Ephesians 5:15-17

(Text Only: Our apologies, the audio and video did not record properly)

Title: Three Important Questions

Intro:

What, exactly, is wisdom? (v. 15)

    “Unwise”  

    Greek:  asophos

    Definiton:  Unwise or foolish

    Only used this one time in scripture.

    “Wise”

    Greek:  sophos

    Definiton:  wise, skilled, skilled in letters, cultivated, learned, of the Greek philosophers, and orators, of Jewish theologians, of Christian teachers, forming the best plans and using the best means for their execution

    PB’s definition:  Wisdom is not knowledge, it is knowledge understood and applied.

    The Wisdom of Jurassic Park:

    “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”

    -Ian Malcom

    Therefore:  to follow the command of verse 15 and walk is wisdom means:

    1. To know the Truth (Knowledge)
    2. To understand WHY it is true (and other paths are false)
    3. To apply that Truth to our lives

    Question:  Where do you think most Christians fail in this three step process? Why?

    2.  Why are the days evil? (v. 16)

    (take answers)

    The best way to understand “days” here from the Greek is “these days” or “this age” is evil.  Jesus and Paul give multiple warnings in scripture about the days we are living in.  

    Consider:

    And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.

    -Jesus in Matthew 24:11-13

    For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, use self-restraint in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

    -Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:4-5

    Therefore, understanding the age we are living in, Paul tells us here to “make the most of our time.”

    So we all know this, we have this knowledge, that our days are numbered, we will each die, or Jesus will come back, those are the only two outcomes.  And we also know, we have the knowledge, that we are up against a ton of false teaching, false philosophies, false world views, all of which are antithetical to the cause and mission of Christ.

    3.  What is the Call to Action (v.17)

    So Paul closes this passage with a very important “Therefore”.  Because of these things, 

    1. Don’t be a fool (What might a “Christian Fool” look like?)
    2. Understand your mission.  (What is our Mission?)

    Closing:

    To therefore walk in wisdom (not just knowledge), means to not only be wise (to understand what is true and why it’s true) but to apply that knowledge to one’s self and others by:

     1. Living the truth

     2.  Calling out false philosophies

     3.  Sharing the Gospel in love and tact

    Pray/QA