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Love
Teaching Text: Ephesians 5:8-20
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the lightbecomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Themes
Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:
Pentecost
Formation
Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:
The phrasing of this passage we read today can run past your ears and you might change it without noticing because it is not exactly what you expect.
When it can easily make it say something different from what it actually says because its close to what you would expect it it say but it then its not.
The passage does not say, “You were living in darkness, now you are living in light.”
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
– Ephesians 5:8
We think it’s going to say you were living in darkness, but it says you were darkness.
We think it’s going to say you are now living in the light, but it says you are light.
Live as children of light.
This letter that was first directed to a city church in a bustling crossroads, cross cultural, pluralistic city was also passed around to other cities.
It was written to people who were trying to understand and to live the staggering change that Jesus was bringing into people's lives.
Pattern of the letter
Here is who you are. Now here is how you live.
You were once this. You are now this.
The chapter begins:
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 5:1–2
You were darkness, You are light.
Your life once made it harder to discern reality, to grasp what is really there.
You weren’t just living in a dark place, you were contributing to it.
You may have had no nefarious intentions and you weren’t setting out to harm, but the self disconnected from God is confusion.
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.
– Ephesians 5:6–7
“‘God’s wrath’, in fact, isn’t just a punishment waiting for people at the end of the present age. It isn’t an arbitrary thing whereby God makes up some rules to stop people enjoying themselves and then threatens to get angry with them if they go ahead anyway. God’s wrath is built in to creation itself. There are certain ways of behaving which are so out of line with the way God made the world, and humans in particular, that they bring their own nemesis.”
– NT Wright
He is saying there are spiritual laws that are just as real and consequential as physical laws.
To live apart from God is like trying to ignore gravity.
It’s like pretending you don’t need water to live.
It’s like having no regard for how you feed yourself.
You may have moments or days where you get away with it, but the trouble is built in.
It carries its own consequence.
Sin is a flight from reality.
Light is visible and makes things visible - live in a way that accords with the truest truth of reality
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
– Ephesians 5:8–9
There is a way of life that produces anxiety, loneliness, disconnection, frantic search with no light, anxiety, even death.
And there is a way of life that accords with God’s love and light. It’s not a trouble free life, but it does produce certain fruit … (the three mentioned here are … )
Goodness - character growth
Righteousness - actions of justice and shalom
Truth - a lived expression of actual reality
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
– Ephesians 5:12–14
HOW?
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. “
– Ephesians 5:15–20
Recognize the gift of every day (and every moment)
Be filled with the Spirit (and not the substitutes and short cuts)
Soak your life in gratitude and worship.
In a world of scarcity overflow.
In a world of fear, live connected to your courage
In a world where selfishness is expected, shock with kindness
In a world of alone, be together
In a world of lies that shroud in darkness, be light.
