Intentional: A Church that Lives On Purpose (Ephesians 5:15-21)

Theme: A vital church doesn’t drift through life—it walks carefully, guided by wisdom and the Spirit, living on purpose for God’s glory.

In 1968, Donald Crowhurst, a British amateur sailor, entered the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race—a solo, non-stop round-the-world yacht race. However, He was ill-prepared for the race; his boat was weak, and he lacked the experience. Realizing early that he could not realistically complete the circumnavigation on the earth’s oceans, he began to falsify his position reports, pretending to progress when he was essentially drifting at sea. Tragically, Crowhurst was lost at sea, never found, and presumed dead.  

Crowhurst’s entry into the race was more a gamble than a meaningful pursuit—a chance to “make it big,” rather than a project grounded in a genuine calling or realistic capability. When faced with reality of his poor planning, his inadequate boat, and his own lack of ability as a sailor, he retreated into deception. The lack of clear preparation and purpose left him drifting and floundering. His tragic end underscores how an unmoored life—lacking real vision, integrity or direction—can collapse under pressure and lead to ruin.

Crowhurst’s story represents what happens when both people and churches drift through life without clear direction. Many believers, and even entire congregations, fall into that same pattern: busy but aimless, active but without vision. They look alive, but beneath the surface, they’re simply drifting. That’s why Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:15 are so urgent: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise.” In other words, don’t drift—walk wisely. Pay attention to your direction. Be careful how you live.

I. Walk Wisely—Be careful how you live (vv. 15-16)

Paul’s challenge in verse 15 calls the church to live with intentional awareness. “Be very careful,” he says—literally, look carefully how you walk. It’s the image of someone examining each step, refusing to stumble through life carelessly. A vital church doesn’t drift with the cultural current or move on spiritual autopilot; it watches its footing. To “walk wisely” means to live with spiritual alertness—seeing what’s really happening in our world, discerning what pleases the Lord, and making deliberate and intentional choices that reflect God’s heart.

A. Living intentionally requires awareness.

Paul instructs us to “pay careful attention.” There are several parallel passages in Paul’s letters where he urges believers to live wisely, be alert, and conduct themselves with discernment. These passages share the themes of vigilance, intentionality, perceptive awareness, and accurate living in light of God’s truth.

For example: 1 Thessalonians 5:6 “So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.”

Pay careful attention to how you walk. In other words, walk with perceptive and intentional awareness. In Paul’s letters, the word “walk” is used figuratively to describe one’s manner of life or daily conduct — how a person lives, behaves, and orders their life in light of God’s truth. It paints a vivid picture of life as a continual journey in a consistent, ongoing direction. There are many applications of the walk Paul is talking about.

First, our walk must be shaped by faith. Paul often used “walk” to refer to a consistent pattern of behavior that flows from a person’s identity in Christ. Ephesians 4:1 “Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received.” Our daily choices, our relationships, our priorities should match our identity as God’s people.

Second, Paul sometimes used “walk” to contrast between two ways of life. For example: walking according to the flesh versus walking according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Or, walking in darkness versus walking as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). Or, as in this passage, walking in wisdom versus walking as the unwise. The point is this: the direction of one’s “walk” reveals the ruling influence in person’s life—either sin and self, or the Spirit and new life in Christ.

Third, Paul used “walk” to describe a progression of spiritual growth. Since walking implies movement, Paul taught believes to demonstrate a continuous, developing process of spiritual growth. This is observed in Colossians 2:6 “So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him,” and Galatians 5:25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Following Jesus is not a destination reached once, but a steady journey of transformation under the Spirit’s guidance.

Fourth, Paul used “walk” to highlight our call to imitate Christ. Ephesians 5:1–2 “Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” 1 Thessalonians 2:12 “we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” We are to walk as reflections of Christ’s character, following His example, letting His love shape every step.

We can summarize Paul’s words in verse 16 as:

B. Time is precious — use it purposefully.

There are two words in the New Testament for “time”: kairos and chronos.

Chronos refers to sequential or measured time; in other words “clock time.” It’s the kind of time you mark with a calendar or a watch. It’s about quantity of time—minutes, hours, days, years, etc.

Kairos refers to appointed or opportune time. It refers to a right or critical moment; qualitative, significant, or in the context of Scripture, Spirit-led moments. It’s not about how long something takes place, but when the time is ripe. It speaks of divine opportunities, turning points, or decisive seasons. Kairos is about quality of time — God’s timing, moments filled with purpose and meaning. We might call it breakthrough moment, an open door, or a “God moment.”

The phrase, “making the most” is translated from a Greek word which literally means, “to buy out of the marketplace” or “to buy up completely.” It was used in the ancient world to describe purchasing something before it’s gone — a rare opportunity, a slave’s freedom, or a valuable item in short supply.

When Paul says, “making the most of the time, he’s urging believers to:

Recognize kairos moments—God moments that break into our measured time.

Purchase them fully — use them intentionally for God’s purposes.

Not let opportunities expire in a world filled with distraction (“because the days are evil”).

