The gospel does not simply give us a new destination. It gives us a new direction.
If Christ has made us new, where should that newness become visible?
Sermon Notes
1. Walk Differently
Ephesians 4:17–32
Following Jesus means more than adding Jesus to your old life. It means learning an entirely new way to live.
The Progression of the Old Life
Ephesians 4:17–19
What captures the mind eventually shapes the heart, and is seen in the action of the body.
But You Learned Christ
Ephesians 4:20–21
The new life Jesus gives us is meant to become visible in a new direction.
Put Off, Be Renewed, and Put On
Ephesians 4:22–24
- Name the old response: What am I being tempted to do?
- Expose the lie: What am I believing or hoping this will give me?
- Remember the truth: What is true because I belong to Christ?
- Choose the new response: What action reflects Christ and builds others up?
The Replacement Pattern
Ephesians 4:25–32
The gospel does not merely tell us what to stop. It teaches us what to replace it with.
What are you still wearing that belongs to the person you used to be?
2. Walk in Love and Light
Ephesians 5:1–14
Love Gives While Lust Takes
Ephesians 5:2–7
Love asks, “What can I give?”
Lust asks, “What can I take?”
Biblical love is not merely strong emotion. It is self-giving action shaped by the cross.
Desire Can Become Idolatry
An idol is anything we ask to do for us what only God can do.
From Darkness to Light
Ephesians 5:8–14
Love describes how we treat people.
Light describes what our lives reveal.
The Church’s witness is strongest when the truth we proclaim publicly is visible in the lives we live privately.
3. Walk Wisely
Ephesians 5:15–21
You do not drift into spiritual maturity. You walk toward it intentionally.
The Wise Life
Ephesians 5:15–17
Wisdom recognizes that every opportunity has an expiration date.
What Controls You?
Ephesians 5:18
The Evidence of a Spirit-Filled Church
Ephesians 5:19–21
The evidence of the Spirit’s fullness is not merely what happens in us. It is what begins flowing through us toward God and others.
The Christian life is not behavior management. It is learning to live from a new identity through the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Called to Walk — 3-Day Devotional
A Three Day Devotional Through Ephesians 4 and 5
The gospel does not simply give us a new destination. It gives us a new direction. Over the next three days, we will consider the three ways Paul calls believers to walk: differently, in love and light, and wisely through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Day 1 — Walk Differently
Read: Ephesians 4:17–32
“You must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.”
— Ephesians 4:17
Devotional
Following Jesus means more than adding Him to our old way of life. Jesus gives us a new identity and teaches us a new way to live.
Paul describes this change using the picture of changing clothes. We are to put off the old self, be renewed in our minds, and put on the new self.
The old life does not disappear without a fight. Old reactions, desires, and attitudes still try to return. We may be tempted to lie to protect ourselves, hold on to anger, use words that hurt, or refuse to forgive.
In those moments, Paul gives us a pattern to follow:
- Name the old response. What am I being tempted to do?
- Expose the lie. What am I believing this response will give me?
- Remember the truth. What is true because I belong to Christ?
- Choose the new response. What action reflects Christ and strengthens others?
The gospel does not merely tell us to stop lying. It teaches us to speak truth. It does not merely tell us to stop using destructive words. It teaches us to speak words that give grace. It does not merely tell us to release bitterness. It teaches us to practice kindness and forgiveness.
Christian transformation is not just avoiding what is wrong. It is replacing the patterns of the old life with practices that look like Jesus.
Consider
- What old response most often shows up when you feel hurt, afraid, or frustrated?
- What lie are you believing in that moment?
- What truth about Christ speaks directly to that lie?
- What Christlike response can replace the old one?
Today’s Step: Identify one old-life pattern you need to put off. Write down the truth you need to remember and one specific action that will help you put on the new response.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for making me new. Help me recognize the patterns that belong to my old life. Renew my thinking with Your truth and teach me to respond in a way that reflects You. Give me the strength to put off what destroys and put on what builds others up. Amen.
