Ephesians 4 Wednesday Study | Staci Kennedy

Ephesians 4:17-5:21

Ephesians 4

17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Bible Study 101:

Step 1: Pray 

Step 2: Read

Step 3: Wide View

Step 4: Zoom In

Step 5: Sum it up

Step 6: Respond

Step 1: Pray 

Ask Holy Spirit to speak to you 

Open the eyes of your understanding

Guide you into all Truth

Step 2: Read

Slowly to understand.

Not to finish a passage.

Until the Lord brings something forward

Step 3: Wide View

Context

When was written? To Whom? By Whom?

What was the culture and climate at the time?

Why was it written?

Read the entire chapter or book.

Step 4: Zoom In

Focus in on key phrases and words

Dig into what those words meant in the original language. 

Read other places in the Word that particular phrase or word is used in the same way.

Read other commentary or devotionals that are available on the subject or verse.

Step 5: Sum it up

Gather all this information together and ask- bottom line: What do I need to understand or learn from this?

Bible Study 101:

Step 6: Respond

Partner with Holy Spirit to respond. 

Repent where needed.

Ask for help walking it out.

Give thanks for revelation and truth.

GO DO IT!

Ephesians is: 

• Written by Paul

• To the Church in Ephesus

• In the midst of a culture that added all ‘gods’ and religions to whatever they wanted to do.

• So that the believers would know how they should be living out their salvation in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians = a How To book for the Believer. 

Chapters 1-3 focus on principles 

Chapters 4-6 focus on practicals

3 Repeating Metaphors for Before Christ and In Christ:

1- Old & New

2- Light & Darkness

3- Life & Death

For our time this week- we will focus on New Life instructions from Ephesians 4:17- 5:21

How To: as it pertains to living life and dealing with sin. 

Scavenger Hunt:

Ephesians 4:17-5:21 

Do’s and Don’ts. 

Not a list of do’s and don’ts

A Catalog of Fruit

Everything is growing something.

Chapter 5 Vs 1:

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

What you feed and water will grow. 

What you starve and dig up will die. 

Fruity or Funky