It’s the language of spiritual urgency and intentional stewardship.

The evil days are like a marketplace where time and attention are sold cheaply — Paul says, “Don’t waste your time window-shopping for things that don’t matter. Instead, buy back what matters.”

Paul wants us to understand that time is not neutral.

Evil seeks to consume our chronos — our schedules, energy, and attention — with trivial or sinful things. To redeem time is to participate in God’s redemptive work. Just as Christ redeemed us from bondage, we redeem our moments by aligning them with His purpose. The wise church “buys up” opportunities.

A vital church doesn’t just fill its calendar — it fills its moments with purpose. God isn’t asking us to be busier; He’s calling us to be more aware. When we live by the Spirit, every ordinary day can become a kairos moment — a divine intersection of God’s purpose and our obedience.

A vital, intentional church doesn’t let divine opportunities pass unclaimed. Every relationship, every neighborhood, every meeting can be a kairos moment waiting to be redeemed.

A vital church lives intentionally by redeeming every God-given opportunity — turning chronos into kairos through Spirit-led awareness.

Why? “Because the days are evil.” This phrase highlights the urgency in discerning “God moments,” opportunities that God places before us. The surrounding culture can easily consume our time with distractions and darkness. Therefore, believers and churches must live intentionally — alert to the Spirit’s timing. Evil days dull our spiritual sensitivity; the Spirit awakens it. Therefore, …

C. The church must choose purpose over passivity.

A vital church doesn’t react to culture—it makes the most of “God moments” for the kingdom.

→ Application: Where is our church drifting instead of living intentionally?

II. Seek Understanding—Know the Will of the Lord (17)

In this verse, Paul repeats the contrast between being wise and unwise—God’s wisdom and the world’s wisdom— to emphasize the importance of intentional living. Paul often contrasted God’s wisdom with the world’s wisdom, showing that what seems “smart” or “successful” by worldly standards is actually unwise, foolishness in light of God’s truth and purpose.

I want to take some time and dig into this contrast between living wisely and living unwisely.

A. Foolishness is living without divine direction.

The foolish person isn’t necessarily unintelligent — they’re simply living life without reference to God. They make decisions based on feelings, culture, or convenience instead of divine wisdom.

The world defines wisdom as cleverness, self-sufficiency, achievement, and control — a life lived by the clock and the calendar, driven by goals, productivity, and human reasoning. But Paul calls this “foolishness” (μωρία, mōria) when it ignores God’s will or grace. To live unintentionally is to live thoughtlessly. 1 Corinthians 1:20 says, “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish?” The fool says, “I’ll figure it out as I go,” but the wise seek God’s will.

The “wisdom of the world” exalts human strength, logic, and status. The “wisdom of God” is revealed in the cross — an apparent defeat that is, in truth, the ultimate victory.

God’s Wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” In 1 Corinthians 1:30, Paul wrote that God’s wisdom is embodied in Christ Himself: 1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is from him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom from God for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption”

Godly wisdom discerns kairos — the moments where God’s grace, not human planning, directs the outcome.

Paul warns us not to live as unwise but as wise. The world’s wisdom tells us to cram our days with more — more activity, more accomplishment, more comfort. But God’s wisdom invites us to redeem the time — to buy back the moments the world wastes.

The world calls it wise to chase security; God calls it wise to walk by faith. The world calls it wise to protect your time; God calls it wise to spend it for His kingdom. The cross looked like foolishness to the world, but it was the wisest act in history — God redeeming the world in one divine kairos moment of grace.

So, church, let’s not measure our days by the clock but by the cross. Let’s live intentionally — not just efficiently.

God never intended for His people to stumble through life guessing His purposes. The good news is that we don’t have to live without direction, because God’s will isn’t a mystery to be solved — it’s a message to be heard.

B. God’s will is not hidden—it’s revealed in His Word.

God has already made His heart and His purposes known through Scripture. We discover His will not by guesswork, but by studying His truth. His Word is the map that points to His will.

A vital church grounds its purpose in God’s revealed truth, not trends or programs.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” God’s Word illuminates the path ahead so we can walk in His will.

Psalm 119:9–11 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word. I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your commands. I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” God’s will is found by orienting our ways with His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Scripture equips us to make wise decisions — that is, to live in God’s will.

Joshua 1:8 “This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.” Success and direction come from continual reflection on God’s Word.

God doesn’t play hide-and-seek with His will — He has already spoken it through His Word. When we open the Scriptures, we open the heart and mind of God, discovering His direction for how to live, love, and lead in every season. And when we walk in the light of God’s revealed Word, something powerful happens — God’s direction comes into focus.

C. Understanding God’s will gives clarity and unity.

When we know what God wants, we know what to do. His will brings order to our priorities, peace to our decisions, and confidence to our steps. A church that seeks understanding doesn’t wander — it walks with purpose.

I want us to examine the word understand in verse 17. The kind of understanding Paul had in mind is not merely knowing as a fact, but knowing with thoughtful experience and knowledge. This is what gives us clarity to live an intentional life.

