Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Greetings...

As most of you know we have been studying “The Glorious Church Of Christ” within the pages of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in our Prison Epistles Series and so far we have determined..

The body or church of Christ is that which has been eternally planned ().

When we are “outside of Christ’s body” we are dead in our trespasses and sins which is why it is so important to be a part of the “body of Christ” ().

God made it possible to “enter into the eternally planned church” through the blood of Christ and His Law it created which unified all the peoples both Jew and Gentile ().

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This “unity of the spirit” keeps the bond of peace through adhering to the “calling to which you have been called” through proper leadership in the “The Glorious Church Of Christ” ().

Last week we then looked at how Paul turned back to those that who were “made new in Christ” and how they should walk not in futility of mind but according to truth ().

It’s that idea of walking not in futility but according to truth that has Paul write, “therefore be imitators of God…and walk in love.”

This is the trust of our passage tonight.

There are two major themes demonstrated here.

Imitating God and walking in love requires sacrifice and wisdom.

With this in mind let’s look at our lesson today.

Walking In Love Is Sacrifice

Our walk imitates Jesus’ walk.

Jesus walked a sacrificial life of purity while here on earth.

Jesus walked a sacrificial life of purity while here on earth ().

Jesus walked sacrificial life of hope of a better tomorrow.

Jesus walked into death knowingly and willingly.

Luke 22

Our walk sacrifices sin for righteousness.

Eph 5:

We are to put fornication, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking and crude jokes out of our mind.

We walk away from these things by discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.

Eph 5:8

When we study the Holy Writ we can clearly see what is pleasing to the Lord.

We put covetousness i.e. idolatry out of our mind.

Summery

We put filthiness out of our mind.

Our walk is to imitate the pure and holy walk of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

As “children of God” we are to “walk as children of light” ().

We put foolish talking out of our mind.

This means we understand...

We put crude joking out of our mind.

Walking In Love Is Wisdom

Our walk is based on wisdom not foolishness.

One of the hardest things to grasp emotionally is the difference between worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.

Is lying always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?

“A little white lie that spares the feelings of kids won’t hurt anyone really.”

Is abortion always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?

“A woman raped surely wouldn’t be expected to keep the child full term.”

Is tobacco use always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?

“I can stop at any time I just choose not to, I’m not addicted to it.”

Is gambling always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?

“Buying a lottery ticket doesn’t hurt anyone and if I win I’ll give a lot to God anyway.”

Is evolution always wrong or can there be some leeway?

“There is so much evidence to suggest evolution surely Genesis must not be literal.”

All of these “excuses” are foolish excuses and I would imagine most if not everyone here knows they make no biblical nor logical sense.

However, that doesn’t mean it is any easier to force ourselves to see the wisdom of God over the world but we must do just that…we must seek the wisdom of God over the worlds foolishness.

1 Cor 1:

We can and have all got caught up in worldly wisdom in the past and maybe now but we must guard against such.

We must always study to make certain we are not “wise in our own eyes” but have matured to manhood in the Scriptures and able to “discern what is pleasing to the Lord” ().

Our walk should make the best use of time.

This is the hardest and most “personally managed” aspect of any Christian walk.

What is considered the “best use” of time biblically is subjective and dependent on the individual.

However, there are certain characteristics that every child of God will have it they are “walking according the best use of their time biblically.”

They will spend a good portion of each day determining “what the will of the Lord is.”

Eph 5:

This means Bible study will not be an after thought but an unquestionable requirement in their lives.

This doesn’t mean they will have a Bible open every second neglecting family, work, and other responsibilities but it does mean that the “Word of the Lord is written on their heart” that they may mediated upon it continually.

They will spend a good portion of each day being “filled with the Spirit” in worship of their Creator.

Once again worship isn’t an after thought but a forethought.

We are to “pray without ceasing” i.e. constantly mindful of our relationship with our Creator and God.

They will spend a good portion of each day “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Eph 5:

This isn’t suggesting that we must be like monks to achieve such.

Bible study can be elevated through mediation throughout the day.

Worship can happen at any time throughout the day.

Helping others can happen in many different ways throughout the day like through prayer, phone calls, visitation...

Summery

When we walk with God according to His wisdom and make the best use of the time God has given us we will make God the Father, Son, and Spirit proud to call us faithful children.

Conclusion

Our walk in love is based on the God of love and if we are not imitating Him we are not Christians or Christ-like people.

Let’s make certain we are willing to walk in love through sacrifice and wisdom as we seek to become visible in the light to our God above as righteous and truth.

Invitation