Sermon Date: 10/26/2025

Bible Verses:

• Ephesians 5:15–21

Speaker: Rev. Timothy "Tim" Shapley

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-

Introduction:

Wisdom isn’t just about what you know—it’s about how you walk.

In Ephesians 5, Paul gives us a roadmap for living wisely in a world that is anything but. He’s not talking about academic smarts or clever strategies. He’s calling believers to a lifestyle shaped by spiritual clarity, urgency, humility, and joy.

The command is clear: Pay attention. Be intentional. Walk wisely. Because wisdom is not automatic. It’s a daily choice.

1. Walk Carefully – Not Carelessly (v. 15)

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.”

Paul is saying: Don’t just drift. Don’t just go with the flow. Wise walking requires watching. Pay attention to your habits, your priorities, your direction.

Proverbs 4:26 — “Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.”

Application: Ask yourself—Am I walking intentionally with God today, or just coasting?

2. Make the Most of the Time (v. 16)

“Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Time is a precious gift, and we’re called to redeem it. That doesn’t mean filling our schedules to the brim—it means living purposefully.

Colossians 4:5 — “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”

Application: We can’t control the evil around us—but we can control how we live in the midst of it.

3. Know God’s Will, Don’t Assume It (v. 17)

“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Wisdom isn’t guessing what God wants—it’s seeking to know Him deeply so His will becomes clear.

Romans 12:2 — “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God…”

Application: You don’t discover God’s will by accident. You grow into it by walking with Him daily.

4. Be Filled with the Spirit, Not the World (v. 18)

“Do not get drunk with wine... but be filled with the Spirit.”

The world offers empty highs. The Spirit offers lasting fullness.

Being filled with the Spirit isn’t just an emotional moment—it’s a continual surrender and renewal.

Galatians 5:16 — “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

Application: What are you letting influence and fill your heart right now?

5. Let Worship Be Your Atmosphere (vv. 19–21)

“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…”

When we are filled with the Spirit, our relationships shift. Joy becomes contagious. Gratitude becomes a habit. Unity becomes a goal.

Psalm 100:2 — “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing!”

Application: Your life is a song—what kind of melody are you singing to the world?

Reflection Questions:

• Am I walking carefully or carelessly right now?
• What area of my life needs more wisdom and less impulse?
• Am I using my time for eternal things—or just urgent things?
• What’s filling me: the world’s noise or the Spirit’s voice?