Genesis 11 tells the story of people who said, “Let us build… let us make a name for ourselves.” They had unity, creativity, and a plan — but it was all built on human ambition. The result was confusion and scattering.

Whenever a church starts building around personal preference, personality, or pride instead of God’s purpose, the same thing happens. Vision turns to confusion, and the mission loses focus. But when a church sets its plans according to God’s Word, He brings clarity, unity, and lasting fruit.

Churches flounder when everyone follows their own agenda. Intentional churches align with God’s purpose.

→ Application: Are we planning our ministries, building our relationships, and making our decisions with God’s revealed will in mind?

Understanding God’s will brings clarity, but clarity alone won’t change us. We don’t just need direction — we need divine empowerment. That’s why Paul moves from knowing God’s will to being filled with the Spirit.

III. Be Filled — Live Under the Spirit’s Control (18–21)

God’s Word gives us direction; God’s Spirit gives us the power to walk in it. We all know that it’s one thing to know God’s will; it’s another to live it out faithfully. That’s why Paul moves from understanding God’s will to being filled with God’s Spirit.

In verse 17, Paul drew a contrast between God’s wisdom and the world’s wisdom. In verse 18, Paul drew a vivid contrast between two kinds of control. “Do not get drunk with wine… but be filled with the Spirit.” Just as alcohol can take control of a person’s words, thoughts, and actions, the Holy Spirit is meant to take control of every part of a believer’s life — not to dull our senses, but to sharpen our discernment; not to weaken our will, but to strengthen it.

A. The key to intentional living is Spirit-filled living.

To be filled means to live under the Spirit’s continual influence and direction. It’s not a one-time event but an ongoing surrender — a daily choosing to let the Holy Spirit shape our attitudes, empower our obedience, and guide our steps. A vital, intentional church doesn’t run on human energy; it runs on the Spirit’s power.

B. Spirit-filled people express joy, gratitude, and humility.

Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.”

The fruit of the Spirit is manifested in our attitude, actions, relationships, and in our worship.

There is joy in worship. Vital churches experience vital worship. There’s certainly more to worship than singing, but note the emphasis that Paul gave music in verse 19. Ephesians 5:19 “speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,”

Vital ministry and mission inspire vital worship.

There is gratitude in all things. Verse 20 — “giving thanks always to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Vital churches, on mission with God in ministry and service will face challenges, obstacles, and even difficult times. But vital churches don’t whine and complain—they are filled with gratitude that is often expressed even in hard times. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 exhorts us to, “give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Vital churches are humble and serve one another — “Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.”

Joy, gratitude, and humility—all manifestations of Christ’s character, empowered by the Holy Spirit, inspires harmony and unity in the church.

C. A Spirit-filled church lives intentionally together.

Not driven by emotion or preference, vital, intentional churches live intentionally together, in unity.

James 4:1–4 “What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God.”

→ Application: Is our church culture marked by joy, gratitude, and mutual submission?

Conclusion

When the church lives under the Spirit’s control, it becomes more than an organization — it becomes a living instrument in the hands of God. Knowledge of God’s will gives us direction, but the Spirit gives us momentum. He’s the difference between a church that simply meets and a church that is vital, that truly moves and makes an impact.

A Spirit-filled church doesn’t stumble through life reacting to the world; it responds to the Spirit. It doesn’t run on human wisdom, emotion, or effort, but on divine empowerment. That’s what it means to be intentional — not just busy for God, but in step with God.

When we walk wisely, seek understanding, and live filled with the Spirit, we become the kind of church Paul describes in Ephesians 5 — a church that shines light in dark days, sings with gratitude, and submits to one another out of reverence for Christ. That’s a vital church — a church that lives on purpose.

Intentional living begins with wise walking.

It continues with understanding God’s will.

And it is sustained by Spirit-filled living.

A vital church doesn’t just “do church” — it lives on purpose for God’s glory.

Here’s the challenge: Are we aware of God moments and making the most of them? How can our church better reflect intentional, Spirit-filled and Spirit-guided purpose in our community?

As much as we’ve talked about us, our church walking wisely—seeking understanding of God’s will, and living under the Spirit’s control—all that really starts and depends on each one of us. The church consists of God’s people. It’s impossible for God’s church to be intentional when God’s people are drifting along in life, passive and unaware of God’s movement. So let’s make some personal applications.

Application (putting God’s Word into practice)

Choose purpose over passivity. Live each day with spiritual awareness, making intentional choices that honor Christ.

Action: This week, identify one area where you’ve been drifting—your schedule, relationships, or habits—and make a concrete plan to redeem that time for God’s glory.

2. Align your decisions with God’s word. Don’t rely on feelings or culture for direction; let God’s Word shape how you think and live.

Action: Spend 10 minutes each day meditating on a passage of Scripture, asking, “What does this reveal about God’s will for my life today?”.

3. Live under the Spirit’s control. True intentional living flows from a heart surrendered to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Action: Begin each morning in prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to fill you—then look for opportunities to express joy, gratitude, and humility in your interactions with others.