Ephesians 4

The first three chapters of Ephesians describe the need for salvation and the grace of God in Jesus.  Starting in chapter 4, Paul now starts to give examples of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Eph 4:1-6 NASB  Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,  (2)  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,  (3)  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  (4)  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  (5)  one Lord, one faith, one baptism,  (6)  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

  • What is Paul’s condition as he writes this letter to the church of Ephesus?
  • How have the members of the church at Ephesus gotten there?  Did they volunteer, or work hard to become members or apply to the job?  What does it mean to be called?
  • How are we as members of the body of Christ meant to walk out our lives?
  • Discuss each of the traits:
    • humility
    • gentleness
    • patience
    • tolerance for one another in love
    • diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in peace
    • Which of these are you doing well today – praise God for that
    • Which of these are you not doing – pray to God to help you to grow in that area
  • Verse 4, 5 and 6 all reinforce the importance of unity in the Spirit.  Why do you think Paul emphasizes the one-ness of Christianity?
  • What are the elements of unity?
    • What elements of unity are associated with the Spirit
    • What elements of unity are associated with the Lord Jesus
    • What elements of unity are associated with God?
    • What does this reveal to you about God?

Eph 4:7-13 NASB  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ\’s gift.  (8)  Therefore it says, “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”  (9)  (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?  (10)  He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)  (11)  And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  (12)  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  (13)  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

  • Verse 7 – What was the measure of Christ’s gift to us?  How much of himself did he give?  Then how much do you think he is willing to give each one of us (too little, too much, just what we need)?
  • In verse 11, Paul explains how these gifts may be seen in the body.  Each person may be called to a particular purpose according to the will of God.  What do you feel called to do in service to the body of Christ?  How is God gifting you?  Should you be jealous of another’s gift if that is not how God has made you?
  • Verse 8 – Paul explains his interpretation of Psalm 68:18 and applies it to Jesus.  Re-read verses 9-10 and put it into your own words.  What do you think is Paul’s main point?
  • According to verse 12-13, what is the purpose of Jesus’ gifts to the body of Christ?  Are there ways that we might use our gifts in the church without having this as our goal?

Eph 4:14-24 NASB  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  (15)  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,  (16)  from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.  (17)  So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,  (18)  being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;  (19)  and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.  (20)  But you did not learn Christ in this way,  (21)  if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,  (22)  that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,  (23)  and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,  (24)  and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

  • What is the fruit of using our gifts to build up the body of Christ? (verse 14)
  • How do we grow up in all aspects into Christ?  Have you ever spoken or heard someone speak the truth in love?  What was that like?  How did it feel?  What was the result? (Note that the Greek word for love used here is agape – God’s love that he willfully directs towards us; doing what He knows is best for us.)
  • Each part of the body of Christ holds the others together – fitted together by what every joint supplies according to the proper working of each part (verse 16 paraphrase).  Is there room for jealousy or pride in this body?  Why or why not?
  • How does the body of Christ differ from the way the Gentiles walk?
    • What does “futility of their mind” mean
    • What does “darkened in their understanding” mean
    • What does “excluded from the life of God because of ignorance… and the hardness of their heart” mean
    • What is the fruit of this walk (verse 19?)
  • How do you learn Christ (see verses 21)?  What does that learning produce (see verse 22)?
  • Re-read verses 20-24.  According to Eph 2:10, Ez 11:19, Psa 51:10, Ez 36:26, Col 3:10, Tit 3:5, how is your heart, spirit and mind renewed? What is our work (see Romans 12:1-2, Eph 6:13-17)?

Eph 4:25-32 NASB  Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.  (26)  BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,  (27)  and do not give the devil an opportunity.  (28)  He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.  (29)  Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.  (30)  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  (31)  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  (32)  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

  • What does it mean to speak truth?  Eph_4:15; Pro_8:7, Pro_12:17; Zec_8:16
  • Verse 26 says that it is OK to be angry (the greek word also means exasperated) but puts a limit on our anger. How can we be angry but not sin?  Can you think of biblical examples where there was anger without sin? Why is it important to not let the sun go down on our anger and how might we give the devil have an opportunity?
  • In verse 28, is it enough to simply not steal?  Why does Paul explain that one who used to steal should also work with their own hands in order to share the fruit of their labor with those in need?  (see Matthew 12:43-45)  What does this teach you about renewing your mind and giving the devil an opportunity?
  • Verse 29 – how can unwholesome words coming from your mouth also give the devil an opportunity?  Is it enough to keep your mouth closed when you are tempted to speak something unwholesome (verse 29b).
  • Verse 30-32 – does this say to not feel bitterness, wrath, anger etc. (see verse 26).  What does Paul advise?  How do we put them away from us (see verse 32)?  – forgiveness as God forgave us in Christ.