This is the last sermon in our series on "The Christian Walk" in Ephesians. This ser- mon will be about how we live our lives, and is concerned with the quality of our lives.
I. Vss. 15-16 - Be careful A. Vs. 15 - To walk "circumspectly" is to be careful how we live. 1. "not as fools" 2. "but as wise" B. Vs. 16a - "Redeeming the time" means to make the best use of your time. Do not waste your life on things that will not ultimately matter. C. Vs. 16b - We should be careful how we live because "the days are evil." Are you influencing people toward the good? II. Vss. 17-19 - The content or quality of your life A. Vs. 17 - Be wise in considering God's will for your life. That's where the quality of life is. B. Vs. 18 - Don't waste your life by depending on things like alcohol and drugs. Let the Holy Spirit determine what you concentrate on. C. Vs. 19 - Spend time in private and public worship. Have song in your heart! III. Vss. 20-21 - Be thankful A. "Always for all things." That's a tall order but is certainly possible. B. "Unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." We are not just giving thanks, but we are surrenderin to the Lord, who makes our lives better and makes us thankful. C. Vs. 21 - "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Because of our great reverence for the Lord we are able to submit to each other in fellowship. If you will follow this text and adopt it into your lifestyle, you can live a victiorous Christian life.
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Here is yet another installment of "The Christian Walk." Tonight's sermon is on "Walking in the Light." In a world of darkness, we are supposed to shed the light of Christ.
I. Vs. 8a - "For you were sometimes darkness." A. This is a reference to how the Ephesians, who lived in a pagan society and worshipped the goddess Artemis, lived before they were walked in the light of Christ. B. We can see how they lived in Ephesians 4:17-20 As you go through these verses, you can point out what kind of lifestyle that would be. It would characterize walking in darkness rather than light. C. Perhaps some of the Ephesians were tempted to go back....... II. Vss. 8b-10 - But now you are light. A. Look at the difference in these verses and verse 19 of Ephesians 4. They make a startling contrast. B. "Proving what is acceptable," refers to their witness to the people who were living in darkness. Which is what we are supposed to do and to be. C. The dark world that we live in needs for us to live the light of Christ before them. III. Vss. 11-14 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. A. Stay away from the people who are living in darkness, or at least do not be influenced by them. B. We are to be witnesses to the dark world because of their dark lifestyle as reflected in verse 12. C. Vss. 13-14 tell us that the light reveals and illumines the darkness of sin and the light of Christs. To conclude, go back to verse 11 where it s s "rather reprove them." To me this would mean not so much what we say to them, but how we lives our lives before them that will reprove the lifestyle of darkness. We need to get serious about this. The third sermon on "The Christian Walk" is called the worthess, or vain, walk. Verse 17 says not to walk as "the gentiles walk." As it is used here it means not to walk as heathens walk. Don't live like people who live only for the world and belong to Satan's world system. "In the vanity of their mind" refers to an empty way of living that leads to an empty life.
I. Verse 18 - "Having the understanding darkned" A. They walk in the dark as opposed to walking in the light of Christ. B. They are "alienated from the life of God." Sadly, the Lord has nothing to do with their lives, which is the kind of society we are living in. C. They are ignorant of the true way of life. They are walking blindly through life. II. Verse 19 - "Who being past feeling..." A. They are living "lascivious" lives. Which means that they live only for the world and have bought into Satan's lie. Paul gives a description of this way of living in Romans 1:24-27, which is the direction of the world. B. They "work all uncleanness." C. And they work "with greediness." III. Verses 20-24 - "But ye have not so learned Christ." A. Christ hasn't taught us to live for the world - the world system. B. We should have put off the "old man" which lived "according deceitful lust." C. According to verses 23-24 we should live with renewed minds since we are new people living in "righteousness and true holiness." In Christ we do not live in a dark world, ignorant of God's way and will. Christ has taught us better than to live for the world and to join them in their waywardness. Biblical faith is about newness. Isaiah 43:19 declares: "Behold, I will do a new thing." God is always doing "a new thing." This is especially true in the New Testament. Though Jesus walked on the earth 2,000 years ago, He continues to do new things in the world, the church and in our lives. Let's take a look at newness.
I. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Life in Christ A. According to John 10:10, new life in Christ is abundant life. 1. This new, abundant life is brought about by the Holy Spirit, who woos us, convicts us, convinces us, indwells us and leads us day by day. 2. This new, abundant life has to with the joy that Jesus gives us. John 15:11 3. This new, abundant life has to do with a new purpose for living. Jesus brings new purpose to our lives, such as, witnessing for Him, etc. B. New life in Christ is eternal life. 1. Eternal life begins the day that we are saved. 2. We begin on that day to live eternally. To see what I mean read Hebrews 11:13-16. C. Are you living abundantly? Does this sound like your life? II. A New Outlook on Life A. A new attitude. (attitude adjustment) 1. Colossians 3:8-10 2. Colossians 3:12-14 B. A new hope. 1. In the New Testament, hope means expectation, not "maybe so." 2. We can live in optimism, knowing that, though things might look bleak, Jesus will win in the end, and we will win with Him. 3. This hope reduces our anxiety and brings us peace. C. Is this your outlook on life? What about your attitude, your hope? III. A new view of death. A. We no longer fear death as we once did. Hebrews 2:14-15 This does not mean that we live with a death wish. We are to live life to the fullest, and we can do this because the fear of death has been removed. B. We know that death brings better things. Revelation 21:4 No more tears, no more death, no more sorrow or crying, no more separation. C. Is this your view of death? We can rejoice today, because Jesus has made all things new in our lives. He has given us new life: a new attitude, a new outlook on life and a new view of death. There is much more that we could talk about if time permitted. Do you have new life? If not, it is available to you by faith in Christ. If you have new life -- live it! |
All of these materials are free of charge. There is no copyright on them and you are free to use them as you see fit. I am happy to be of assitance to you in your preaching/teaching minstry.
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