Love Isn’t Always Easy. Love Costs Something. Love Sees Beyond the External.

Love Isn’t Always Easy

Loving someone can be risky and difficult. It takes vulnerability and can be hard.

1 Cor 13:4-7. Loving someone is easy when people are nice but can be quite a challenge when there is tension, disagreement, or pride involved.

Luke 19:1-10. Jesus’ was judged for his association with people that others viewed as “sinners” and “unclean”.

Love Costs Something

Loving someone often requires sacrifice and giving of yourself in ways that are not preferred (or undesirable).

John 15:9-13, 17. Jesus commanded his followers to love each other as he loved them and to be willing to sacrifice everything.

John 13:1-15, 34-35. The example Jesus left his disciples is to be willing to do the lowest task in serving each other. By loving each other in this way, you will make known to other people that you are Christ’s disciples.

Love Sees Beyond the External

Appearances can be deceiving. What is on the outside is not what is important, but what is on the inside is what matters.

1 Samuel 16:1-12. As humans, we can get caught up with thinking about how things look and miss the more important traits of who a person is.

Romans 2:11. God does not show favoritism but welcomes everyone to come to Him through His Son, Jesus.

John 4:1-30. Jesus’ disciples only saw a Samaritan woman and missed the whole point of what was happening.

The Karate Kid movies and shows have resonated with people for more than four decades. One aspect that draws us to

Mark 6:7-13. After Jesus had spent a little time with his disciples, he instructed them and sent them out. They were to do the same sorts of things that Jesus himself was doing.

Mark 6:30-44. Upon returning from their missionary trip, the twelve reported back to Jesus what happened with great excitement. Jesus continued to challenge and train them. When a crowd of 5,000 men were hungry, he told them, “You give

Mark 9:33-37. Jesus taught them about humility. Rather than seeking to be the greatest, he told them to look to the example of a child.

Luke 14:25-32. Jesus set the bar high for becoming a disciple. Although the call is open to anyone, only those who put him first can be true disciples. People should count the cost prior to following Jesus.

Luke 6:40. The goal of Christian discipleship is to become like Christ. We aim to both follow his words and imitate his example.

Matthew 10:24-25. As they ridiculed and called Jesus names, so they will do to you if you genuinely follow him.

John 8:31-32. Disciples don’t just believe in Jesus, they also continue in his words, living out his teachings.

John 13:35. The most important indicator of authentic discipleship is if we love each other. See also John 15:8-10.

His name is far more than a label—it represents the power, presence, and authority of Jesus Himself. When Peter explained the healing of the lame man, he was essentially saying, ‘It was the very person and power of Jesus, alive and active, that made this man whole.’

John 16:23-27. We pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 3:1ff. In the name of Jesus Christ, the lame man walked.

Acts 3:16. “Name” means much more than a label. It implies Jesus’ power, presence, and authority. Peter is saying: “It is the very person and power of Jesus, active and present, that healed this man.”

Acts 4:1-12. There is no other name by which we can be saved.

Acts 4:17-20. Do not speak in this name.

Acts 16:16-18. Demon was cast out by his name.

Philippians 2:5-11. In the end, everyone will bow to that name.

What is the “good news of the kingdom of God” that Jesus preached? Put simply, it’s everything wrong with the world made right. The perfect world God originally intended has been damaged by humanity’s sinful actions, but God hasn’t given up on the earth. His plan of redemption has already been set in motion. We have a real hope that solves real problems in the real world.

Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2. The “gospel of the kingdom of God” is the message Jesus preached.

Genesis 1:1-31. God created the world to be good.

Genesis 2:7-25. God has always desired a love relationship with humanity.

1 Corinthians 13:5. Love does not demand its own way. God gave humanity freedom to choose Him or not.

Genesis 3:1-24. Adam and Eve chose to trust the serpent (Satan) rather than God. Humanity’s sin gave Satan influence over the earth, resulting in pain (v.16), natural disasters (v. 17-18), relationship conflicts (v. 16), and death (v. 19). Worst of all, sin separated humanity from God.

Genesis 3:15. God promises hope.

Revelation 21:1-3. God will once again dwell on the earth with humanity.

Revelation 21:4-7. God will destroy death forever. No more crying or pain.

Revelation 22:1-2. God will bring back the tree of life. Eternal life will be freely available.

Revelation 22:3. There will no longer be any curse. All the curses that resulted from sin (Gen. 3:1-24) will be undone.

Revelation 22:4-5. Man’s dominion over the earth will be restored. Under God, and in right relationship with him, humans “will reign forever and ever.”

What God wanted in the beginning, He gets in the end. The good news of the Kingdom of God is: everything wrong with the world made right.

Hebrews 6:19. Hope is “the anchor of our souls.” To survive the storms of life, we must know what our hope is!

Our hope isn’t ethereal, wishy-washy, boring, or irrelevant. We have a real hope that solves real problems in the real world.

The conclusion of the Ephesians’ series focuses on spiritual warfare and how to combat the evil we are faced with. As we put on the whole armor of God, we can stand against the wiles of the devil.

2 Corinthians 4:4   Spiritual warfare

Matthew 13:19 – The wicked one; Mark 4:15 – Satan; Luke 8:12 – The devil

1 Peter 5:8 – Adversary; 1 Thessalonians 3:4 – Tempter; Revelation 12:10 – Accuser

Ephesians 2:1-3   Three fronts 1. The world, 2. Demons, 3. Lust of our flesh   Air is unseen by influential

Ephesians 6:11-13   Our struggle is not against flesh and blood. He functions undercover, cleverly camouflaged in secrecy.

People end up as puppets

Ephesians 1:18-23   Jesus already won the battle.

