Sermon Tone Analysis

*Text:* Ephesians 5:15-21

 

*Thesis:* To stress that a Christian is to life a “wise” life.

*Introduction*:

 

(1)   In verse 15, Paul cautions Christians to give close attention to their lives to ensure that they are walking wisely.

(a)    ‘Circumspectly’ (Gr.

akribros) means “something done accurately, precisely, or given close attention” (Snodgrass 288).

(b)   It “also carries the idea of alertness” (MacArthur 219).

(c)    ‘Wise’ (Gr.

sophos) means “one who in action is governed by piety and integrity” (BDAG).

(2)   According to Paul, wise people are Christians who:

 

*Discussion*:

 

I.

Make the most of their time (v.

16)

 

A.

‘Redeeming’ (Gr.

exagorazo) means “buying up for yourselves” (Abbott 160).

B.     ‘Days are evil’ is a “general description of the presence of evil in the world” (Snodgrass 288).

C.     Paul is not stressing “the need to fill every unrelenting minute with useful activity, but rather to be ready to seize every opportunity to practice Christian love and to bring others to the knowledge of the Christians’ Lord” (Mitton 187-88).

D.    Cf.

James 4:14 – Life is as a vapor

E.     Illustration: Minutes in a day

 

II.

Discern the will of God (v.

17)

 

A.

The failure to understand the Lord’s will is equal to being ‘unwise’ (Gr.

aphron), which is defined as “senseless, foolish, stupid; without reflection or intelligence, acting rashly” (Thayer’s).

B.     A person who desires to be wise will stop and think about his~/her actions and make sure that they are in harmony with the Word of God.

III.

Are filled with the Spirit (vv.

18-21)

 

A.

In this context, the antithesis of being filled with the Spirit is being drunk with wine.

1.      “One of the most foolish ways to waste opportunities is to get drunk” (Boles 307).

2.      Getting drunk is “symbolic of the height of folly, the loss of direction, and the waste of a life without God” (Snodgrass 289).

3.      Cf.

Prov.

20:1 & Prov.

23:29-31

4.      Illustration: 2 boys who got drunk

 

 

 

B.

In verses 19-21, Paul will offer 3 examples of what it means to be filled with the Spirit.

1.      Singing is a characteristic of Spirit-filled people.

a.       Cf.

James 5:13b.

– An expression of happiness

b.      Singing is the act of worship that will continue in heaven.

2.      Thanksgiving is a characteristic of Spirit-filled people.

a.       Cf.

Luke 17:17 – Where are they nine?

b.      ‘In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ – “not a ritualistic formula, but the basis by which we have access and the reason for which we can be thankful” (Boles 309).

3.      Submitting is a characteristic of Spirit-filled people.

a.       ‘Submit’ (Gr.

hypotassomenoi) carries the main idea “of relinquishing one’s rights to another person” (MacArthur 276).

b.      Note: Phil.

2:5ff.

teaches us that being submissiveness does not imply being inferior, but rather that it is an attitude exemplified by the Son of God who was willing to put others and the plan of God before Himself.

*Conclusion*:

 

(1)   Are you a wise person?

(2)   A truly wise person is one who acknowledges God with his~/her tongue and his~/her life (cf.

Psa.

14:1; James 2:17).