EPHESIANS LIVE-IT-OUT GUIDE

(MEMBER VERSION)

 

SESSION 8: EPHESIANS 4:17-32

 

OPENING DISCUSSION:  

 

Mindless Christianity? – While Christians possess a long history of rigorous scholarship and careful thinking, some circles still view the intellect with suspicion, or even as contradictory to the Christian faith. Sometimes, unbelievers are also quick to label Christians as naïve and anti-intellectual. In his classic book, “Your Mind Matters”, John Stott makes the following comment:

 

“Knowledge is indispensable to the Christian life and service. If we do not use the mind which God has given us, we condemn ourselves to spiritual superficiality.”

 

Do you agree with this comment? Why or why not?

 

 

GOING DEEPER

 

Read Ephesians 4:17-32

 

Brief Recap: In chapters 4 to 6, Paul is concerned with applying the truths taught in the first half of Ephesians. Do you remember Paul’s main exhortation to us? Ephesians 4:1 – you must “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (ESV). In the previous session, Paul’s focus was on the community of believers – how the Church, as the Body of Christ, must grow and build itself up in love. In today’s passage, Paul’s attention shifts to individual believer – how we must grow in righteousness and holiness.   

 

1.      Consider verse 17. Paul’s main instruction is for us to “no longer walk as the Gentiles do” (ESV). In this context, Paul is using the word “Gentiles” to refer to unbelievers.

 

a.      This new section begins with the phrase: “Now this I say and testify in the Lord” (verse 17, ESV), echoing Paul’s earlier introduction in 4:1. Why does Paul open this section in this manner? 

 

 

 

 

b.      In verses 17 to 19, how does Paul describe the life of unbelievers?   

 

 

 

2.      In verses 20 to 24, a contrast is drawn between Paul’s readers and the unbelieving Gentiles.

 

a.      According to verses 20 and 21, what is the big difference between the readers and the unbelieving Gentiles? 

 

 

 

 

 

b.      According to verses 22 to 24, what were the readers taught in Jesus?   

 

 

 

 

3.      From verse 25 to 32, Paul gives us 5 concrete examples of how we can practice Christ’s teaching to “put off – be renewed – put on”.

 

a.      Consider each example from verse 25 to 32. How do they illustrate Christ’s teaching to “put off – be renewed – put on”?                              

 

Verse	Put Off (Stop Doing)	Put On (Start Doing)	Be Renewed (Why?)
25
26 - 27
28
29 - 30
31 - 32

 

4.      Recall Ephesians 2:4-5 (“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved”). Therefore, it is important that we no longer live in our former manner of sin and rebellion.

 

a.      What is one thing belonging to your “old self” that you need to put off today?

 

 

 

 

b.      “You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.” The gospel is not a list of commands, but a new way to think. In relation to what you have shared in part (a), how can you better allow the gospel to renew your mind in the week ahead?

 

 

 

 

 

c.       In relation to what you have shared in part (a), how can you “put on the new self” in the week ahead? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLOSING PRAYER

 

Close the session with prayer, thanking God for the transformative power of the gospel. Ask God for grace, that your LG may fulfil every good resolve.