Sermon Summary

Ephesians 5:22-33 tells us that marriage serves as a picture of Christ and the church. If we are to rightly understand the relationship of Christ and the church, then we must understand what is said about marriage in this passage. Moreover, to rightly communicate about the reality, those who are married must strive to present a clear picture. While the passage speaks of love and respect, the high point is the statement that, in marriage, the two become one. This is the picture of Christ and the church. In salvation, we become one with him as he shares with us his life, his righteousness, and all that he has. The one flesh union of marriage is a relationship of love, intimacy, and delight. So our relationship with Jesus is one of being known and loved with joy. While marriage is an ordered partnership, the ordering facilitates the joy of two becoming one. To live a clear picture, strive for oneness in marriage. Face and deal with all that may break trust, violate intimacy, or steal joy. How will you foster oneness in your marriage this week? Finally, married or not, let the best elements of marriage experienced, hoped for, or remembered cause you to more deeply appreciate the incredible union you as a Christian have with Christ.

Sermon Summary
According to Ephesians 5:15-21, God wants us to know his will! Knowing his will is how we live wisely and make the best use of our days. Reading Ephesians 5:15-21 in context reveals that God wants us to know his revealed, moral will rather than his secret, comprehensive will which extends to all that happens. God's moral will tells us what kind of people to be regardless of our circumstances. God's moral will is revealed in the Bible. As we read and study the Bible, the Spirit of God fills us with the character of God so that we mature spiritually to be like Jesus. What can we do to help this process of being filled by the Spirit with the character of God? Be committed to reading and studying the Bible. Consider how you can make Bible reading a routine part of your life. If you have an established habit, consider improving your study habits by summarizing thought units, creating a bullet point outline, asking what the passage means, and only then asking how it connects to your life. 

Sermon Summary

Ephesians 5:1-2 calls us to consider the obligations of being children of God. By the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross we are made clean. Being clean, we who believe in Jesus are adopted as genuine children of God! The requirement of children is to honor the family name by right action and character. This is why children of God become imitators of God.

Specifically, we are called to imitate the love of God revealed in the sacrificial death of Jesus. Christians are to love others sacrificially and practically. Rather than a focus on our own rights, we are called to consider the good of others and to act for their good in practical ways. As you go through the week, pay attention to your focus. Do you primarily see the needs of others or your own needs? Do you focus on what is your due and right, or do you act for the good of others? Make it your goal to imitate the love of God in order to honor our heavenly Father. ​