Relationships
[55:53] - Blending God's Time with Family Time
[56:42] - Work as Worship
[57:35] - Making the Most of Your Time
[58:20] - Time as the Great Equalizer
[59:33] - Practical Breakdown of Time
[01:06:04] - Historical and Biblical Examples
[01:16:01] - Intentional Living and Flexibility
[01:18:58] - Responding to God's Call
[01:22:09] - Managing Time Wisely
[01:23:37] - Invitation to Respond
[01:26:31] - Surrendering to God
[01:28:50] - Deacon Nomination Process
[01:29:50] - Closing Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 5:15-16 instruct us to do regarding our walk and use of time?
2. According to the sermon, what are the three priorities we should set in our lives? [49:43]
3. How did the sermon describe the current cultural climate towards Christianity? [39:55]
4. What examples of historical and biblical figures were given in the sermon to illustrate wise use of time? [01:06:04]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of walking wisely and making the most of our time in Ephesians 5:15-16?
2. How does the sermon suggest we should respond emotionally and practically to the cultural mockery of Christianity? [39:55]
3. What does it mean to prioritize our relationship with God, family, and work in the order mentioned in the sermon? [49:43]
4. How can the examples of Noah, David, and the disciples inspire us to use our time wisely despite challenges? [01:06:04]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current time management. Are there areas where you feel you are not making the most of your time? What changes can you make to align more closely with Ephesians 5:15-16?
2. The sermon mentioned the importance of setting priorities. How can you practically prioritize your relationship with God in your daily routine? [49:43]
3. How do you currently respond to cultural mockery of Christianity? What steps can you take to turn your righteous anger and sadness into evangelistic action? [39:55]
4. Think about a historical or biblical figure who inspires you. How can their example help you manage your time better in your current life situation? [01:06:04]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of intentional living. What are some meaningless pursuits you can eliminate from your life to focus more on glorifying God? [01:16:01]
6. How can you blend God's time with family time, as suggested in the sermon? Share specific activities you can do with your family that also honor God. [55:53]
7. The sermon mentioned the need to be open to God's leading and allow Him to reschedule our plans. Can you recall a time when you felt God leading you to change your plans? How did you respond, and what was the outcome? [01:16:43]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of walking wisely and making the most of your time, as discussed in the sermon. Use these questions to foster meaningful discussion and personal reflection.
Devotional
Day 1: Righteous Anger Leading to Evangelism
Description: In today's cultural climate, Christianity often faces mockery and disrespect. This should stir within us a sense of righteous anger and sadness, not to lead us to bitterness, but to drive us to introspection and evangelism. We are called to be part of the solution, spreading the light of Christ in a dark world. This emotional response should lead us to a renewed commitment to sharing the gospel, recognizing the world's dire need for the message of Christ. By channeling our righteous anger into positive action, we can make a significant impact on those around us. [39:55]
Ephesians 4:26-27 (ESV): "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil."
Reflection: Think of a recent instance where you felt anger or sadness over the disrespect of Christianity. How can you channel that emotion into a positive action, such as sharing the gospel or serving others in love?
Day 2: Time as a Divine Gift
Description: Time is a precious gift from God, created by Him and given to us to accomplish His will. The challenge we face is not a lack of time but how we manage it. We must prioritize our relationship with God, ensuring that we spend time in prayer, Bible study, and worship. This divine perspective on time helps us to walk wisely and make the most of our days. By recognizing time as a gift, we can better steward it, aligning our daily activities with God's purposes and avoiding meaningless pursuits. [46:52]
Psalm 90:12 (ESV): "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily schedule. Are there activities that consume your time but do not align with God's purposes? How can you adjust your schedule to prioritize your relationship with God?
Day 3: Setting Priorities
Description: Our first priority should be our relationship with God, followed by our family, and then our work. This order ensures that none of these areas suffer due to poor time management. We must be disciplined, saying no to distractions and yes to what truly matters. By setting clear priorities, we can ensure that we are investing our time in ways that honor God and fulfill our responsibilities. This disciplined approach to time management allows us to be more effective in all areas of our lives. [49:43]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: Evaluate your current priorities. Are there areas where your time management is causing neglect of your relationship with God, family, or work? What specific changes can you make to realign your priorities?
