Walk In Love - Copy Jesus

L.R. Riddle

BLUEPRINT • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

Ephesians 4:1–2

0 ratings

· 9 views

Notes

Transcript

Scripture:

Ephesians 5:1–2 NLT

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

References:

Background Research:

Being imitators of God means conforming your character and conduct to reflect God’s attributes—but not all of them. Not everything God does becomes a model for imitation, but only those things that carry the force of example, such as goodness, love, and mercy rather than divine power, majesty, or dominion.1 Believers cannot mirror God in power, knowledge, or presence; but they can reflect him in self-sacrifice and forgiveness.2

The foundation of this imitation is relational. Just as children naturally mimic their parents’ characteristics and behavior, God’s children are called to copy their heavenly Father, and because believers share the same status as Christ—God’s “beloved Son”—Jesus becomes the pattern for this imitation.3 You can understand how God acts by observing Jesus Christ, since to imitate God is ultimately to imitate Christ.4

Genuine imitation requires three essential components. Deeds are necessary—without actions, imitation cannot exist, and merely understanding an example while doing nothing disqualifies you from being called an imitator of God.1 Beyond mere deeds, you need deliberate intention and zeal to imitate God, since humans—corrupted by sin—must consciously choose goodness by imitating God’s example rather than acting from natural inclination.1 Finally, resemblance matters: you must imitate God’s goodness in a way that mirrors him, such as forgiving injuries from genuine love, completely, and continually.1

Imitating God finds expression through three dimensions: walking in love by serving others rather than self, living as children of light, and pursuing wisdom.3 Being an imitator of God means being an imitator of Christ in his sacrificial love.2 This is not passive admiration but active transformation—a daily commitment to align your choices, relationships, and values with God’s character as revealed in Christ.

1Timothy F. George, “General Introduction,” in Galatians, Ephesians: New Testament, ed. Gerald L. Bray and Scott M. Manetsch, Reformation Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2011), 366.

2David S. Dockery, “Ephesians,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1877.

3Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 1228–1229.

4J. B. Bond, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians,” in The Grace New Testament Commentary, ed. Robert N. Wilkin (Denton, TX: Grace Evangelical Society, 2010), 881.

This synopsis is generated by AI from the results below.

What Can We Know about God? Chapter Five: Communicable Attributes

Chapter Five

COMMUNICABLE ATTRIBUTES

God’s incommunicable attributes, those not shared by creatures, include His infinity, eternality, omnipresence, and omniscience. There are other attributes, however, that can be reflected in created beings, as the Apostle Paul makes clear: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (

Theme: In all you do reflect Christ in your life. As a mirror reflect your image so our lives should reflect the life of christ.

Object Lesson:

Here’s a kid‑friendly, Grace Kids–style object lesson for Ephesians 5:1–2 (“Be imitators of God… and walk in love, just as Christ loved us”). Short, joyful, visual, and ready for volunteers to teach.

🌟 Kid-Friendly Object Lesson:

“The Copycat Challenge!”

Ephesians 5:1–2

🧩 Main Idea (Kid Version)

We show God’s love when we copy Jesus—His kindness, His forgiveness, His gentleness, and His love.

🧺 Object Needed

A (handheld or large classroom mirror)mirror

Optional: A , , or to make the demonstration playful fun hat sunglasses silly scarf

🎬 Lesson Setup: “Mirror Me!”

Hold up the mirror.

Say: “When you look in a mirror, it copies everything you do. If I smile, the mirror smiles. If I wave, the mirror waves. If I make a silly face… well… the mirror does too!”

Do a few silly actions and let kids laugh.

🧠 Connect to Scripture

Explain: “Ephesians 5:1–2 tells us to imitate God—that means to copy Him the way a mirror copies us. But how do we copy God? We look at Jesus, because Jesus shows us exactly what God is like.”

❤️ The Big Truth: ‘Walk in Love’

Place the mirror where kids can see it.

Say: “When Jesus loved people, He didn’t just say it. He showed it. He helped people. He forgave people. He was gentle. He was patient. He gave His time. He gave His heart.”

