About this Episode

Be Imitators of God

Be Church! Living up into who we are

Main Scripture Reference(s):

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

1) 1. Be Like The Father

Scriptures referenced: Genesis 1:26, Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7; 20:26; 21:8, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Matthew 5:48

Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

Then God said, "Let us make man* in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Leviticus 11:44-45 (ESV)

For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy."

Leviticus 19:2 (ESV)

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

Leviticus 20:7 (ESV)
Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:26 (ESV)
You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

Leviticus 21:8 (ESV)

You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV)

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Matthew 5:48 (ESV)

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

2) Love Like The Father

Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, John 13:35

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;* 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

John 13:35 (ESV)

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reason #1: We are beloved children

Scriptures referenced: Romans 8:15, Matthew 6:9, Galatians 4:6-7, John 1:12

Romans 8:15 (ESV)

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

Matthew 6:9 (ESV)

Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.*

Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV)

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

John 1:12 (ESV)

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Reason #2: Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

Scriptures referenced: John 15:13

John 15:13 (ESV)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

--DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, THOUGHTS and THINGS TO PONDER--

For your personal discipleship, discussion with family, your Life-Group, or your watch party:

Quick Review:

1. Ask yourself: Was there a particular point or passage of Scripture that challenged, confused, or caught your attention?

2. Review the main idea behind each of the points below:

   • Be Like the Father
   • Love Like the Father

3. Verse 1 tells us to be imitators of God. How are we to imitate God? Who is our model?

4. What areas of your life are in conflict with being an imitator of God?

5. What does is look like to walk out Love?

6. Do you see yourself as a child of God? Are there things that have happened in your own life that have kept you from trusting God completely?

7. What does your Gospel love look like?

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