Ephesians 5:1-2
Notes
Transcript
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
On This Day December 17 (No Regrets)
On December 17, 1912 Bill Borden boarded ship for China via Egypt. His missionary career would be among history’s briefest—and most effective.
There is a deep seated fear in every child. It is primal. This fear is terrifyingly rooted in the fabric of our subcotious mind.
I know what you are thinking? What type of fear is this? It is not a fear of snakes, or things that go bump in the night!
It is the fear of turning into your parents.
On This Day December 17 (No Regrets)
On December 17, 1912 Bill Borden boarded ship for China via Egypt. His missionary career would be among history’s briefest—and most effective.
Illustration - Bill Boarden
On This Day December 17 (No Regrets)
Borden was born into an upper-class family on Chicago’s Gold Coast, heir to a fortune in real estate and milk production. His mother became a Christian, and young Bill began attending Chicago’s Moody Church with her, soon becoming a Christian himself. Shortly afterward, when Pastor R. A. Torrey challenged worshipers to dedicate their lives to God’s service, William quietly rose—a little fellow in a blue sailor suit. He stood a long, long time while the service went on, but there was no wavering, and it was a consecration from which he never retreated.
Later at Yale University, Bill became well known as a star athlete, good-looking, worth $50 million, and committed to Christ. At a student missions conference in Nashville, he was deeply moved by Samuel Zwemer to reach the Muslims; and following graduation he announced he was giving his immense inheritance to the cause of world missions. He joined the China Inland Mission, planning to evangelize the Muslims in China. But first came language study in Egypt. On the eve of his departure, his widowed mother wondered if Bill had done the right thing, giving up fortune and homeland. “In the quiet of my room that night, worn and weary and sad, I fell asleep asking myself again and again, ‘Is it, after all, worthwhile?’ In the morning as I awoke, a still small voice was speaking in my heart, answering: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved son. … ’ ”
On December 17, 1912 Bill Borden boarded ship for China via Egypt. His missionary career would be among history’s briefest—and most effective.
Borden was born into an upper-class family on Chicago’s Gold Coast, heir to a fortune in real estate and milk production. His mother became a Christian, and young Bill began attending Chicago’s Moody Church with her, soon becoming a Christian himself. Shortly afterward, when Pastor R. A. Torrey challenged worshipers to dedicate their lives to God’s service, William quietly rose—a little fellow in a blue sailor suit. He stood a long, long time while the service went on, but there was no wavering, and it was a consecration from which he never retreated.
Borden was born into an upper-class family on Chicago’s Gold Coast, heir to a fortune in real estate and milk production. His mother became a Christian, and young Bill began attending Chicago’s Moody Church with her, soon becoming a Christian himself. Shortly afterward, when Pastor R. A. Torrey challenged worshipers to dedicate their lives to God’s service, William quietly rose—a little fellow in a blue sailor suit. He stood a long, long time while the service went on, but there was no wavering, and it was a consecration from which he never retreated.
Later at Yale University, Bill became well known as a star athlete, good-looking, worth $50 million, and committed to Christ. At a student missions conference in Nashville, he was deeply moved by Samuel Zwemer to reach the Muslims; and following graduation he announced he was giving his immense inheritance to the cause of world missions. He joined the China Inland Mission, planning to evangelize the Muslims in China. But first came language study in Egypt. On the eve of his departure, his widowed mother wondered if Bill had done the right thing, giving up fortune and homeland. “In the quiet of my room that night, worn and weary and sad, I fell asleep asking myself again and again, ‘Is it, after all, worthwhile?’ In the morning as I awoke, a still small voice was speaking in my heart, answering: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved son. … ’ ”Borden was born into an upper-class family on Chicago’s Gold Coast, heir to a fortune in real estate and milk production. His mother became a Christian, and young Bill began attending Chicago’s Moody Church with her, soon becoming a Christian himself. Shortly afterward, when Pastor R. A. Torrey challenged worshipers to dedicate their lives to God’s service, William quietly rose—a little fellow in a blue sailor suit. He stood a long, long time while the service went on, but there was no wavering, and it was a consecration from which he never retreated.
