Week 5: Walking In Love, Light, and Wisdom

¹Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.

⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. ¹⁴This is why it is said:

“Wake up, sleeper,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Instructions for Christian Households

²¹Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

²²Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. ²⁴Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. ²⁸In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— ³⁰for we are members of his body. ³¹“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” ³²This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. ³³However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Question 1 — 

Read Ephesians 5:1–7.

How does Paul describe what it means to walk in love?

Question 2 — 

What contrasts do you notice between light and darkness in this chapter?

Question 3 — 

According to Ephesians 5:15–17, what does it mean to live wisely?

Question 4 — 

How does gratitude shape a believer’s life, according to this chapter?

Question 5 — 

What distractions or habits most often pull you away from living intentionally with God?

Question 6 — 

What is one change you can make this week to walk more intentionally in love, light, or wisdom?

Daily Study Notes

In Ephesians 5, Paul describes the Christian life as a walk — a steady, intentional way of living. To walk in love means to reflect Christ’s selfless love in our actions and attitudes.

Paul also contrasts light and darkness. Light represents truth, goodness, and wisdom. Darkness represents what hides, harms, or pulls us away from God. Walking in the light means choosing honesty, purity, and wise living.

Paul encourages believers to live wisely by being aware of how they spend their time and energy. Gratitude becomes an important part of this life. A thankful heart helps believers stay focused on God rather than distractions.

Ephesians 5 invites us to live with purpose, allowing God’s light to shape our daily choices.

Walking with God leads us into love, light, and wisdom.