<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Summary</b>:<br>Believers are urged to live as imitators of God, like beloved children reflecting their Father’s character. Their lives are to be marked by love, following the pattern of Christ, who gave Himself completely and sacrificially. In contrast, all forms of sexual immorality, impurity, and greed are treated as completely out of place among God’s people. Likewise, shameful behavior in speech - obscenity, foolish talk, and crude joking - is rejected as unfitting. Instead of such things, the proper response flowing from their lives is gratitude.<br> <br><b>Teaching</b>:<br>God’s love was revealed through the love of Christ. To pattern our lives after God means that, just as God loved Christ, we also walk in love. The very love with which God loved us is the love we are to show among people as God’s love.<br><br>Let us remember what God has graciously given us. We should reflect on what He has given, and there is a reason for what He has not given. To the extent that we deny ourselves and take up our cross, He grants blessing in our lives.<br><br>In our hearts, we must resolve to pattern our lives after God.<br><i><br></i><i>Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Apr 10, 2026</i><i><br></i><i>Ephesians 5:1-4</i></p>
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