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)?