Shine A Light
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
I. INTRO
A. Where We’ve Been
B. Where We’re Going
C. Main Text
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:
D. Pray
E. Illust— the world w/out light o Christ
Sermon Outlines on Ephesians You Light up My Life (Ephesians 5:8–21)
C. Think how dark and drab the world would be without the light of Christian influence.
1. We can feel the darkness. It closes in on us. It produces fear.
2. Light relaxes us. Takes away fear and lights up the unknown.
D. Jesus says to us as His disciples: “You are the light of the world.”
E. We are in the light business. “God, light up my life.”
a. have u ever been in a place completely overtaken by darkness?
1. We can feel the darkness. It closes in on us. It produces fear.
i. story: As a teen, middle o night,
C. Think how dark and drab the world would be without the light of Christian influence.
-awoke to creaking footsteps in the hall outside my room,
-it was completely dark,
-grabbed 30/30
b. Light relaxes us. Takes away fear and lights up the unknown.
2. Light relaxes us. Takes away fear and lights up the unknown.
1. Jesus says to us as His disciples: “You r the light of the world.”
2. Think how dark it would be w/out the light of Christ-like influence in the world.
3. We r in the light business, so...
II. BODY
A. Don’t participate in darkness
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
a. Participating in darkness accomplishes nothing
21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
ro 6:21
Ro 6:21-22
1. the fruitless work o darkness leads to death!
2. the fruit o light is...
i. Sanctification:
- The course of life befitting those separated unto God
the separation of the believer from evil things and ways
- The course of life befitting those separated unto God
*specifically a life apart from evil things & ways (which is described by Paul as darkness)
the course of life befitting those so separated
Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 545). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 2, p. 545). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
ii. Eternal life:
b. Darkness is shameful
b. Darkness is shameful
12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Eph 5:12
B. Let’s shine a light
a. Light exposes darkness
: but instead expose them.
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Eph 5:13-14
1. Exposing makes visible
2. Exposing darkness makes the person light
i. Becoming light is being brought to life
: “Awake, O sleeper, & arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
-When we shine a light, we r essentially commanding, spiritually: “awake & come alive!!”
-What’s it mean “christ will shine on u?” (Take a look @zechariah’s prophecy regarding Christ found in…)
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Lk 1:78-79
*God mercifully sent his Son (s-o-n) to rise & shine a light on those living in spiritual sin (darkness) & spiritually dead (shadow o death) w/ the expressed purpose o leading ‘em out o their bondage 2 sin.
~Therefore…
b. The light is the way of peace
1. Peace: harmonious rel. btwn us & God, us & ea. other, us & the earth.
2. What we’re talking about is Jesus making away 4 our salvation through Christ as Paul describes in...
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
i. & we have a part to play as God calls us to partner w/HIM so our lives & declaration o the Gospel expose darkness, & those who don’t shy away accept & become light
Eph 2:4-5
- This is the work of Christian evangelism: the light of 1 soul making another light
Such is the work of Christian evangelism, the light of one soul making another light
ii. On a self reflective note: is there unconfessed sin in ur life?
ii. On a self reflective note: is there unconfessed sin in ur life?
-If so, part o u is still dead!
-Shine a light on it, confess it to God, repent, & that part o u that’s still dead will live!
c. The light lives wisely
B. The light lives wisely
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Eph 5:
1. Wisdom is using one’s time efficiently
i. Light is often a metaphor for purity, but it also represents knowledge/enlightenment
-Since this is true, we must display the wisdom o God in our daily decisions
*don’t feel very wise; don’t know what to do in a given situation?
~Remember we have God’s spirit in us as counselor, helper, guide!
~Pray & then trust his guidance
-the light is wise, & so uses her/his time efficiently!
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
ii. the days are evil
- evil: meaning toilsome, painful
*meaning in this evil time we find ourselves toiling painfully
meaning toilsome, painful
- “making the best use” literally translates redeem/purshase
*As Christ followers, rather than go through life passively, we must ACTIVELY take advantage o the opportunity to do good in this evil age
-Paul is saying, “yes its painful work, but we must wisely do it, not be/engage in the evil!”
-Paul is saying, “yes its painful work, but we must wisely do it, not be/engage in the evil!”
iii. So, Paul would ask, how r we spending our time?
ii. So, Paul would ask, how are we spending our time?
- if there’s 24hrs in a day, & 7 days a week, there’s 168 hrs in a week
* lets say we r working 40hrs a week,
* & sleeping 42hrs (if we sleep 6hrs a night)
* & if we eat 3x a day & spend 1hr per meal that’s 21hrs a week
~what if we started using some o our meal times praying or discussing the things o God…or in family bible study
~what if we surrendered our work time to say “God, while I’m @ work, what would u have me do?”
~ we have spent 103hrs leaving 65hrs a week left…how do we spend that time?
iv. Lets spend some of our remaining 65hrs a week serving God
-What if we surrendered our work time to say “God, while I’m @ work, what would u have me do?”
2. How are we spending our finances?