Day 4: Learning from Historical and Biblical Examples
Description: Figures like Noah, David, and the disciples faced immense challenges yet made wise use of their time. Their lives remind us that despite the hardships, we have more conveniences today that should allow us to serve God more effectively. By studying their examples, we can learn how to be faithful stewards of our time, even in the face of difficulties. These historical and biblical figures demonstrate that with God's guidance, we can overcome challenges and use our time wisely to fulfill His purposes. [01:06:04]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith."
Reflection: Think of a biblical figure who inspires you. How did they manage their time and challenges? What lessons can you apply to your own life to be a better steward of your time?
Day 5: Intentional Living
Description: We are called to make the most of our time, recognizing that it is a gift from God. This involves being intentional in our daily activities, ensuring that we are not wasting time on meaningless pursuits but using it to glorify God and fulfill His purposes. We must plan our days wisely and be open to God's leading, allowing Him to reschedule our plans for His glory. By living intentionally, we can ensure that our time is spent in ways that honor God and contribute to His kingdom. [01:16:01]
Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
Reflection: Consider your daily activities. Are there any that do not contribute to God's purposes? How can you be more intentional in planning your days to ensure that your time is used to glorify God?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You may not have enough time each day to get done what you want to get done. But you have enough time each day to get done what God wants you to get done. Let that sink in. You may end your day and say, I'm so far behind on this, so far behind on that. Be wise with your time, and you will not be behind on what God wants you to get done." [45:40] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Time is a gift. Make the most of it. Time is the great equalizer. You know, we live in a culture that talks a lot about equity, evening things out. Let me tell you something. Everyone's got the same amount of time. Bezos, who owns Amazon, is worth billions of dollars. He's got no more time than you or me." [58:20] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "There is enough time each day to do all that God wants you and me to do. That truth, that statement, church, liberated me. I remember praying one night specifically. God, I just don't seem like I can catch up. I'm going 90 to nothing and I'm still dragging behind. And the Lord was very clear to me. I didn't hear it in an audible voice, but he told me this truth and gave me great peace." [01:14:43] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Walk wisely, making good use of your time. That's what Ephesians 5, 15 and 16 teaches. Be careful how you walk. Not as unwise men, but as wise. Making the most of your time. Because the days are evil. So what's going to change? Probably something to do with electronics needs to be adjusted in your life. Probably how much time you spend having meaningless conversation needs to change in your life." [01:17:51] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You have time for what's important. You say, well, pastor, you haven't mentioned mowing grass, stuff like that. You've got 31 hours. Take care of yard work. Take care of in-house work. You've got time. Make good use of it. Because if you don't use it, the devil will. The days are evil." [01:03:24] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When our relationship with God is our priority, we submit to him. We make time to do what he's called us to do, evangelize the lost, minister to the poor, etc., etc. Gather to worship him. Serve him. Are you serving the Lord? Are you demonstrating? Are you demonstrating your spiritual gift? Every believer in Jesus Christ has been gifted in order to serve him. Are you serving the Lord? That's your first priority." [49:43] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Be careful how you walk. Not as unwise, but as wise. Number two, and there's only two. Make the most of your time. Verse 16 says, making the most of your time because the days are evil. That was written 2,000 years ago, and I don't know a day since where it's not a true statement. Every generation sees, these of Christians knows that their day is evil because the devil is alive and well and at work deceiving many." [57:35] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You are not to be a slave to your time. You are to lead your time. You are to be planning and dictating your time. And God can always intervene and adjust the schedule, but you ought to have a plan of how you're going to be a good steward of the time you've been given." [57:35] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We have got to stop saying how busy we are. We have all these luxuries to have more time, not less. And so if you have less, you are enslaved. I read about the first great awakening, how the preachers of America and Britain would cross the ocean on ship that would take weeks. So when they would travel from one to the other, they would travel for eight months to a year before they would be back home. Now I can go there and I can be back three days later if I need to be." [01:13:05] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "It's important that tomorrow you have a plan to make good use of your time. But it is also important that you be willing for God to change that plan. And to lead you to someone. To lead you to a situation. To lead you to take a certain action that you were not planning to take or to make." [01:17:51] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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