Day 2 — Walk in Love and Light
Read: Ephesians 5:1–14
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.”
— Ephesians 5:1–2
Devotional
Paul does not tell us to imitate God so that we can become His children. He calls us to imitate God because, through Christ, we already are His beloved children.
Our identity comes before our activity.
Jesus shows us what love looks like. He loved us and gave Himself for us. Biblical love is not merely a strong feeling. It is a decision to seek another person’s good, even when it requires something from us.
That is why Paul contrasts love with sexual immorality, impurity, and greed. Love gives, while sinful desire takes. Love values people, while lust uses them. Love sacrifices itself for others, while lust sacrifices others to satisfy itself.
Paul then gives believers another identity: “You are light in the Lord.” Light makes things visible. In the same way, our lives should make the difference Jesus makes visible to others.
Love describes how we treat people.
Light describes what our lives reveal.
People should see the truth of the gospel in our patience, generosity, purity, honesty, and kindness. The truth we proclaim publicly should be visible in the way we live privately.
Consider
- Is there someone you have been viewing mainly through what they can give you?
- What would it look like to seek that person’s good instead?
- Does your private life support or weaken your public witness?
- Where does the light of Christ need to expose something you have been hiding?
Today’s Step: Choose one person you can serve without expecting anything in return. Encourage them, help them, forgive them, or meet a practical need.
Prayer: Father, thank You for calling me Your beloved child. Teach me to love as Jesus loved me. Expose any desire that causes me to use people rather than value them. Let the goodness, righteousness, and truth of Christ become visible in the way I live today. Amen.
Day 3 — Walk Wisely
Read: Ephesians 5:15–21
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time.”
— Ephesians 5:15–16
Devotional
Spiritual maturity does not happen by accident. No one drifts toward wisdom, holiness, or Christlikeness. We must pay attention to the direction of our lives.
Paul tells us to make the best use of our time because the days are evil. This does not mean we should live in fear. It means we should live with purpose.
Every opportunity has an expiration date. The person you need to encourage may not always be close to you. The conversation you need to have cannot be delayed forever. The season God has given you will eventually change. Wisdom recognizes the opportunities God has placed in front of us and responds while they are still available.
Paul then tells us to “be filled with the Spirit.” Being filled with the Spirit is an ongoing life of dependence and surrender. Every believer has the Holy Spirit, but the question is whether the Spirit has increasing influence over every part of us.
The evidence of the Spirit’s work is not limited to an emotional worship experience. Paul points to worship, encouragement, gratitude, humility, and relationships shaped by Christ.
The Christian life is not behavior management. It is learning to live from a new identity through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Consider
- What is God giving you an opportunity to do right now?
- What conversation or act of obedience have you been postponing?
- What has been exercising the greatest influence over your decisions?
- Where are you relying on willpower instead of depending on the Holy Spirit?
Today’s Step: Choose one opportunity you have been delaying. Take one concrete step today: make the call, begin the conversation, offer the encouragement, confess the sin, or obey what God has already shown you.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill me and lead me today. Give me wisdom to recognize the opportunities You have placed in front of me. Show me where I have been careless, distracted, or disobedient. Produce worship, gratitude, humility, and love in me so that my life increasingly reflects Jesus. Amen.
Final Reflection
Review the three walks Paul describes:
- Walk differently: Put off the old life and put on what reflects Christ.
- Walk in love and light: Love others sacrificially and make Jesus visible.
- Walk wisely: Use your opportunities well and live under the Spirit’s influence.
Ask yourself:
- What old-life pattern have I excused rather than put away?
- What Christlike practice must replace it?
- Who is being affected by my speech, anger, desires, or unwillingness to forgive?
- Where am I depending on willpower rather than yielding to the Holy Spirit?
The new life Jesus gives us is meant to become visible in a new direction.
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