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Taking Advantage of Every Opportunity

Jul 4th   |   James Hodge

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY

PSALM 139:16

EPHESIANS 5:15-16

PSALM 139:16                      Page # 635

HEBREWS 9:27                     Page #1201

REVELATION 20:11-15           Page #1240

“Therefore, be CAREFUL how you WALK, not as unwise men but as wise, MAKING the MOST of your TIME because the DAYS are EVIL.”   Ephesians 5:15-16 (NASB)

I.       OPPORTUNITIES THAT GOD BLESSES US WITH:

  1. PARENT – CHILD
  2. SAINTS – GOD
  3. SAINTS – SAINTS
  4. SAINTS – SINNERS
  5. SINNERS – SALVATION

Questions for this week:

I.  Overview

  1. After reading Psalm 139:16, Hebrews 9:27 and Revelation 20:11-15 describe your understanding of God’s sovereignty over your life and how His sovereignty could affect your daily living.
  2. How could someone who is pro-choice explain Psalm 139:16 in the defense of their position of no life at conception?  How would you explain this verse to them?
  3. Read Psalm 139:16, Hebrews 9:27 and Revelation 20:11-15 again.  Do you understand clearly the life cycle that begins and ends in eternity?  I was born in 1947 and if I died this year my tombstone would read 1947 – 2010.  Based on the aforementioned passages of scripture, what will be the main significance of the “dash” between those years?  Does your answer put a different light on all the materialistic things we try to accumulate during our lives?
  4. Ephesians 5:15 begins with “Therefore”.  That almost always means what the author is about to say refers back to something already taught.  Beginning with verse 7 can you find at least 5 truths Paul has stated that “Therefore” in verse 15 makes reference back too?
  5. Ephesians 2:10 explains why the genuine believer draws breath each day according to the grace of God.  Does this verse give you answers to those who question “what is the purpose in life”?  What do you think is the first thing that must happen for this verse to be true and meaningful for someone’s life?  How do you believe someone is “created in Christ Jesus”?

II.  Overview of Scripture

1.  Read Ephesians 5:15-16

2.  How are we to live our lives according to the beginning of verse 15?  What would it look like to eliminate a lackadaisical attitude about life (what will be/will be attitude)?

3.  How does the last half of verse 15 describe how we should live?  Do you know someone who lives life foolishly?   What does their life look like to you?

4.  In verse 17, Paul tells the Ephesians what the opposite of living foolishly looks like.   What characteristics do you think mark a person who is living life in wisdom and not foolishly?

5.  Should we read verse 16a, “making the most of your time” with grace or legalistically?  Read Ephesians 2:10.  How does this help you understand the difference?

6.  How should we view the beginning of each day? (16b).  

7.  In this passage (vv 15-16) why is the proper view of each day important to the believer?

III.  Growing deeper

  1. Listen to Sunday’s message with another believer.
  2. Pray for each other as you sense the urgency of the text.

 

 

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