March 1 2026 Ephesians 5:15-21 Sermon . We are called to live out our new identity; to lean into our new identity. Our lives should look different from the rest of the world.  Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil (15-16) God intends for Christians to live lives of intentionality. “The average person reads over 265 social media posts, emails, and text messages on their phones or tablets every single day. Proof-positive that we really do have time to read our Bibles and pray every single day. We just choose to use our time on lesser important things” Shane Pruitt Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is (v17) The Christian life is not “paint-by-the-numbers”. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, (v18) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, (v19) giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (v20) As Christians, our worship and our lives should be characterized by thankfulness.   REFLECTION/PRAYER On a scale of 1-10, how well are you doing at “making the best use of time”? What do you need to do or to start doing in order to make better use of time? Are you too busy with unimportant things? How often do you think and pray about what God’s will is? Do you talk to God daily about his desires for your life? What place does alcohol or other intoxicating or unhealthy substances have in your life? Do you need to make a change in your life? Do you need to reach out to someone to confess sin and to receive support about an unhealthy dependency? Can you remember a time or a season of life when you felt like you were filled with the Spirit? What brought that about? How filled with the Spirit are you in your daily life? What do you need to start doing to be more filled with the Spirit more often? How good of a worshiper are you? What place does worship have in your life? Do you need to be more engaged in worship?  Are you a thankful person or a complaining person? What would those around you say? If you aren’t a thankful person, who can you confess that to? Are you willing to confess that to God and to ask God to help you to become more thankful?