Later at Yale University, Bill became well known as a star athlete, good-looking, worth $50 million, and committed to Christ. At a student missions conference in Nashville, he was deeply moved by Samuel Zwemer to reach the Muslims; and following graduation he announced he was giving his immense inheritance to the cause of world missions. He joined the China Inland Mission, planning to evangelize the Muslims in China. But first came language study in Egypt. On the eve of his departure, his widowed mother wondered if Bill had done the right thing, giving up fortune and homeland. “In the quiet of my room that night, worn and weary and sad, I fell asleep asking myself again and again, ‘Is it, after all, worthwhile?’ In the morning as I awoke, a still small voice was speaking in my heart, answering: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only beloved son. … ’ ” A month after arriving in Egypt, Borden contracted spinal meningitis. He was dead in two weeks, but he left a final message on paper stuffed under his pillow: “No Reserve! No Retreat! No Regrets!”
A month after arriving in Egypt, Borden contracted spinal meningitis. He was dead in two weeks, but he left a final message on paper stuffed under his pillow: “No Reserve! No Retreat! No Regrets!”
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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.
Eph
Ep
μιμητής ( mimētḗs) - one who does what others do. This is where we get our English word “Mimic”
μιμητής ( mimētḗs) - one who does what others do. This is where we get our English word “Mimic”
one who imitates someone else—‘imitator, one who does what others do.’
mimētḗs - one who imitates someone else—‘imitator, one who does what others do.
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 508.
Love is the clearest reflection of the character of God.
Love is the clearest reflection of the character of God.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
To imitate God you must love like Jesus.
To imitate God you must love like Jesus.
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
He is saying that your thinking, your attitudes, your behaviors ought to be characterized by Love.
If we are to imitate God by loving like Jesus then:
How did Jesus love?
How did Jesus love?
The text of scripture leaves no debate on this issue. Look.
Would you be willing to give up your career, your aspirations, and a $600,000 annual salary if your family was in need? I know a man who did.
“In 1985 Tim Burke saw his boyhood dream come true the day he was signed to pitch for the Montreal Expos. After four years in the minors, he was finally given a chance to play in the big leagues. And he quickly proved to be worth his salt—setting a record for the most relief appearances by a rookie player.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations I’m the Only Father My Children Will Have
Would you be willing to give up your career, your aspirations, and a $600,000 annual salary if your family was in need? I know a man who did.
In 1985 Tim Burke saw his boyhood dream come true the day he was signed to pitch for the Montreal Expos. After four years in the minors, he was finally given a chance to play in the big leagues. And he quickly proved to be worth his salt—setting a record for the most relief appearances by a rookie player.
Along the way, however, Tim and his wife, Christine, adopted four children with very special needs—two daughters from South Korea, a handicapped son from Guatemala, and another son from Vietnam. All of the children were born with very serious illnesses or defects. Neither Tim nor Christine was prepared for the tremendous demands such a family would bring. And with the grueling schedule of major-league baseball, Tim was seldom around to help. So in 1993, only three months after signing a $600,000 contract with the Cincinnati Reds, he decided to retire.
When pressed by reporters to explain this unbelievable decision, he simply said, “Baseball is going to do just fine without me. But I’m the only father my children have.”
Along the way, however, Tim and his wife, Christine, adopted four children with very special needs—two daughters from South Korea, a handicapped son from Guatemala, and another son from Vietnam. All of the children were born with very serious illnesses or defects. Neither Tim nor Christine was prepared for the tremendous demands such a family would bring. And with the grueling schedule of major-league baseball, Tim was seldom around to help. So in 1993, only three months after signing a $600,000 contract with the Cincinnati Reds, he decided to retire.
When pressed by reporters to explain this unbelievable decision, he simply said, “Baseball is going to do just fine without me. But I’m the only father my children have.”
eph
2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus gave himself away for the good of others.
Jesus gave himself away for the good of others.
He game himself up! He gave himself away for the good of others.
At the heart of the Christian message stands the cross. The Romans didn’t take his life - Jesus laid it down willingly! He Gave Himself UP for US!
Illustration - James Dobson’s Book Coming Home
In James Dobson’s book Coming Home he recounts the inspirational story of Tim Burke who was a major league pitcher for the Expos.
