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Love
Teaching Text: Ephesians 5:1-7
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.Therefore do not be partners with them.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Walk in the way of Love
Presence
Watch or listen to the sermon. Then take a moment of silence and think about these questions:
Ask God to open your heart and mind to understand Ephesians anew as we start this season.
Thank Him for the blessings He has given you already, even those you might be unaware of.
Being near God is not only a longing of the human soul but a right we have as His children. We were created to be close to Him, intimate with Him, knowing Him.
James 4:8– “ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Prayer for drawing near:
God, Your Word says if I draw near to You, You will draw near to me—and I want to be near to You. Please forgive my sins, help me walk in the light of your love. So, in the Name of Jesus, I ask that You cause me to desire to draw near to You above everything else.
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
Here at the beginning of chapter 5 the Apostle gives us this beautiful picture of life in the Gospel of Jesus. It summarizes and clarifies a lot for us
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Ephesians 5 v 1-2
Follow God's Example - other translations say be imitators of God - let your life be filled with the life of God. Watch God’s life and character and practice what you see
As dearly loved children - so crucial that it doesnt say follow God’s example in order to become dearly love children BUT BECAUSE you are dearly loved children
Walk in the way of love - let your actions be shaped and informed and filled with LOVE
again - just as God has done for you
Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.
The basis of the Christian life and ethic and choices and practices and character formation is the sacrificial love of Jesus.
Now He says we should walk in that way of love.
Jesus faces the primary temptations from a place of love!!
Paul is saying something similar… he is reminding them that they are dearly loved and saying lets work that love out into the character of your real lives
In the places where it may be most contested in your city.
In sex - How you use and relate to your body and the body of others
In greed - How you sense what is yours, your possessions, your money, your generosity or lack of it
In speech - And even how you use language and conversation
How does your view and practice of sexuality, undermine the way of Jesus regarding sex?
What part does the desire for more wealth and generosity play in your view of financial provision or sufficiency?
Consider your speech… does it honor those to whom and of whom you speak?
The text says this relates to idolatry: these are indicators of your god
You may never explicitly say this thing is my god.
If you want to see what you worship, start by looking at what you can not say no to.
But your allegiance is actually indicated by your partnerships that show up in your time and passion, your affection, and your devotion.
Part of why you see so much pain pour in -
There is sex that heightens loneliness
There is sex that advances exploitation
There is sex that ignores the soul
There is sex that ensnares
“Every time two people make love physically, their bodies are saying, ‘We belong to each other, totally, completely and forever.’ If that isn’t true, and if it isn’t known by both to be true—if it’s just an experiment, a nice idea at the time, a trial arrangement—their bodies are telling a lie. Sooner or later, the lie will come out.” –N.T. Wright
The background to why people misuse sex is trying to meet deep real needs of their souls apart from God.
And the same is true with greed
We begin to ache with longing for a life that doesn’t belong to us or to imagine or significance will increase as our bank account or possessions increase. We stop seeing people as full human souls and see them as things to use to get what we want and we begin to deteriorate our life.
And so Paul is saying - be on the lookout for this - all the way down even to your speech
Don’t speak in a way that eventually makes it easier to demean the other human being in your community
That knocks the edge off your convictions
That paves a way for your lust or greed
Don’t speak in a loose, sarcastic, coarse way that makes it really hard to ever share something genuine and meaningful with someone.
Then very interestingly he says - let me show you a clear and easily accessible way out
Thanksgiving.
Somehow, through thanksgiving, we oppose the lure of greed, sexual temptation, and slander.
The holy life is a life of thanksgiving
The holy person is full of gratitude
These sinful practices are often attempts for us to break free of our limitations. Paul in prison - limited physical contact, no possessions, very little conversation brimming with thanksgiving and worship
The Apostle isn’t saying there are certain things too much for God to forgive
He is saying your practices reveal your god
He is saying you can participate knowing in the Kingdom of Christ or some other kingdom of the world
The question of this passage is what are we partnering with?
The Way of Self
or
The Way of Love
The way of self trusts in its own way for satisfaction
The way of love relies on receiving the love of God, trusting Him that in that love, He wants what is best for us.
How you see and practice sex, greed, and speech is the indicator of who your god is.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” – Ephesians 5 v 1-2
Love
Read these notes and discuss the questions below:
The text says ”walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us”
What parts of your:
Sexual practice
Financial practice
Habits of speech
can you change in order to love others as Christ loved?
