(2) ‘MADE FOR OUR MAKER’:  EPHESIANS 4 and 5

God who created us, created us for His purposes. To find those purposes, and to live them out, is to find fulfilment in life, for it is for these things we were designed.

The first purpose of our lives is to bring God pleasure.

‘You created all things and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.’ (Rev 4.11)

Bringing God pleasure is what is meant by ‘WORSHIP’ .  Our aim is to worship God in all we are and do –

‘May the Lord smile on you’ (Numbers 6.25 NLT)

A life that seeks to please the Lord in every respect is a life of worship – a life on which God can smile. Ephesians 4 and 5 describe such a life.

READ EPHESIANS 4.25 – 5.20

(1) Ephesians 5.18-20 (Taking the last, first!) PLEASING GOD BY ENJOYING AND GLORIFYING HIM IN TIMES OF COMMUNAL SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP.

(Such times God commands.  His first desire is for us to have with him a relationship of love)

What characteristics of spirit-filled worship are here described?

How do such things fulfil the relationship of love that God so desires?

What things are necessary to a relationship of love.

How essential to the offering of such worship is it to have a life filled by the Holy Spirit?

What do you understand by being filled with the Spirit?  Can you identify this is your life?

How much of a pleasure and delight is the worship of God to you? Does your heart adore God?

(2) Ephesians 4.25-31, 5.4:  A LIFE THAT BRINGS PLEASURE TO GOD BY THE WORDS WE SPEAK.

We please God and worship him whenever we speak good words

What bad words (words to eliminate from our lives) are identified here?  - In what form do such words crop up in our daily lives?

By contrast, what can we deduce from these verses about words that make God smile with pleasure?

Have you ever thought of all your daily conversation as part of your worship to God?

How challenging is this? Where is it hardest to live out?

(3) Ephesians 4.31 – 5.2: WORSHIPPING GOD, BRINGING HIM PLEASURE, BY LEADING LIVES OF LOVE.

What does this passage have to say about this?

Who is our example?

How is his life described?

How does this underline that lives of love are lives of pleasing worship to God.

(4) Ephesians 5.3-13:  WORSHIPPING AND PLEASING GOD BY PURITY OF LIFE

What things are identified here as essential to a life of purity? What is ruled out?

How hard is it to lead such a life in our modern world?  Why?

What attitudes and actions will have to go if we are to achieve it?

How popular will we be?  How acceptable is purity of mind and action today?

Are modern Christians serious enough about this?

(5)  Ephesians 5.15-17: BRINGING GOD PLEASURE BY AN ACTIVE LIFE THAT SEIZES OUR CHANCES TO DO GOOD

Discuss together what these verses suggest to you.

How do you think this pleases our God?

‘God enjoys watching every detail of the lives that please Him.’