14 – 4:17-23   This is now your lie; 1:1-14 your truth now

14 – 4:21-24   Righteousness is the new you. Live right,

15 – Peace 1:2; 6:23; 2:14-17; 4:3

16 – Faith 2:8-9; 3:12, 17 – Faith is a full realization of your own inability and absolute confidence in God’s ability.

17 – Helmet of salvation – 1:13 -14, 2:7, 3: 9-11

17 – The sword of the spirit; the Word of God

18 – Pray – Matthew 6:9-13: 1:15-23; 3:14-21

How should you carry yourself at home and at work? In Ephesians 6:1-9, we learn that parents should actively teach their children obedience and honor, guiding them with love and fairness rather than harshness, to foster healthy development. We also learn that we should work heartily unto the Lord rather than for people.

Ephesians 6:1 Parents must teach their children to obey. Left to their own devices, kids will assert their own little wills over everyone else, resulting in chaos and dysfunction. They will not learn obedience or boundaries unless loving adults help them and hold them accountable.

Ephesians 6:2-3 Honoring your parents is also important to teach to children, though this command continues through adulthood. Although it’s common today to “go no-contact” with one’s parents, such dishonoring behavior is out of place for Christians except for extreme cases.

Ephesians 6:4 It’s important that parents (especially fathers) don’t hold children to an impossible standard, discipline in an excessively harsh manner, or frustrate children in other ways. Rather, parents should help children to develop resilience, control their emotions, and avoid prideful tribalism as they train them and instruct them in the ways of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5-8 Slavery was regrettable, though an accepted reality for most of human history. Christianity spread like wildfire among slaves in the Roman Empire. Paul explains how Christian slaves should handle themselves at work.

Ephesians 6:9 Although we wish Paul had told masters to free their slaves, instead he told them to give up threatening them. In other places we know that Paul was in favor of liberation (1 Cor 7:21-23; Gal 3:27-28; Phlm 15-17). The seeds of abolitionism were present in the Bible, but it took time for them to grow into maturity.

Ephesians 5:22-24 Not everyone should get married. If you prize your freedom and want independence, stay single for Christ (1 Cor 7:32-35). However, if a woman wants to have a biblical marriage, she should recognize her husband’s headship (Col 3:18-19; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Pet 3:1-2). She should model the Church in relation to Christ. Of course, a wife can and should break submission if her husband asks her to sin, is mentally unwell (including substance addiction), or is physically abusive. Each situation warrants its own wisdom. The pastors and elders are here to help you through such hard situations (email: [email protected]).

Ephesians 5:25-27 As the wives are to submit, the husbands are to love self-sacrificially. He should model Christ in relation to the Church. When Paul wrote Ephesians, such a standard would have sounded radical. Other authors from the period like Josephus, Philo, and Plutarch mention the wife’s submission, but never the husband’s requirement to love, much less love like Christ!

Ephesians 5:28-30 Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. Cherish her, protect her, provide for her, and attend to her needs.

Ephesians 5:31 The standard for marriage goes back to the Garden of Eden before sin ever entered the picture. The beautiful complementarity and mutuality God designed finds its fullest expression in the physical intimacy enjoyed by a husband and wife in a committed marriage (1 Cor 7:1-5).

Ephesians 5:32-33 Christian marriage is a symbol, pointing to Christ’s relationship with the Church. Christian marriages have an incredible opportunity to testify before a watching world.

Ephesians 5:3-21

Paul warns Christians of behaviors.

Not a hint of sexual immorality

Matthew 5:32

1 Corinthians 5:1

Evil behaviors have bad consequences.

God’s way is better.

Living together/playing house

Marriage is God’s perfect answer to sexual sin. The good news about marriage is God calls us to cleanness. Romans 1:24; Matthew 23:27-28

Greed isn’t the way. Jeremiah 22:17

Vulgar speech is prohibited. Divisive and foolish talk should be removed. Titus 3:8- 11 Coarse jesting is wrong. Awake, Oh Sleeper!

What will you choose?

You can be wise and ready or foolish and unprepared.

Put Off the Old Self (Eph 4:17-19)

Paul warns believers not to live like the Gentiles, whose thinking is futile and whose hearts are hardened. Their lifestyle is marked by having a darkened understanding, ignorance, insensitivity, and moral corruption that is driven by selfish desires.

Be Renewed and Put on the New Self (Eph 4:20-24)

Paul claims that the old way of life is not how believers have learned Christ. Rather believers are to:

Practical Instructions for New Life (Eph 4:25-32)

Paul lists specific ways to live out this new self:

Imitate God and Walk in Love (Eph 5:1-2)

Believers are called to be imitators of God as His children. We should walk in love, following the example of Christ, who gave himself as a sacrificial offering for us.

Ephesians 4:1-3 Here we find five important behaviors that all Christians should cultivate in their lives: humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, and seeking unity. Each of these takes intentionality and sustained effort. Unity, in particular, requires serious effort. In fact, Jesus himself prayed for our unity (John 17:20-23).

Ephesians 4:4-6 The basis of our unity is what we hold in common with each other: one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God over all. The Moravian motto said it well: “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love.”

Ephesians 4:7-10 When he died and was buried, Jesus descended into the grave. When God raised him from the dead and brought him up to heaven, he ascended. His death, resurrection, and ascension together defeated spiritual evil in high places with the result that he led captivity captive. Additionally, his victory brought into reality new structures both in heaven

Ephesians 4:11-13 The various positions in the local church exist to equip the saints for the work of ministry with the goal of developing maturity in individuals and as a group. Christ is our forerunner and prototype. We want to grow into his full stature over time.

Ephesians 4:14-16 As you develop in your faith, you should not be easily deceived by the many winds of doctrine blowing in our time, especially through social media. Rather, the goal is to grow and mature such that we not only remain connected to the body but also build it up in love.