Ephesians 4:17-32
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Prison Epistles
Living As Children Of Light
Ephesians 4:17-32
SEARCH FOR AN HONEST MAN — I love this story which reportedly came from Sports Illustrated (I do not know which issue):
The game was played in Wellington, Florida. In it, a seven-year-old first baseman, Tanner Munsey, fielded a ground ball and tried to tag a runner going from first to second base.
The umpire, Laura Benson, called the runner out, but young Tanner immediately ran to her side and said, "Ma'am, I didn't tag the runner." Umpire Benson reversed herself, sent the runner to second base, and Tanner's coach gave him the game ball for his honesty.
Two weeks later, Laura Benson was again the umpire and Tanner was playing shortstop when a similar play occurred. This time Benson ruled that Tanner had missed the tag on a runner going to third base, and she called the runner safe. Tanner looked at Benson and without saying a word, tossed the ball to the catcher and returned to his position.
Benson sensed something was wrong. "Did you tag the runner?" She asked Tanner.
His reply: "Yes."
Benson then called the runner out. The opposing coaches protested until she explained what had happened two weeks earlier. "If a kid is that honest," she said, "I have to give it to him."
It may be that no Christian characteristic has suffered more in our society than honesty. It's lacking in the workplace, it's lacking in many of our marriages, it's lacking in our government, and sometimes it's even lacking in our churches. Like Diogenes of ancient Greece, we sometimes feel the urge to take our lantern and begin our search for an honest man.
There is something about Christians that should stand out like a neon sign on a dark night. Jesus wants his people to be known as a people of truth. We should establish a reputation, like Tanner, for speaking the truth even when it would benefit us to do otherwise. Then, and only then, will those around us trust what we say without hesitation, without wondering whether we really mean what we say or not.
"Therefore, putting away lying, each one speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25)
May God help you to be that person of truth that Diogenes was looking for (and God still is, too).
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Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
· What determines our actions?
Instructions for Christian Living — Ephesians 4:17-32
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds;24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
#Forgiveness
Research Questions — “Dig Deeper” to find God’s Will
1. Paul "insisted on it in the Lord" so what is he really saying to them and us today?
2. What does it mean to be "darkened in understanding"?
3. According to verses 17-19, how do the mind, heart and conscience influence the actions of non-believers? How are Christians to deal with these realities?
4. In verse 20 Paul starts with a contrast, is the picture Paul presents of the world gloomy pessimism?
5. How does Paul describe his readers' past life when they walked "as Gentile" or the behavior of the "old" self? The "new" self? v. 22
6. How would you compare moral standards today with the moral standards in Paul's day?
7. How do you go about "putting off" and "putting on"? Can the Christian ever attain a complete transformation in this life?
8. How important is truth, and how evil is falsehood? v. 25
9. Anger -- what is it, why is it, how do you overcome it?
10. Stealing -- how does it feel to experience theft? What should we be doing?
Reflective Questions — Live it today.
1. What are the positive and/or negative motives which prompt you to live a Christian life? Where do you feel you are making progress in your Christian life?
2. According to verse 29, what should come out of our mouth?
3. How do we avoid grieving the Holy Spirit?
4. Of the challenges Paul gives to the Christian in the last two paragraphs, what are the top two you need to work on?
5. What have you learned about forgiveness?
6. How does this equip us be a better disciple and help empower us to “make disciples”?
-- Proverbs 16:32
Living for Jesus in Ephesians 4:17-29
Today in Paul’s testimony, we see the life we used to live and the life we are now to live in Christ in Ephesians 4:17-29.
Purpose Driven Life
| September 9, 2009 Release Your Anger Appropriately by Rick Warren"If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin" (Ephesians 4:26 TEV). |
Keep in mind: anger is not necessarily wrong. It only becomes wrong if we release it in a way that is inappropriate or destructive. My experience as a pastor is that most of us learned to express our anger when we were two or three years old, and we're still expressing our anger in the same way as adults. Needless to say, this simply doesn't work.
Most people express their anger in such a way that they end up farther away from their goal than they were before they became angry. Anger, expressed inappropriately, has the opposite effect of producing the intended results. Blowing up at people never produces lasting change; it only produces more anger and alienation. We know that but we still do it. It doesn't produce lasting change.
