Triadic Construction - The material before us forms a natural extension of what has previously been stated-that Christians are to walk worthy of their new life in Christ. The passage is constructed in groups of triads-three "not . . . but" phrases (vs. 15-18); three types of music (v. 19); three worship cues (vs. 19-20).

The Need for Wisdom - The wise / foolish contrast is prevalent in wisdom literature-the wise / foolish builder; the wise / feckless characters of Proverbs; the two paths-that of the wise / that of the foolish (Psalm 1; Didache). The term, e?a?????? (nrsv="making the most of ") means literally, "buy back," to redeem something. That’s what the wise do-they buy back opportunities for good use. [1]

John Chrysostom -- Do you wish to be happy? . . . I offer you a drink that is spiritual . . . This does not cause us to babble nor disturb our vision. Here it is: Learn to sing psalms! Then you will see pleasure indeed . . . but if you sing only the devil’s songs you will soon find yourself filled with an unclean spirit. [2]

John Wesley -- . . . sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself . . . see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here . . . [3]

What are your top five hymns, psalms, or praise choruses? What is it about them that earns them your focus? Melody? Text? Rhythm? Transference of experience?

As you reflect on your journey from being "dead in your transgressions and sins" (Eph. 2:1) to being "made alive with Christ" (2:5), what positive changes have you noticed in your motives and desires?

What Christian song/text reflects your desires? Transformation? Your values?

One homily worth reviewing is from Marva Dawn’s book, A Royal "Waste" of Time. [4]

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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible Xi (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000), page 442.
[2] Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture VIII (InterVarsity, 1999), page 191-192.
[3] From John Wesley’s Select Hymns, 1761 cited in The United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville: UM Publishing House, 1989), page vii.
[4] Marva Dawn, A Royal “Waste” of Time (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ., 1999) pp. 12-17.