Ephesians Week 10

Day 1 

READ 

Ephesians 4:24-25 

24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 

Believers are to put off characteristics of the old nature and put on the characteristics of the new nature. The new nature is “created to be like God.” To be “righteous” is related to doing right. Being “holy” is being separated to God. Lying should have no part in the believer’s life. A believer should be known for telling the truth. Believers are part of the same body of Christ so that leaves no room for lying and deceiving. 

REFLECT 

As you think about God being righteous and holy, is your life reflecting those qualities? 

RESPOND 

Read Colossians 3:1-11 to see similar truths to what Paul is writing in Ephesians. Talk to your disciple about the need to be reflecting the right kind of qualities in the way you live.  

Day 2 

READ 

Ephesians 4:26-27 

26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 

There are things at which believers should be angry. The warning here is not to let anger control them. They should also come to terms with it before nightfall. Out-of-control anger causes believers to lose the Holy Spirit’s control. When He is in control it is evident from the fruit that is expressed in the lives of believers—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). 

REFLECT 

Are you having difficulty with anger controlling you at times? Let God take control and produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life. 

RESPOND 

As someone has said, “We should love what God loves and hate what God hates.” To see what God hates, read Proverbs 6:16-19. Talk with your disciple about how you are both doing regarding these matters. 

Day 3 

READ 

Ephesians 4:28-29 

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 

Paul now gives specific acts that believers should do to give evidence of their new nature in Christ. Paul wants believers to earn a living by right-living so they can be generous in helping others. He is also concerned about their language. Unbelievers watch a person’s behavior and speech. Paul tells believers the right kind of speech to use—that which is good and encouraging to others. Their speech is to build up the body of Christ, not appear to tear it down. 

REFLECT 

How are you doing with your speech? Is it the kind you can use in church with other believers? 

RESPOND 

Read James 3:1-12 to learn what James wrote about controlling the tongue. With your disciple, emphasize the need to honor Christ with your life and language. 

Day 4 

READ 

Ephesians 4:30 

30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 

Some false teachers think the Holy Spirit is only an influence and not a person. One cannot grieve an influence, but Paul says the Holy Spirit can be grieved by the way believers live. That is a shame because the Holy Spirit indwells believers and seals them as God’s own. This guarantees their salvation. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, according to John 15:26, to testify about Him, not to draw attention to Himself. Believers can grieve the Holy Spirit by bad behavior and not focusing on the Lord Jesus as the Spirit wants them to do. 

REFLECT 

Thank the Lord that when you trusted Him as Savior, the Holy Spirit was given as a seal of your salvation. Live to honor Jesus and that will please the Holy Spirit. 

RESPOND 

Read Romans 8:9 to see if a person does not have the Holy Spirit that individual is not a believer. Then read John 14:16-17 to see what Jesus said about sending the Holy Spirit as an Advocate, or literally “one called alongside to help.” 

Day 5 

READ 

Ephesians 4:31-32 

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

Paul had earlier written about the believers putting off the characteristics of the old nature and putting on the ones for the new nature. Now he tells them what to get rid of—bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, slander, and all kinds of evil behavior. In contrast to these to get rid of, he wanted them to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. Notice what comparison Paul uses in telling believers how to forgive; “just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  

REFLECT 

Think of all that Christ has forgiven you. Does this make it easier for you to forgive others for their shortcomings?  

RESPOND 

As you complete considering Ephesians 4, talk with your disciple about what you have learned from this chapter. Also talk about how your lifestyle may be different because of what you have learned.