“In 1985 Tim Burke saw his boyhood dream come true the day he was signed to pitch for the Montreal Expos. After four years in the minors, he was finally given a chance to play in the big leagues. And he quickly proved to be worth his salt—setting a record for the most relief appearances by a rookie player.
Along the way, however, Tim and his wife, Christine, adopted four children with very special needs—two daughters from South Korea, a handicapped son from Guatemala, and another son from Vietnam. All of the children were born with very serious illnesses or defects. Neither Tim nor Christine was prepared for the tremendous demands such a family would bring. And with the grueling schedule of major-league baseball, Tim was seldom around to help. So in 1993, only three months after signing a $600,000 (todays equivalent $1,062,295.98) contract with the Cincinnati Reds, he decided to retire.
When pressed by reporters to explain this unbelievable decision, he simply said, “Baseball is going to do just fine without me. But I’m the only father my children have.”
Amy Carmichael famed missionary to India said it this way
One can give without loving, but one can’t love without giving.
Before she died in 1951 in India she had established a refuge for over 1000 children who had no mother or father. She asked that no stone would mark her grave. Upon her death the children place a bird bath to mark her gave with a single inscription that said, “Amma” “Mother”
Carmichael imitated God by loving like Jesus. She gave herself up!
Rehobeth Baptist Church if we are going to love the each other, our community, and the world the way Jesus did it is going to require we give ourselves up!
Elisabeth Elliot who is certainly well qualified to speak about sacrifice stated,
Loving like Jesus = Time
Loving like Jesus = Time
If you are to love like Jesus one thing it will cost you is your time!
It takes time to go to the nursing home!
It takes time to visit work in AWANA
It takes time to do VBS - MUSIC & MISSIONS
IT TAKES TIME TO SERVE IN THE NURSERY
It take time to write a note of encouragment
IT TAKES TIME TO GO ON A MISSION TRIP
IT TAKES TIME TO DO Disaster Relief
IT TAKES TIME TO PREPARE PRPARE FOOD FOR A Grieving FAMILY!
Loving like Jesus requires us to give away one of our most valuable commodities - TIME!
Real life illustration of Loving Like Jesus lived out in RBC
David Etheredge - Some of you know that David does the home bound ministry for RBC. He has been doing that going on 7 years now. Every Monday morning David stops by the office to pick up a few things and then he is off to give is day way to those who have almost no outlet.
He has put over 17,000 miles on his car and invested over 1900 hours.
Love is spelled TIME
RBC - We are called to love like Jesus and that means giving our time!
Loving like Jesus = Service
Loving like Jesus = Service
How did Jesus love? He didn’t simply send well wishes from a distance. He got his hands dirty!
That is right the biblical concept of love is an action word! It calls us to get our hands dirty!
Lomax and Julia Fulford - He took care of Jace one day a week for the first year of his life! We never paid them a dime! They loved on us and loved on him!
One day Mrs Julia had to go out for a doctors appointment. Leaving Lomax there to care for Jace. I got there right around 4 and knocked on the door and there was no answer - So I went in I had crying from Jace. Lomax was attempting to change his dipper. Let’s just say it was everywhere. Loving others is a messy business!
Loving us means becoming dirty for us so that we might be clean before Him!
I Had lunch with a friend of mine this past week - He and his wife have adopted three children. They are fostering three more children and have one biological child.
He told me you can’t imagine how messy the business of caring for these kids is… Loving Like Jesus in a broken fallen world is messy business.
Loving like Jesus is messy business! It means we must get our hands dirty! Living in a broken world were sin has ruined almost everything. Please know that it will be a messy business!
To be a follower of the Crucified Christ means, sooner or later, a personal encounter with the cross. And the cross always entails loss.
Warren Wiersbe in his book God Isn’t In a Hurry quoted an exerp from jacob Stram’s prayer where he said,
I once heard the late Jacob Stam pray, “O Lord, the only thing most of us know about sacrifice is how to spell the word!” - Warren Wiersbe, God Isn’t In a Hurry
Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002).
“O Lord, the only thing most of us know about sacrifice is how to spell the word!”