Ephesians 5:15-21

As we get into the Word this week, let us not be deceived by the empty words of this world. Instead, let us walk as children of light whose lives have been captured by Jesus and are seeking to please the Him. Let’s get into Word so the Word can get into us and change us from the inside out!


Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: careful, wise, foolish, drunk, filled, speaking, songs, giving thanks, and subject.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 5:15-21 (NASB)

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

DIGGING DEEPER

List all of the characteristics of God and any promises of God that you find in this passage.



Many times we think that in order to be wise, you must be a genius. What does a wise person look like according to verses 15-17? How can you live wisely according to this passage and make the most of the time God has given you?




Take a moment and think through what you do on a daily and weekly basis. What is it that you are doing that would be considered wise and in agreement with God’s will for your life? What is it that you are doing that would be considered foolish and against what God would have for your life?





After you have answered the questions above, ask God to give you grace and strength to carry out His will for your life and make the most of the time He has given you.



Verses 19-21 look like four separate commands in English. In Greek, however, they are actually linked to verse 18 and describe several results of being filled with the Spirit. In your own words, explain the characteristics of those who are filled with the Spirit below and one way you can live that out in your life today!


Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs


Singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord


Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father


Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ



After looking at these verses, what characteristics are you lacking in your walk with God? Pray right now and ask God to fill you with His Spirit and give you the grace to live out these characteristics.





For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 5:6-14

In Ephesians 5, Paul continues to outline what it means “to live a life worthy of the calling you received” (4:1). As we are seeking to be culture warriors in this world and not culture imitators of the world, it is crucial that we are seeking to imitate and follow God! This passage will show us how we can do this and not be deceived by the darkness but to walk as children of light who please the Lord. Let’s get into Word so the Word can get into us and change us from the inside out!


Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: deceive, partakers, darkness, Light, unfruitful, expose.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 5:6-14 (NASB)

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14 For this reason it says, Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

DIGGING DEEPER

List all of the characteristics of God and any promises of God that you find in this passage.



Verse 6 tells us to not be deceived with empty words and to not join up with those who disobey God. What are some of the empty words of the world that can so easily deceive us? Evaluate your life right now and see if you are being deceived.




The Scriptures are full of warnings about being deceived. Check out the following passages and really think about what God is saying through them. Then, write down what each verse is saying about being deceived and how that applies to your life today.

Romans 3:13

1 Corinthians 15:33

Galatians 6:7

2 Timothy 3:13

Titus 3:3

James 1:13-16

1 John 1:8


From these verses, how will you seek to live in the world but not be deceived into becoming just like the world?





From verses 8-14, we see Paul contrasting light and darkness in showing us how to live holy lives. According to this passage, what does it mean to live as children of light?





From verses 8-14, what does it mean to live in darkness?





What are the unfruitful works of darkness? Explain.





What kind of interaction should we have with the works of darkness? What are we commanded to do?




Spend time right now praising God for His work in your life, and pray that He will continue to give you the grace to obey Him by walking in His way and worshipping Him with your life.

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 5:1-5

Welcome back to the Ephesians Edition of “Chew On It.” I hope that you are excited about what God is teaching us through these incredible verses of Scripture! We all know that not doing what is wrong is one thing. But sometimes it can be even more difficult to do what is right. In Ephesians 5, Paul continues to outline what it means “to live a life worthy of the calling you received” (4:1). He begins by telling us to walk in such a way that is patterned after God Himself! Some of you might be wondering, “How is this possible? How can I imitate God?” Paul shows us the way and what to avoid that will keep us from living out the truth that was lived by Christ.


I hope that this study in Ephesians 5 will be a blessing to you. As we are seeking to be culture warriors and not culture imitators, it is crucial that we are seeking to imitate God! This passage will show us how we can do this in how we talk and walk. Let’s get into Word so the Word can get into us and change us from the inside out!


Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.

As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: imitators, walk in love, sacrifice, impurity, filthiness, idolater.


Passage for the week: Ephesians 5:1-5 (NASB)

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God and any promises of God that you find in this passage.



We are told to be imitators of God, as children who are loved by God. How do children imitate? (Give some examples of your own observations of small children)




Just as children imitate their parents’ behavior (which can be a VERY humbling experience!), we are to imitate God. What do you see in the Scriptures about God that you can imitate?





From your list above, what are some characteristics or attributes of God that you will commit to begin imitating today?







