Something Old, Something New (1)

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June 21, 2009 - Ephesians 4:17-32

"It's easier said than done" is a cliché that certainly applies to Christian unity. Remnants of the "old self" (Ephesians 4:22) too often get in the way. Somehow we manage to say the wrong thing or act the wrong way. Paul's aim in this passage is to help make Christian unity a little more "done."

  1. Do Christians necessarily live better lives than non-Christians? Explain.

  2. Read Ephesians 4:17-32. Paul continues to flesh out what it means for his readers to live a life worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1). How does he contrast the life of the Gentile (unbeliever) with that of a true believer?

  3. Paul says the Gentiles are afflicted with a spiritual condition known as hardness of heart (Ephesians 4:18). Explain the meaning of his diagnosis.

  4. What are the effects of this condition (Ephesians 4:17-19)?

  1. How have you struggled with hardness of heart?

  2. What does it mean to put off the old self (Ephesians 4:22)?

  3. How do your attitudes affect the way you live (Ephesians 4:23)?

  4. In Ephesians 4:25-32 what does Paul tell us to put off, what does he say to put on and what reason does he give for doing these things? (If he doesn't explicitly state each of the three parts for a given topic, fill in what is implied.)

  5. How do these instructions show the importance of healthy communication in promoting unity?

  6. Which of the commands in Ephesians 4:25-32 do you have the most difficulty following? Explain.

  7. What practical steps could you take this week to improve your relationships with others in this area of difficulty?

  8. Which of the commands in Ephesians 4:25-32 have you seen God strengthen you to obey?

  9. Spend time praising God for his work in your life, and pray that he will give you grace in the areas needing improvement.

NOTES

Question 2. The passage essentially has two halves Questions 2-6 cover Ephesians 4:17-24.

Question 5. The command to put off our old self (our life before Christ) when we have already been made new in Christ is parallel to the command to maintain unity when we are already one (Ephesians 4:3-4). We are to visibly act on the spiritual reality of being new creatures in Christ by discarding our old ways of life.

Question 7. Don't get hung up on filling in the outline in detail or hassling exactly which piece goes where. The purpose of the question is to give people a handle on what could otherwise look like a string of disconnected instructions.

1. Andrew T. Le Peau and Phyllis J. Le Peau, LifeGuide Bible Studies - Ephesians: Wholeness for a Broken World, (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1985), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 60-61.

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