Sermon Recap
From Ephesians 5, Pastor Justin Kendrick explored how worship through singing serves as both an act of defiance against hopelessness and a pathway to spiritual transformation. He contrasted the two responses to life's hardships in this passage, emphasizing that the believer's choice to sing praises to God is not just an emotional expression but a spiritual discipline that recalibrates our hearts to God's truth. He showed how Jesus himself is the melody woven throughout history and so, when we sing as the family of faith, the spirit of Jesus is actually with us. He concluded with a call for the church to become a people who sing not because they feel like it, but because God is worthy.
Ice Breaker Option: What has been a song or piece of music that deeply moved you, and why do you think it had such an impact?
HEAD: Read Ephesian 5:8-20
- What does Paul’s use of light and dark teach us about how we are to live as Christ-followers?
- What two responses to these ‘evil days’ are explained in this passage? How does this comparison help us understand what it means to be truly Spirit-filled?
- How does this passage describe what the Spirit filled life looks like? How does Paul draw our attention to the principal reason we sing?
HEART:
- What about God moves you to worship?
- How does viewing singing as a spiritual discipline change how you think about worship, both alone and with others?
- How does worship provide an arena for the Holy Spirit to change us individually and as a family of believers?
HANDS — Go Deeper Together
“Worship is the arena in which God recalibrates our hearts, reforms our desires, and rehabituates our loves. Worship isn’t just something we do; it is where God does something to us. Worship is the heart of discipleship because it is the gymnasium in which God retrains our hearts.” James K. Smith
(Choose one or two practices below)
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1. A New Humanity — Learning to Sing in the Light
“When followers of Christ face the evil day, what do we do? Well, according to Paul, we sing… We sing by faith because God is worthy.”
Group Reflection
- Read together Ephesians 5:8.
- What does “living as a child of light” look like in moments when singing feels difficult, distracting, or uncomfortable?
Respond — Leaning In Together
- In pairs or small clusters, invite participants to share. Encourage groups to listen without fixing or correcting—simply receiving one another’s honesty.
- When do you feel most tempted to disengage—emotionally, spiritually, or physically—from worship both individually and corporately?
- How do you want to lean more fully—emotionally, spiritually, or physically-into worship.
Group Prayer
- Close by praying together using this prompt: “Jesus, train my heart to live in the light. Teach me to sing not just when I feel like it, but because You are worthy.”
Action Step (Daily Practice)
Throughout the week, practice singing as a spiritual discipline:
- Choose one worship song and return to it each day.
- Sing, even if your emotions lag behind.
- Ask: How is this song helping me live as a child of light today?
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2. New Community — A People Who Sing Together
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:19)
Reflection
Discuss as a group:
- How does singing together shape us differently than worshipping alone?
Group Response
Invite the group to do something simple but intentional:
- Read Ephesians 5:19 aloud together.
- Then sing a familiar worship song together.
- Afterward, sit in silence for a moment, allowing for silent reflection:
- What did you notice about singing with others rather than alone?
- How did it affect your awareness of Jesus’ presence?
Discussion
- Invite participants to briefly share (as they feel comfortable) what they noticed and experienced in this time of singing together.
- How will this change how you approach your time worshipping with others?
- How can you prepare your heart for corporate worship next week?
Prayer
- Close by thanking God that He forms us not as solo voices, but as a chorus.
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3. Spiritual Movement — Singing as an Act of Defiance
“Our singing is an act of defiance against the world that tells us that there is no hope, that this life is all there is.”
Reflect Together
….singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20
- Where do you feel most tempted to believe the lie that there is no hope right now—personally or in the world around you?
- How does worship challenge the story that this life is all there is?
Group Activity — Curating Songs of Hope
- Invite the group to participate together in a hopeful, creative act.
- Ask everyone to take a few minutes (individually or in pairs) to look up one worship song that speaks hope into their current season or into the brokenness they see around them. (For example, a song about resurrection, God’s faithfulness, the nearness of Jesus, or the promise of what is to come.)
- As a group, go around and have each person share:
- The song title and artist
- One line or phrase from the song that feels especially hopeful right now
- Create a shared “Songs of Defiance” list (written down, texted, or added to a shared playlist) that the group can return to throughout the week.
- After sharing, pause and name together:
- How did these songs speak hope into places that feel weary or heavy?
- What did you notice about hope rising as we listened to one another’s songs?
Personal Response
- Invite each person to choose one song from the list and complete this sentence: “This week, when I feel tempted toward despair or numbness, I will choose to sing __________ as an act of defiance and trust in Jesus.”
- Encourage participants to write it down or save the song on their phone as a reminder.
Group Prayer Option
- Close by praying together: Asking the Spirit to use your singing to form hope in you and through you.
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PRAYER
- Pray that God would teach you the melody of Jesus in your life, bringing peace and joy.
- Ask God to awaken your spirit to His love and grace every day.
- Thank God for the power of worship and how it connects us to His divine presence.