Sermon Series
Week 6
Ephesians 5:3-21 | Walking as Children of Light
Preaching Commentary
Discussion Questions
What does it mean to “walk as children of light” in your everyday context, and how is that different from walking in darkness?
How do verses 8–10 help us discern what is “good and right and true” in a confusing or morally gray world?
Why do you think Paul…
Sermon Resources
Key Quotes
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Living in the kingdom of God is a matter of living with God's action in our lives.
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The seeking of the kingdom of God is the chief business of the Christian life.
Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume One
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Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
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Darkness is not the opposite of light; it is the absence of light.
Key Illustration
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Inviting Jesus to Tea
A Frontier Fellowship mobilizer once met a Chinese monk while leading a vision trip. Through a translator she said to him, “We are all followers of Jesus. Do you know Jesus?”
The friendly monk replied, “No! Is he you uncle? Is he a friend of yours? You should all come over for tea!”
It comes as a surprise to many American Christians that over 1/3 of the world’s population does not have access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Over 3 billion people (out of just over 8 billion total) have never heard about God’s love for them in Jesus. There are billions living in darkness with very little chance of seeing the light of Jesus until the Church wakes up and shines the light of Christ!
Liturgical Resources
Opening Prayer or Prayer of Adoration
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Lord Jesus – You’ve come, are coming and will come again.
Whether we know it or not,
we live on the edge of Your coming every moment
of every day either with anticipation or with anxiety.
As if stumbling along a dark path in a thick forest,
with only a flashlight at our feet,
we see so little … while You see everything,
being Yourself the Light of the World.
That’s why we put our hands in Yours,
follow where You lead us and give to You all the people
and experiences that lay beyond our ability
to see clearly and our strength to act.
Call to Worship
- Adapted from Isaiah 60:1-3View
Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
All: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
Leader: but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
All: And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Adapted for liturgical use.
Bible Translation: ESV English Standard Version Crossway PublishingScripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.
Prayer of Confession
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Gracious God, You have called us out of darkness and into the light of Your love. You have redeemed us and made us whole in order to set us free from bondage. The challenge You place before us is to die to self, surrender our wills, and serve sacrificially. But we cling to our sinful humanity and to the trappings of this temporal life. Forgive us for being stubborn, selfish, and sinful. Set us free to embrace the values of Your Kingdom, transform our hearts to long for You, and empower us to live courageously as Your children. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
- Adapted from 1 John 1:5b-9View
Leader: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
People: If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.
Leader: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
People: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Adapted and modernized for corporate worship.
Bible Translation: KJV King James VersionScripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Bible. The King James Bible is in the public domain in the United States.
Benediction
- Inspired by Ephesians 3View
Hear the good news of the boundless riches of Christ: our God has pity on the weak and delivers the needy when they call. In Christ Jesus our Lord we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him, for in Christ our sins are forgiven. The light of God’s mercy has come, so arise, shine, and be at peace.
Incorporates scripture mainly from NSRVUE.
Bible Translation: NRSVUE New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition Friendship PressScripture quotations marked (NRSVUE) are from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.