15 AUGUST 2021 | GIVE THANKS IN EVERYTHING

Ephesians 5:15-20

Living by the Spirit’s Power

¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Questions for Reflection[i]:

• What is your initial reaction to the statement – “Give thanks for everything?” Is living in that way possible?
• How might listing things we are grateful for on a continual (daily) basis be a beneficial spiritual practice?
• What might it look like, or mean, for you to be “careful” about how you live? How might mindful or spiritual practices like prayer, Scripture reading, journaling, and other practices develop a “careful” or attentive way of living?
• What does the challenge to “live in a wise way” mean to you (v. 15)?
• What might Paul have in mind by observing that “the days are evil” (v. 16)?
• How might intentionally noticing and expressing gratitude be a core discipleship practice that builds us up as individuals and becomes a unifying feature of our community life in the church?

Prayer

[i] With thanks to https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/…./small-groups