Hold the mirror toward the kids.

🏃‍♂️💗 Interactive Activity: “Copy Jesus Moves”

Tell kids: “I’m going to show you some ‘Jesus moves.’ When you see them, copy them like a mirror!”

Do actions one at a time:

— pretend to help someone up Helping Hands

— make a heart with your hands Forgiving Heart

— cup hands around mouth like speaking gently Kind Words

— pretend to hand something to someone Sharing

— fold hands Prayer

After each one, say: “Jesus did this… so we copy it!”

🧁 Optional Snack Tie-In: “Sweet Like Jesus”

Give kids a small sweet treat (like a mini marshmallow). Say: “When we copy Jesus’ love, we make the world sweeter.”

🗣️ Discussion Questions

Each question includes a Guided Link so you can expand if needed:

?Who can you copy Jesus to this week

?What is one loving action you can imitate today

?How does Jesus show love to you

🎨 Take-Home Challenge: “Mirror Moments”

Give each child a paper mirror outline. Tell them: “Every time you look in a mirror this week, remember: Copy Jesus today!”

Songs:

🎵 Kids Song List: “Walk in Love” Theme

Love One Another — Yancy & Little Praise Party Teaches walking in love through joyful motions and easy lyrics.

I Wanna Be Like Jesus — Go Fish! Echo-style song that mirrors “Be imitators of God.”

Love Like That — Hillsong Kids Upbeat worship energy; reinforces loving like Jesus.

Shine Your Light — Seeds Family Worship (Ephesians 5:8) Connects to the same chapter; great follow‑up verse.

God Is Love — The Rizers (1 John 4:7–8) Scripture‑based and easy to memorize.

Walk in Love — Grace Kids Original Perfect custom theme song; motions‑friendly chorus.

Love Never Fails — Go Fish! Reinforces that love is active and lasting.

Be Kind — Slugs & Bugs Shows how kindness is part of walking in love.

This Little Light of Mine — Kids Worship Classic Reflects God’s love through shining His light.

Jesus Loves Me — Traditional Foundational reminder that we copy Jesus’ love.

Outline:

Imitating Our Loving Father

Bible Passage: Ephesians 5:1-2

Summary: In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul encourages believers to be imitators of God and to walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.

Application: This passage helps children understand the importance of modeling their behavior after God’s example of love and compassion, encouraging them to treat others with kindness and to embody God's love in their daily interactions.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that as followers of Christ, we are called to imitate God's character, especially His love and sacrificial nature. Children can learn what it means to show love in practical ways, reflecting Christ in their actions.

How this passage could point to Christ: Ephesians 5:1-2 points to Christ as the ultimate example of love and sacrifice. Throughout Scripture, Christ demonstrates perfect obedience to the Father, and He invites us to follow His example in our relationships with others.

Big Idea: We are called to imitate God's love in our lives, just as we see beautifully modeled in Jesus Christ.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, explore the Greek terms for 'imitators' and 'love' in Ephesians 5:1-2 using Logos. This could provide insights into their nuances and how they apply to a child's understanding of God’s character. Additionally, consider looking at how Paul's teachings on love correlate with Jesus' behaviors in the Gospels to enrich your application for children.

1. Begin With Becoming

Ephesians 5:1

how you become imitators of God?

How can you practice love in you daily lives

sharing

kindness and

understanding

with others

family.

compare the parallels between a child's desire to imitate a parent and our call to imitate God for young listeners.

2. Walk With Love

Ephesians 5:2

illustrate how Christ's love for us was shown through His willingness to give up everything.

Encourage children to reflect on how they can walk in love daily.

Suggest simple actions like sharing, helping, and being kind.

Remind them that walking in love is about choosing to put others first because that's what Jesus did for us.

The Bible tells us to follow Christ or better yet to Copy Him

Sermon: This is possible outline for this passage.

Walk in Love

Ephesians 5:1–2 NIV84

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Walk in Light

Ephesians 5:8–9 NIV84

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)