NBBC Kids' CLUB - Ephesians 5:7-14
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction: Last week we considered why we should act like God the Father, because we love Him, and what it looks like: loving others like Jesus, living in holiness, and being grateful to the Lord. Tonight, we’re going to consider that we must avoid participating in the sinful actions of those that have not believed in Jesus as their Savior.
Ephesians 5:7 “7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;”
Remember from last week, because God Father loves us we are to act like Him in love, holiness, and gratitude.
So, because God the Father loves us, what are we supposed to do?
Not be partakers with them.
What does it mean to partake in something?
To participate in the same actions.
To do the same things
Who is the “them”?
Immoral, impure, and greedy people of Ephesians 5:3.
People who speak Filthy, silly, coarse jesting words of Ephesians 5:4.
The people from Ephesians 5:6 who are lying to people that they can sin and there won’t be a problem.
In other words, these are individuals who sin and don’t see anything wrong with sinning.
Can anyone sin and get away with it?
No!
Why?
Because God hates sin.
Since God hates sin, He must punish sin (wrath).
Because God the Father loves us, we need to avoid participating in the deceptive, sinful actions of those that believe you can sin and it won’t be a problem.
Ephesians 5:8 “8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light”
What does it mean for something to be “formerly”?
It’s something that was in the past.
This was the way that something used to be.
What is it that every believer in Jesus was formerly?
Darkness.
What happens when it is dark?
You cannot see.
It completely takes over so that you cannot see anything!
What do you think that darkness refers to?
Sin.
We were all formerly in the darkness of sin.
How does Paul describe believers in Jesus now?
“Light in the Lord.”
For something that is “in the Lord”means that it has been transformed by the Lord!
Instead of being darkness, Jesus has transformed believers into light.
Or, since Jesus is Light, we belong to Jesus.
Thus, the believer’s identity is found in belonging to Jesus.
This is not too far from other things that we understand.
Schools often have a mascot that, if you go to that school, you identify your relationship to that school by the mascot (i.e., “eagle”).
That’s the same idea here: because we belong to Jesus we are identified with Jesus as light in Him.
Ephesians 5:9 “9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),”
This identity, then, forms that reason that we should not participate with others in sin.
Instead, we are to live as children of the Light.
This looks like goodness, interested that others are helped by having what they need.
Friends, what would it look like to help someone in need?
According to Ephesians 4:28, we should work so that we can share with others.
This further looks like righteousness, or living according to God’s instructions in His Word.
Friends, what is an instruction from God’s Word that we should live according to?
According to Ephesians 4:26-7, we must avoid being controlled by anger.
This also looks like truth, not only avoiding lying but also telling others the truth about God and Jesus.
Friends, what should we tell others about Jesus? (He lived a perfect life, died on the cross to forgive our sins, and rose from the dead to give new life to all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior.)
According to Ephesians 4:25, we should always tell the truth.
Ephesians 5:10 “10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
What is it that characterizes how a believer walks as children of Light?
They grow in understanding what pleases the Lord.
Their life is characterized by living to please the Lord.
Where do we learn what pleases the Lord?
From His Word, the Bible.
Friends, we ought to be so grateful that God gave us His Word; otherwise, we would not know what pleases the Lord.
This is about being able to take the truths of God’s Word and make a choice about what we’re going to do because we know that God would be pleased.
Illustration: Let’s say that you’re at home.
There, your mom has asked you if you have studied your memory verse for CLUB.
However, you have not.
You know that your mom would not be happy if you not studied your verse.
Yet, you remember what we learned in - Ephesians 4:25 “25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.”
Based on this verse, what would please the Lord? (Telling the truth.)
You see, Paul is encouraging us in Ephesians 5:10 to practice what we’re learning; taking God’s Word and applying it to every circumstance we face.
Ephesians 5:11 “11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;”
If we want to please the Lord, what will we not do?
Participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness.
What does it mean to participate?
To do the same things as another.
Usually, this means that someone is doing something, and they invite you to do the same
Or you, upon seeing it, voluntarily join in with them.