Wednesday:

How is Christ the perfect example of what Paul asks of us in verse 2? How can you walk in love toward others this week by following Christ’s example?





In verse 3, some translations render the verse this way: “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” Explain this verse in your own words and then explain what needs to change in your life so you can live it out!






Commit the list you just wrote to the Lord in prayer right now. God’s grace was more than sufficient to cleanse you from all unrighteousness when you were saved. That same grace is still more than sufficient to empower you to say no to sin and live righteously in this perverse world (Titus 2:11-12)!







Friday:

How is giving thanks with your lips an appropriate replacement for spouting the filthy and profane language that Paul condemns in verse 4?



How can you use thanksgiving to replace sinful language in your life?




In verse 5, why will immoral, impure, or greedy people be unable to inherit the kingdom of Christ and God? Why does Paul call these kinds of people idolaters and who are they worshipping?


Spend time right now praising God for His work in your life, and pray that He will continue to give you the grace to obey Him by walking in His way and worshipping Him with your life.

Ephesians 4:26-32

Jesus said in Matthew 12, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks...the mouth speaks." Whatever comes out of the mouth is a revealer of the heart. In other words, when others hear you talk, they get a glimpse of the state of your heart. Paul continues to teach us in this passage how we should talk to and treat one another in our words and actions. As you read these verses, ask yourself what kind of lifestyle am I imitating – the world’s or Christ’s? Thankfully, Paul gives us hope by showing us how we can embrace the Christ-centered life and lay aside the self-centered life.

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.


As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: anger, steals, word, grace, grieve, bitterness, kind, forgiven.


Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:26-32 (NASB)

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.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God and promises of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).


In these verses, what does Paul tell us to put off and what does he tell us to put on?



What reason does Paul give for putting off these things?




Wednesday:

How does Paul’s teaching in these verses show the importance of healthy communication promoting unity?





Which of the commands in this passage are the hardest for you to follow? Explain why.





Friday:

What practical steps could you take this week to improve your relationships with others?



Which of these commands in this passage have you seen God strengthen you to obey this year?


Spend time right now praising God for His work in your life, and pray that He will continue to give you the grace to obey in these areas?

Ephesians 4:17-25

The way in which we live our lives is the topic of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians as we look into this passage together. Paul opens this passage by giving us a contrast between how the world lives versus how a unified group of Christ-followers should live. As you read these verses, ask yourself what kind of lifestyle am I imitating – the world’s or Christ’s? Thankfully, Paul gives us hope by showing us how we can embrace the Christ-centered life and lay aside the self-centered life.

Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.


As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: walk, hardness of heart, callous, sensuality, Christ, truth, old self, new self, renewed.


Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:17-25 (NASB)

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.
25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God and promises of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).






In this day and age, do you believe there is a difference between how Christians live and how non-Christians live? If so, what are the differences you see?





According to verses 17-19, how do the Gentiles live? Explain how you might struggle in these areas as a Christian.




Wednesday:

Paul says that the Gentiles are afflicted with a spiritual condition known as a hardness of heart (verse 18). What does this hardness of heart mean?


What are the effects of having a hardened heart (verses 17-19)?




How have you personally struggled with a hardness of heart toward God? (Be specific!)




Friday:

What does it mean to put off the old self and put on the new self? What does it require you to do?

Verse 23 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. What does this mean and how do you do this?

According to verse 24, our new self has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Because of this, how should this affect our relationships with others in the church (verse 25)?

Ephesians 4:7-16

Paul tells us in this passage of Scripture that the body of Christ is wired to serve! The Holy Spirit has gifted and equipped each one of us to serve in the local church and carry out the Lord's ministry. Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.


As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: grace, gifts, equipping, body of Christ.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:7-16 (NASB)

7 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.
14 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.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).




List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.




Read verse seven again and explain it in your own words.



Wednesday:

In verses 8-10, Christ is compared to a conquering hero whose victory march fills the whole universe, from the highest heaven to the lowest earth! He then generously gives out gifts to His loyal followers. What is the nature and purpose of these gifts? See verses 11-13 for help.

List all of the gifts that you find in verse 11. What spiritual gifts do you believe that God has given you?

While Ephesians 4:1-6 sets forth the unity we have as believers, Ephesians 4:7-11 describes our uniqueness through the individual gifts we have received by the Spirit of God. According to verses 12 and 13, what is the purpose and goal of these gifts? In other words, why did God give them to the church?



Friday:

How does spiritual immaturity differ from spiritual maturity? See verses 14-16 for help?

