Materials Included
• 4 Sessions of Learner’s Materials
• 4 Sessions of Teaching Materials
• Handouts

Scriptures
1. Ephesians 5:8-14
2. Romans 8:6-11
3. Ephesians 4:25-5:2
4. Matthew 28:1-10

Brief Description
As Easter approaches, Christians take time to evaluate their lives. When we consider the sacrifice of Jesus, we recommit ourselves to living lives worthy of that sacrifice. The sessions of this unit explore New Testament texts that provide models and insights into Christian living. For those who take note of the liturgical calendar, these sessions will encompass the last three Sundays of Lent and Easter Sunday.

The New Testament offers us a variety of images and instructions to guide us in living out our calling as Christians. Three of the texts we will study come from letters written by Paul, perhaps with the assistance of some of his helpers in ministry. These texts, because they come from letters, offer direct instructions about how their readers should live. Acknowledging the authority of Paul’s instructions, we too will find them useful for guiding our lives.

The first text develops a well-known, virtually universal metaphor contrasting darkness and light. We will explore the implications of living “in the light,” as Paul develops the idea in Ephesians.
Our second text comes from Romans and calls us to consider the role of the Holy Spirit. We know that God allows us to exercise our own will, but we can find great comfort in knowing of the power of God’s Spirit and the Spirit’s ability to help us beyond our capacities.

Another text from Ephesians provides the basis for our third session, focused on trading in old ways of living for new ways. Though Paul was addressing Christians nearly 2,000 years ago and nearly half the world away from us, the ways of living he contrasts are strikingly modern.

Finally, we turn to a story from Matthew to remember Easter. There are no explicit instructions for living, but the story challenges the limitations we may sometimes put on the possibilities for our lives. We will consider God’s power and the hope and purpose God offers.
At Easter we rejoice in God’s great gift of love, and we celebrate what Jesus’ death and resurrection mean for our living throughout all our days.

by Dalen Jackson

User License
The purchaser of this file has permission to print twenty copies of this Learners Study Guide. Neither the file nor the printed contents may be sold copied or transferred to another person or church. The purchaser may make a backup copy of the file.

The purchaser of this file has permission to print one copy of this Teaching Guide. Neither the file nor the printed contents may be sold, copied or transferred to another person or church. The purchaser may make a backup copy of the file.

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