What does it mean for something to be “unfruitful?”
It means to be without fruit.
If you go up to an apple tree and there’s no fruit, there’s something wrong with that tree!
What do you think the deeds of darkness refers to?
Sinning.
Anything immoral, impure, greedy, filthy speech, silly talk, coarse jesting, and denying that any of these are sin or would keep one from heaven.
You see, there’s no point in participating in the deeds (works) of darkness because they do not produce anything; they’re empty.
There’s no point in sinning because it just leaves you empty and, more importantly, without pleasing God.
If we want to please the Lord, what will we do with the works of darkness?
We’ll expose them!
What does it mean to expose wrong things like the deeds of darkness?
To show how it is wrong.
Friends, when you see something that we know is wrong according to God’s Word, you must identify that it is wrong by using God’s Word in an attitude of love (Ephesians 4:15).
When we have a friend who indicates that they are a believer in Jesus but they act in a way that is more like an unbeliever, we lovingly help them understand through God’s Word that it’s wrong to live like that (Osborne)!
Ephesians 5:12 “12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”
What does it mean for something to be disgraceful?
It brings shame to anyone talking about it.
This is embarrassment.
You see, those who do these deeds of darkness, while they want to do them, are ashamed and want to keep it hidden.
In other words, sin brings shame and embarrassment.
Why would anyone do anything in secret?
Because they want to hide what they’re doing.
They don’t want anyone to know about their actions.
Otherwise, they would be embarrassed and shamed.
Ephesians 5:13 “13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”
What happens when something is exposed to light?
It becomes visible.
We see it for what it truly is!
In this case, the shame that is associated with sin is exposed as empty.
We see sin for how awful and empty it is that makes us want the Lord more and want sin less.
But also, light can make visible good things.
In this case, Christ as the Light is shown for how wonderful He is as the only Lord and Savior from one’s sins (Boles).
Ephesians 5:14 “14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
Friends, why would anyone need to be told to “awake?”
Because they’ve slept too long and it is no longer time to sleep.
Instead, they should be awake!
You see, Paul is talking about believers who are doing something that they shouldn’t (sleeping, participating in the unfruitful works of darkness).
Instead, these believers should be walking as children of the Light, ever growing in their understanding what it means to please the Lord.
Friends, we need to lovingly help other believers wake up to the fact that living like an unbeliever is wrong for a believer!
With Paul referencing that Christ will “shine” means that Christ will help believers to live in a way that pleases Him, like children of the Light in goodness, righteousness, and truth.
Conclusion: Memory Verse Review - Ephesians 5:11 “11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;” (X3)
According to Ephesians 5:7, what is it that we are not supposed to do with unbelieving sinners who tell lies about God’s wrath against sin?
do not be partakers with them (i.e. participate in their sinful actions)
In Ephesians 5:8, what is it that every believe used to be?
Darkness
According to Ephesians 5:8, what is it that every believer is now?
Light in the Lord
According to Ephesians 5:8, what should every believer do because they are light in the Lord?
Walk (live) as children of the Light
According to Ephesians 5:9, what three things are mentioned as fruit (evidence) of the Light?
1] goodness, 2] righteousness, and 3] truth
According to Ephesians 5:10, what is it that every believer is to be learning to do?
How to please the Lord
In Ephesians 5:11, what is described as being unfruitful?
Deeds of darkness
According to Ephesians 5:11, what should believers do instead of taking part in deeds of darkness?
Expose the deeds of darkness
In Ephesians 5:12, what is described as being disgraceful?
To speak of things deeds of darkness done in secret
According to Ephesians 5:13, what does the light do?
Makes things visible
In Ephesians 5:14, who is encouraged to wake up?
[Sleepers], those who are asleep
Who wrote this letter to the Ephesians?
Paul
Who did Paul write this letter to?
The Ephesian people that made up the church in Ephesus
What is one of the Blessings of Being Saved?
Transformation, Ephesians 1:4
Adoption, Ephesians 1:5
Redemption, Ephesians 1:7
Union, Ephesians 1:10
Inheritance, Ephesians 1:11
Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:13