What winds and waves are blowing and tossing the church today?

In verse 16, Paul says that the body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” What steps do you need to take in order to work toward this goal?

CHEW ON THIS: (This one is long, but keep reading!)

These verses speak of that which Christians individually possess uniquely, which is another contributing factor to Christian unity. So, maybe you are wondering, "How can diversity contribute to unity?" God has purposed unity for His body, the church. We share in common all of the things mentioned in verses 4-6. Nevertheless, we also are distinct in that God has given each one of us different spiritual gifts and different spheres of service. But when each believer finds his place of service and plays out his or her part, the whole body grows and fulfills its mission and ministry (4:16).

There are other texts which also teach us about spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Our text in Ephesians 4 has some unique areas of emphasis. Let me identity these for your consideration...

The emphasis in our text is on the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the giver of these gifts. Spiritual gifts are gifts “of the Spirit,” but they are also gifts “from Christ.” It is as a result of our Lord’s victory, climaxing in His ascension (see 1:20-21), that spiritual gifts are bestowed upon believers. The gifts which are named are a small and distinct group. This list of spiritual gifts is very different from any other list. These gifts are those which are necessary and essential for all other gifts and ministries. The apostles and prophets have laid the foundation for the church and ministry and evangelists proclaim the gospel defined by the apostles and prophets. They are the obstetricians of the faith. And pastor-teachers are the pediatricians. All Christian ministry is dependent upon the operation of these gifts. The first two gifts of apostles and prophets I would understand to have been fulfilled by the apostles and prophets of the Old and New Testament eras. The latter two gifts continue to function in the church today.

The emphasis is also not on knowing your gift, but on finding your place of service. From Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Peter 4:10-11, it seems impossible for one to be a good steward of the grace of God without knowing what his or her spiritual gift is. Having said this, many Christians are waiting to serve because they have not "discovered" their gift. This text in Ephesians chapter 4 provides us with a happy solution. In this text Paul does not urge the saints to "discover their gift," but rather to find their place of service in the body of Christ. Finding our place of service is not really that difficult, as I understand the Scriptures. We know that we are to minister to the orphans and the widows (James 1:27). We are to "contribute to the needs of the saints" and "practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13). We are to "admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, and help the weak" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). All we need to do is to look around us for those things which need to be done, which our Lord has commanded us to do. In so doing, we will discover not only our place of service, but those gifts which God has given us to enable us to serve.

The focus here is not on the individual, but on the contribution which the individual makes to the body of Christ. Spiritual gifts are not given to us for our benefit as much as they are given for the building up of the body of Christ. They are for the building up of the body of Christ, and for carrying out the ministry of the church as the body of Christ. Christ indwells the church corporately (2:21-22) and the church corporately ministers on Christ’s behalf. The church is the visible manifestation of Christ on the earth. Christ not only dwells in it, it visibly manifests Christ to the world. So often, when the saints go to church, the go to be ministered to, not to minister. They go in order to be blessed, not in order to be a blessing. They leave, not asking whether Christ was exalted and whether others were edified, but whether or not they were blessed. Our text tells us that we are given gifts so that we may contribute something to the body of Christ, so that we may fulfill our mission to the church and become more like Christ.

In this plan, there is no room for self-serving religious people who sit and do nothing. The goal is that due to the active involvement and ministry of every member, the church will grow up to maturity. It will be marked by doctrinal purity and stability where people will stand firm for the truth of God's Word. It will discern those who hold to a different doctrine and refuse to be turned away from the truth. The mature church will be growing in Christ-likeness, never arriving at it in this life and never being content with how far it has grown. The mature church is committed to the truth of God’s revealed Word and ever seeking to be more closely conformed to Christ, its Head. The mature church, Paul says, is "growing up into Him who is the head" (verse 15). On the face of it, this statement seems difficult to understand. How can the body grow up into its head? We are not growing up into the Head, we are growing up to be more and more like the Head, Jesus Christ. Let me try to illustrate what I think Paul means. Christ is the "Head" of the body in several ways. He is also the one who provides for the needs of the body, and He also guides and directs the body. He is the One who is to be preeminent in the church, to receive the glory and honor. He is also the one who created the church, who brought it into existence by His incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection.

