Imitate God, Walk in Love
Children who look like their Father
Paul gives the simplest, highest calling imaginable: 'Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and 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.' Think about that picture: when Christ gave Himself for us, it was like a sweet-smelling offering, pleasing to God!
That's the kind of love we're called to imitate — not love that takes, but love that GIVES, even sacrificially.
Then Paul gets direct: among God's people, there must not be even a HINT of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed — these don't belong among those who are holy. No obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking either — instead, THANKSGIVING. Paul warns plainly: no immoral, impure or greedy person — really, anyone who makes earthly things their god — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ.
Don't let anyone deceive you with empty words that make sin sound harmless! Because of these very things, God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
So don't be partners with them — children of light don't need to copy the darkness to fit in.
✨ Memory verse
“Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children, and walk in the way of love.”Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
Tap the words in the right order:
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Type the verse from memory:
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❓ Quiz time!
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👨👩👧 Parent & teacher guide
Big idea: imitating God's sacrificial, giving love as the pattern for holy living — and the serious warning against letting "empty words" make sin sound acceptable among God's people. The connection Paul draws between being "dearly loved children" and therefore imitating the Father is a beautiful picture of identity producing behavior, not behavior earning identity.
Conversation starters: (1) What does it mean that Christ's love for us was like "a fragrant offering" to God? (2) Why might Paul warn so strongly against even a "hint" of certain sins among believers? (3) What "empty words" today try to make sin sound harmless?
Pray for hearts that imitate God's sacrificial love, and discernment against deceptive words.