Many cultures in the world celebrate light festivals. The science of light has fascinated scientist for centuries. Sunlight brings physical life and growth in nature. Spotlights reveal things hidden and focuses attention. Laser lights kill disease.
In Ephesians, we are called children of light, children of light roaming campuses. Cool.
Ice breaker: Talk about the similarities and differences you have found between high school and university.
In Ephesians, we are called children of light, children of light roaming campuses. Cool.
Ice breaker: Talk about the similarities and differences you have found between high school and university.
1) Paul gives reasons why we should be holy (5:5-5:10) (Holy living is described as
putting on the new self (See study 3) not always something mystical or spectacular)
Future:
Past and present:
2) Read v13-16. What do you
think “making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil” means?
What responsibilities do you have now which you
wouldn’t have if you were not on campus?
3) Read 5:18-20. Do you
think singing is a characteristic of believers? Why or why not? What is singing a substitute of ? Which song do you
enjoy most at the moment? (Maybe a music appreciation time or singing time
should be scheduled instead of bible study next week)
4) Talk about the major contrasts in this section:
light and darkness
wise and unwise
love and immorality
deadened emotions and thanksgiving
filled with wine and filled with the Holy Spirit
Think about it "We are children of light...".
4) Talk about the major contrasts in this section:
light and darkness
wise and unwise
love and immorality
deadened emotions and thanksgiving
filled with wine and filled with the Holy Spirit
Think about it "We are children of light...".
5) What does submitting to
one another mean? Give examples of how you could do this.
6) What is your own family
unit like? A soap opera? A horror movie? A comedy? A mystery detective show? A
boring sitcom? An adventure story? A romance? A tragedy? Explain how your
perceptions of your family affect your perceptions of the church family. What is depicted in this picture of Christ and the chuch?
7) Read C5:22-6:9. How would
obeying all you have read change your own or another family or working
relationship
8) This passage challenges the status of women, children and slaves that was a norm in Biblical times. Has the status of these three groups of people changed much in countries that do not have a Christian tradition?
Pray about it, "we are children of light."
8) This passage challenges the status of women, children and slaves that was a norm in Biblical times. Has the status of these three groups of people changed much in countries that do not have a Christian tradition?
Pray about it, "we are children of light."
Discussion for a multicultural group
You probably know the difference between the scientific and artistic mind...culturally we talk about dichotomistic or holistic thinking. Lets discuss. Often are things just culturally different or just plain weird?
The kiwi approach to blank spaces........
On a more serious note, we end our contemplation of the phrase, "children of light" with Jose Antonio Abreu from Venezuela who started off as an outstanding student in Economics. He rose to become a politician and university lecturer and went on to find El Sistema, a innovative music education method which develops children intellectually and emotionally and improves their social standing.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instructions for Christian Households
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[b] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 6
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[c]
4 Fathers,[d] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
Footnotes:
- Ephesians 5:26 Or having cleansed
- Ephesians 5:31 Gen. 2:24
- Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
- Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
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