The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "Rise & Shine."
Paul makes it clear that believers, those who were once “darkness” but are now “light” (Eph 5:8), are to live a distinctly different way of life as “children of light,” bearing the fruit of light consisting of “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (v. 9). But obedience to Paul’s command is relative rather than absolute. Each individual bears different amounts of fruit. Some are more fruitful than others; some become more fruitful over a lifetime. Like transformation and sanctification, discipleship, that is, “living as children of light” is a progressive matter. We shouldn’t be discouraged shortcomings; we should be motivated them. We can always live more like “children of light.”
Dallas Willard has written with much insight on discipleship; here’s what he has to say about good and bad apprentices of Jesus.
“It is almost universally conceded today that you can be a Christian without being a disciple. And one who actually is an apprentice and colaborer with Jesus in his or her daily existence is sure to be a ‘Christian’ in every sense of the word that matters. The very term Christian was explicitly introduced in the New Testament — where, by the way, it is used only three times ply to disciples when they could no longer be called Jews, because many kinds of Gentiles were now part of them.
“Now, people who are asked whether they are apprentices of a leading politician, musician, lawyer, or screenwriter would not need to think a second to respond. Similarly for those asked if they are studying Spanish or bricklaying with someone unknown to the public. It is hardly something that would escape one’s attention. The same is all the more true if asked about discipleship to Jesus.
“But, if asked whether they are good aprelative by our by — to apprentices of whatever person or line of work concerned, they very well might hesitate. They might say no. Or yes. Asked if they could be better students, they would probably say yes. And all of this falls squarely within the category of being a disciple, or apprentice. For to be a disciple in any area or relationship is not to be perfect. One can be a very raw and incompetent beginner and still be a disciple.
“It is a part of the refreshing realism of the Gospels that we often find Jesus doing nothing less than ‘bawling out’ his disciples. That, however, is very far from rejecting them. It is, in fact, a way of being faithful to them, just as chastisement is God’s way of showing that someone is his child (Heb. 12:710). A good ‘master’ takes his apprentices seriously and therefore takes them to task as needed.
“Following us on what has already been said, then, a disciple, or apprentice, is simply someone who has decided to be with another person, under appropriate conditions, in order to become capable of doing what that person does or to become what that person is . . . And as a disciple of Jesus I am with him, by choice and by grace, learning from him how to live in the kingdom of God. This is the crucial idea. That means, we recall, how to live within the range of God’s effective will, his life flowing through mine. Another important way of putting this is to say that I am learning from Jesus to live my life as he would live my life if he were I. I am not necessarily learning to do everything he did, but I am learning how to do everything I do in the manner that he did all that he did” (The Divine Conspiracy, 282-83, italics added).
Central Message of the Text
Live as children of light bearing the fruit of light—not as unwise but as wise, not as foolish but as those who know what pleases the Lord.
Family Talk
Think about where you were five years ago. What was happening in your life? Where were you working? Did you even have kids? Now think about where you hope to be in five years. How old will your kids be? Do you think you’ll be in the same house? What will change about your parenting? What is your plan for spiritual growth? We’re not meant to stay the same. God’s free gift of salvation through grace should disrupt our lives and cause us to change not only our hearts, but our course, perspective, desires, attitudes and even parenting style. We shouldn’t be wading in the same stagnant and stale water we were in five years ago. If we’re training for and pursuing spiritual growth, we should be in an altogether different pond. Several years ago, I recognized some un-Christlike behavior in the way I yelled at my kids. With what felt like moment-by-moment prayer, prompting from the Lord to change my heart and mind, and a ton of deliberate work on my part (reading helpful books, inviting accountability, purposeful growth, and so much prayer) I was able to shed this behavior and pick up a different parenting style more firmly rooted in the fruit of the Spirit. As we turn the page of the calendar and welcome a new year, consider what you want to leave behind and what you want to pick up instead, then pray. Spiritual growth doesn’t miraculously happen. We must set our minds on Christ (Col 3:2) and ask Him to create in us a clean heart and renewed spirit (Psalm 51:10). We’re praying for your growth this year!