In discussing sins of speech within the Christian community, what exhortation does Paul share about the presence of the Holy Spirit with believers? Ephesians 4:30. Paul simultaneously offers a daunting warning and a heartwarming promise. Our sins against one another in the church are not minor misdeeds with little consequence: what grieves the Holy Spirit is our … Continue reading –>
Which of Paul’s words of counsel with regard to the use of speech among believers is the most important to you just now? Why? (Ephesians 4:25-29). Paul repeatedly uses an interesting structure in Ephesians 4:25-32, which is illustrated by Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV): a negative command (“putting away lying”); a positive command next (“let each one of you speak truth … Continue reading –>
In retelling the story of the conversion of his audience, what essential main point is Paul getting across to them? (Ephesians 4:20-24). Having described their former, Gentile existence (Ephesians 4:17-19), Paul does not say, “That is not the way you learned about Christ.” Instead, he exclaims, “That is not the way you learned Christ!” (Ephesians 4:20, ESV). Noting that … Continue reading –>
Compare Ephesians 4:17-32 with Colossians 3:1-17. How does Paul advocate for believers to live in a way that encourages the unity of the church? In the prior section, Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul’s theme was the unity of the church. When we compare Ephesians 4:1 and Ephesians 4:17, we note how similar these two exhortations are about how to walk or to live. This resemblance suggests … Continue reading –>
Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:1-17; Zechariah 3:3-5; Zechariah 8:16; Isaiah 63:10; Romans 8:16, Romans 8:26-27. Memory Text: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new … Continue reading –>
A Genuine Sacrifice? Part 4 By Andrew McChesney About a year passed. Almira prayed and read the Bible every night to keep the evil spirit at bay. She attended church every Sabbath, enduring painful criticism and even threats from parents, relatives, and neighbors. But the rest of her life remained unchanged. She went to school … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: Two notes help to expand our study of Ephesians 4:7-10: 1. Translating Ephesians 4:9. Some translations indicate that the descent occurs before the ascent (e.g., NKJV, “He also first descended”; KJV, RSV, ESV, NASB). Other translations follow the Greek text more closely, leaving the issue of the timing of the ascent and descent open (e.g., NIV, “What does ‘he … Continue reading –>
What danger threatens the Christlike maturity of the church? Ephesians 4:14. Paul perceives an environment not unlike our own in which various ideas, such as “every wind of doctrine” and “deceitful schemes” (ESV), are thrust upon believers. He uses three sets of images to describe the dangers of wayward theology: (1) the immaturity of childhood, “so that … Continue reading –>
Drawing on Psalm 68:18, Paul has just described the risen, exalted, conquering Jesus as giving gifts to His people from on high. What “gifts” does the exalted Jesus give, and for what purpose? Ephesians 4:11-13. Paul identifies four groups of “gifted” people as part of the treasure trove of the exalted Jesus that He gives to His church: … Continue reading –>
“However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say, ‘When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.’” “Notice that it says ‘he ascended.’ This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly … Continue reading –>