Something to keep in mind is that anger is never really the root problem. It is usually a symptom that reveals one of three things is happening: hurt, fear, frustration. These are the three things that make us angry, and this is why we should always stop and cool down. It allows us to think:
- Am I hurt?
- Am I afraid? Perhaps feeling threatened, or that I'm going to lose something of value?
- Or, am I frustrated?
Understanding the source of your anger will help you respond in an appropriate manner, so that your anger does not "lead you into sin" (Ephesians 4:26 TEV).
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MY WILL IS 'EVIL'?!?
09/26/2014
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Did you know that the Bible clearly teaches that "my will" is "evil?" (see James 4:13-17). Biblically, when we choose our will over God's will, we are acting "arrogantly," which God describes as "evil."
So, we've got quite a challenge then, don't we? Because all human "strength" tempts us toward "my will." Whether riches, fame, power and influence, beauty, physical abilities, intellectual prowess or simple choice, all are tools in the hands of the devil when they are not submitted to God.
Indeed, the choice of "my will" over God's, gives the devil "place." This is why sinful emotions (i.e. anger, greed, lust), when acted upon, give the devil the "opportunity" (see Ephesians 4:27), that he craves.
"The glory of young men is their strength..." -Proverbs 20:29
But the glory of wise men is their weakness! (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
Hmmm...
That sheds new light on the instructions:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord, and the strength of His might." -Ephesians 6:10
Doesn't it?
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Finding A Cure
Early season football games for powerhouse teams usually involve small schools willing to take a beating for the big revenue payout. These “tune-up” games are scheduled years in advance and the matchup between SEC power Georgia and Arkansas State University was no exception. The Arkansas State head coach since 2014 was Blake Anderson, who almost lost his family to his passion for football. His wife was prepared to take their three children home to Texas, but Blake left coaching for a time and, when pursued for another coaching job, made it clear that family came first. This was severely tested in 2018, when his wife, Wendy, was diagnosed for a second time with a rare and aggressive breast cancer. After an amazingly fierce struggle, Wendy died in August, just a little after her 49thbirthday.
Early season football games for powerhouse teams usually involve small schools willing to take a beating for the big revenue payout. These “tune-up” games are scheduled years in advance and the matchup between SEC power Georgia and Arkansas State University was no exception. The Arkansas State head coach since 2014 was Blake Anderson, who almost lost his family to his passion for football. His wife was prepared to take their three children home to Texas, but Blake left coaching for a time and, when pursued for another coaching job, made it clear that family came first. This was severely tested in 2018, when his wife, Wendy, was diagnosed for a second time with a rare and aggressive breast cancer. After an amazingly fierce struggle, Wendy died in August, just a little after her 49thbirthday.
Blake was unavailable to the university football team for weeks. And when it was time for him to come back to work, the first game he’d coach after Wendy’s death was that matchup with Georgia. When the team took the field at Sanford Stadium, they expected a sea of Georgia red, but they saw thousands dressed in pink, in remembrance of Wendy Anderson. A good estimate numbered over 30,000 Georgia fans wearing pink and sporting signs: “Remember Wendy.” Fans can be intense, but these people were more compassionate than competitive, and Arkansas State will always love them for it.
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV).
When we feel slighted or insulted, our natural response is to inflict some sort of punishment on the offender. Of course, that leads to a reaction from our nemesis, since the damage we wreak is felt to be completely undeserved. And the conflict escalates, sometimes subsiding for a little, but always bubbling in the background and keeping any reconciliation at a distance. If God were to treat us like that, we would be forever hopeless since it is impossible for us to establish harmony after our sin. Because He is kind and compassionate, though, He offers forgiveness and restoration to us.
That example of grace and love sets the pattern for harmony among people. If we try to keep track of all our injuries and exact revenge for them, we will destroy ourselves. We will exhaust ourselves perpetually spying on our adversaries instead of living anything like a productive life. It’s time we imitate our Father and offer true kindness and compassion to others who, like us, are struggling to live in a broken world. When we realize that He calls us all to redemption and reconciliation, we learn that in Christ we are family. We need to take care of our family and love them and bless them and forgive them and reconcile with them. That kind of compassion and grace will be approved by our Father and applauded by witnesses. And it will help to cure our own souls.
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Forgiveness
A sign at the entrance of a convent read, "Absolutely NO TRESPASSING! Violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law." — Signed, The Sisters of Mercy
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. — Matthew 6:14
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