Aug 16, 2020 | Categories: Sublime.

SUBLIME: Ephesians – Week 17 | Mark Pedrin

Walk Before You Run :: Ephesians 5:1-14

Key Verses: 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. (Ephesians 5:1-2).

How it Happens:  Put off your old self, […] be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24).

1. The Goal: Putting On Your New Identity (5:8-11)

We are “beloved children” and “children of light,” adopted into God’s family.  How awesome!

2. The Fundamentals: Putting Off Idolatry (5:3-7)

Idolatry says “God You aren’t enough…  I need and deserve more.”

  • The Idolatry of Using People
  • The Idolatry of Abusing Language
  • The Idolatry of Craving More Stuff
  • Heart Check: Where does Idolatry have root in your life?

3. Three Practices for Being Renewed

  • Renewal through Solitude: Get away regularly to reset, refresh, and hear from God
  • Renewal through Simplicity:  Cast off those things in life that drag you down
  • Renewal through Submission:  Come under God’s mission – “I give everyone and everything to you, God”

Discussion / Reflection / Next Steps:

  1. This week invite God to show you areas where your relation to people, language and stuff could use some ‘putting off’ and renewal.
  2. Did God bring to mind any changes in this area that you’d like to make?  Tell someone else about it.
  3. How could Solitude, Simplicity and Submission become part of your spiritual practice?  How could you make regular space for them in your life?
  4. What would it mean for you to Walk in Love this week?  Ask God to empower you to do it!