Walking in the light means living close to Jesus every day. This free Ephesians 5 Bible lesson teaches older elementary kids that a believer walks in the light by spending daily time in God’s Word and in prayer. The memory verse is Ephesians 5:8, “Live as children of light.”
Use this 60-minute lesson with ages 9 to 11 (3rd to 5th grade) in Sunday school. It is the fifth lesson in our series on Ephesians. You need Bibles, copies of Ephesians 5, colored pencils and the two footprint paths from the Ephesians 4 lesson.
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What Does Ephesians 5:8 Mean? Walking in the Light in Simple Words
To walk in the light is to live as God’s child, close to Jesus every day. Ephesians 5:8 says, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), and God is light (1 John 1:5).
Kids who walk in the light find out what pleases the Lord, stay away from evil and use their time wisely. They keep growing by reading God’s Word and praying each day.
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Ephesians 5 Lesson at a Glance
Learning Goal: Students will learn that in order to walk in the light they must walk closely with Jesus daily by spending time in His Word and praying.
Memory Verse: Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
Bible Passage: Ephesians 5
Bible Story Title: Walking in the Light (Ephesians 5)
Target Age Group: Ages 9-11 (3rd-5th Grade U.S.A.)
Target Time Frame: 60 Minutes
Original Teaching Context: Sunday School
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Supplies for the Walking in the Light Lesson
Supply List: Bibles, Copies of Ephesians 5 for students to mark key phrases, colored pencils/pens, Visual of review statements, two paths with footprints from previous lesson (Ephesians 4), new footprints from this lesson to add to the paths,
Welcome Activity: Mark Key Phrases in Ephesians 5
Activity #1: While students are waiting for everyone to arrive have them mark key phrases from Ephesians 5. Have them look for words that believers are to imitate (they choose how they will mark) and things they should avoid.
Bible Lesson: Walking in the Light (Ephesians 5)
(I created a visual with the following statements to allow the students to see the questions as I read them giving them time to think about what goes in the blank.)
Review statements about believers from study of Ephesians:
1. Believers have been ________ before the foundation of the world. (Chosen)
2. Believers have redemption through Jesus’ blood, the __________ of sins. (Forgiveness)
3. Believers have been sealed with the ________ _________. (Holy Spirit)
4. Believers are God’s workmanship created to do _____ _______ which God prepared in advance. (Good Works)
5. Believers can do God’s work through the _________ of the Holy Spirit. (Power)
6. Believers are called to have a __________ walk. (Worthy)
Last week we continued with the two paths that exist in this world. From Psalm 1 we discovered that there is a righteous path and a wicked path. We added additional names for this path last week. Does anyone remember what the phrases were? (New walk/old walk) Today we are going to add additional phrases to describe these two paths as we study Ephesians 5. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Ephesians 5.
Let’s read Ephesians 5:8. What two words do you think would be phrases we could add to the two paths? (Light/darkness)
Light and Darkness: What Do the Scriptures Say?
Benefits of light and darkness
What are some good things that we receive from physical light? (We can see) What are some good things we receive from physical darkness? (It helps us to sleep better)
Ephesians 5 is not talking about physical light and darkness. Paul is talking about spiritual light and darkness. To help us understand what that means we will explore what the Scriptures say about Light and darkness.
Light
Who is in charge of the spiritual area of light? (God)
• John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
• 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
Darkness
Who is in charge of the spiritual area of darkness? (Satan)
• Acts 26:18 To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
Last week we discovered what a worthy walk for a believer looked like. Let’s continue in Ephesians 5 to discover how a worthy walk for a believer includes walking in the light.
Read verse 1. What clear directions does Paul give to believers? (Add the footprints to the righteous path)
• Imitate God
• Live a life of love
Whose example of love does Paul use? (Jesus) What did Jesus do that showed His love? (Gave Himself up for us)
Read verse 8. How are believers supposed to live? (As children of light) A believer who walks in the Light is pure, doesn’t have anything to do with evil and exposes evil by speaking the truth in love. (Eph. 5:3-7,11-12, Eph. 4:15)
How Does a Believer Walk in the Light? Be Wise
A Believer Who Walks in the Light is Wise
Read verse 15. What does Paul tell believers to be careful about? (To walk in wisdom) Why does he tell believers they must be wise? (The days are evil)
From Ephesians 5 Paul gives us things a believer can do to be wise.
- Find out what pleases the Lord
Read verse 10. What does Paul tell believers to do? (Find out what pleases the Lord) How do believers find out what pleases the Lord? (Spend time daily reading/studying God’s word, praying, sitting under good Biblical teaching and obeying)
- Understand what the Lord’s will is:
Read verse 17. When we walk with God daily having a personal quiet time we will understand what His will is and He will help us to avoid making foolish choices.
- Use our time wisely
Read verse 16. What are believers supposed to do with the time we are given each day? (Make the most of every opportunity)What are believers supposed to be looking for opportunities to do in each circumstance? Share the Gospel. When believers share the Gospel they honor God and point others to Jesus.
- Do not participate in any form of evil.
Read verse 11. What does Paul say a believer walking in the Light should do? (Have nothing to do with evil deeds and expose them)
Walking in the Light Means Being Filled With the Holy Spirit
A Believer Who Walks in the Light is filled with the Holy Spirit
Read verse 18. What instruction does Paul give to believers? (Not to get drunk but be filled with the Spirit)
- When a believer drinks alcohol or puts any substance in our body that affects our self-control we are not allowing the Holy Spirit to control us.
A believer filled with the Holy Spirit will:
- Speak to other believers in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
- Sing and make music in his/her heart to the Lord.
- Always give thanks to the Lord for everything.
Rescued From Darkness: Closing and Gospel Invitation
Believers Have Been Rescued From Darkness
When you and I were walking on the path of wickedness and we were introduced to Jesus Christ and were told the Good News that He died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again and believed, He rescued us from darkness and brought us into His Light. (Colossians 1:13)
Paul tells us what a person in darkness does and how believers are to avoid behaving this way.
(Briefly discuss the topics that are on the footprints as they are placed on the wicked path)
- Greed (Eph. 5:3)
- Impure (Eph. 5:3,5)
- Foolish talk (Eph. 5:4)
- Unwise/Foolish
- Drunk
As we examined the light and darkness from Ephesians 5 you may have discovered areas that you are walking in darkness. Repent and turn back to God and the Holy Spirit will give you power to walk as children of light. Maybe today you are on the path of darkness and have never been rescued by placing your faith in Jesus. Let me read to you what Scripture says about people who are in darkness:
- John 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Every time you hear about Jesus you are given an opportunity to be rescued from the power of Satan. Today you can be saved. Admit that you are a sinner. Believe that Jesus has died in your place, was buried and rose again. Confess to others that Jesus is Lord.
Close in prayer.
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