In conclusion, the Christian's conduct is to be based upon and consistent with his calling in Christ. He has been called to become an active, functioning member of the body of Christ. He has been called to obedience. The church is the dwelling place of God in the Spirit, and the instrument by which God demonstrates the glory of His wisdom, power, and grace. As we obey Him and manifest His likeness, we fulfill our calling. Christian unity is not an option, it is a command! It is both that which we possess and must preserve, and that for which we continue to strive. It is rooted in the origin and the life of the church. It is to be preserved by those who possess a servant’s spirit, and who respond to the grace of God by being gracious to their brothers and sisters in Christ who, like them, are not yet perfected.

Are you an active and vital part of a local church? The Bible never conceives of anyone coming to faith in Christ apart from becoming associated with a local church and then finding your place of service to the body of Christ. Every true believer and follower of Christ should be associated and involved in a local church and should actively pursue a place of service. May God help us to build up the body of Christ and serve one another!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen

Ephesians 4:1-6

While Ephesians 1-3 gives us a solid foundation of doctrinal truth, Ephesians 4-6 shows how we can practically apply this truth to our lives and give glory to God in the church. In these verses, we will discover the life of unity and peace that is demanded of all believers!


Before you start your time with God today, take a moment to pray to your God. After you pray, take time to read through the passage slowly, taking notes on what God is teaching you through His Word, and answer the questions.


As you read this week's passage, look for these words or phrases: walk, calling, humility, diligent, peace, one.

Passage for the week: Ephesians 4:1-6 (NASB)

1 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.

DIGGING DEEPER

Monday:

List all of the characteristics of God that you find in this passage (what God is like, His attributes).





List all of the promises of God that you can find in this passage.





“To have unity we all must be the same.” Explain why you agree or disagree with this statement.



Wednesday:

Paul is so concerned for us as Christians that he pleads with us to live a life that is worthy of our calling. What have we been called to? See Ephesians 1-3 for some clues.



According to verses 1-3, what are the characteristics of a life that is worthy of our calling? Explain each characteristic in your own words.

Why are these virtues so important for maintaining unity?




Which of the qualities that Paul mentions will help you cultivate unity with others in your life? Which of these do you need to work on by God’s grace? Write them down and note the reason that is stopping you from living out each characteristic.

Friday:

How many times in these six verses does Paul use the word “one?” Do you think that is significant to the unity that should exist in the church? Explain.


We are commanded in this passage to keep the unity of the Spirit. What does this mean?


Paul also tells us that we have one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. How do these truths contribute to actually living out true unity in our church?


CHEW ON THIS:

Here Paul speaks of our calling as one to live together in a way that displays the unity God has intended for His church. This passage thus sets the tone for the remainder of the letter, and provides the link with what has gone before. That link is made not only in the summarizing theme of unity in these verses but specifically in the ‘therefore’ grounds the appeal in the earlier teaching. The passage consists of two parts: the appeal to unity (verses 1–3) and a seven-fold confession emphasizing it (verses 4–6).

By introducing himself here, again, as a prisoner for the Lord, Paul points to the level of commitment he expects of himself and of others. His readers will not have failed to note that he was a prisoner precisely because of his zeal for the sort of unity he now requests of them. But first his appeal is the more general one to live in a way that is worthy of God’s calling (see 1 Thess. 2:12; Rom. 12:1; Col. 1:10). It is a call to the mutual humility, gentleness and patient, forgiving love that exemplifies reconciliation, and then clarifies this as the appeal to a life that promotes unity. This is a call for men and women to keep and hold the line on the unity God has already begun in Christ and into which we are brought by the Spirit who brings us Christ and his benefits (verse 3). The Spirit brings us the peace of God-given harmony as a uniting bond. However, this bond can be put in harm’s way when there is arrogance, deceit, pride, and selfish ambition.

In verses 4–6, Paul reminds us of how important this call to unity is with a sevenfold repetition of the word “one.” We are first given the first three components: One body, one spirit, and one hope. These “ones” point to the universal body of Christ (in other words, there are more people outside of our city that belong to Christ!), the invisible Spirit who gives our church body harmony and peace in Christ, and the hope of our calling in Christ. The second group of three (verse 5) unpack this calling we have in Christ. We have faith in Jesus as one Lord, whom we are identified with in one baptism. For a Jew in this culture to confess Jesus as the one Lord was equal to confessing Him as one with the Father.

In this passage do you see the “oneness” of your relationship with God and your unity with fellow believers? What are you doing to contribute to this kind of unity? Let’s be people who are solely committed to God and one another!

For His Name,

Pastor Stephen