Eph 4:11 to 5:33

Week 11

Key thoughts

Day

Meditation

Verse

Sun

	What are the four main areas of ministry listed in this passage?
	How are we prospering these ministries in our fellowship?

4:11

Mon

Why are these ministries given?

4:12-13
1:11

Tue

Can we think of examples of these follies?

4:14

Wed

What is the basis of growing up into Christ?

Here we find the Church defined

4:15

Thu

Where do you fit into place as a part of God’s ways in our local body?

4:11-16

References

1 Cor 12-14

Application

Record any thoughts or experiences that relate to this teaching...

Week 12

Ephesians 4:17-32
Putting on the New Self

Key thoughts

Day Meditation Verse

Sun

What is the driving forces in the lives of the unsaved?

Where does Paul see the root cause of this ungodly living?

4:17-19
4:18

Mon

Contrast the old and the new self

Here is really practical advice about anger

4:22-24
4:26

Tue

How can we give the "devil a foothold"

How have we related to "putting off the old self" and "putting on the new self" in our daily living?

4:27
4:22-24

Wed

Paul illustrates his teaching with these practical examples

What would grieve the Holy Spirit in our lives?

4:30-32
4:30-32

Thu

Are there any catch points here that speak to us?

Make two lists from this passage - the negative "putting off" items; and the positive "putting on" items... then we can re-hang our wardrobe!

4:25-32

References

Application

Record any thoughts or experiences that relate to this teaching...

Week 13

Ephesians 5:1-14
Imitators of God

Key thoughts

Day

Meditation

Verse

Sun

What are we to imitate?

5:1-2

Mon

Walk in Love

5:2

Tue

	Paul’s second list of negatives - things we must choose to avoid
	Here is a checklist for self evaluation...

5:3-7

Wed

Walk in Light

5:8

Thu

	What are the key aspects of "living in the light"?
	What impact will Jesus have through us as we live in the light?

5:8-11

5:13-14

Walk in Love 5:1
Walk in Light 5:8
Walk in Wisdom 5:15

References

Psalm 68:18, Rev 1:18, Col 3:1, 1 Peter 3:18 & 4:6

Application

Record any thoughts or experiences that relate to this teaching...

Week 14

Ephesians 5:15-20
Being Filled with the Spirit

Key thoughts

Day Meditation Verse

Sun

Walk with wisdom

5:15

Mon

What are some of the aspects of wisdom mentioned here?

5:18

Tue

Being filled with the Spirit is a continuing experience

5:18

Wed

"Make music in your heart" to the Lord - being in the Spirit...

5:19

Thu

Giving thanks to God in all things - being in the Spirit...

Praying in the name of Jesus

5:20

References

1 Thes 5:18-19, Matt 3:11, Luke 11:9-13
Acts 9:17, 11:15, 13:9, 19:2, 19:6

Application

5:23 ~ Be filled with the Spirit
Greek: present continuous tense implies...
Be being filled with the Spirit, or
"Ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit" (Amplified Bible)

Record any thoughts or experiences that relate to this teaching...

Week 15

Ephesians 5:21-33
Loving our Wives

Key thoughts

Day Meditation Verse

Sun

Men and women are of equal value in the context of our reverence of Christ

5:21

Mon

Being baptised into Christ is baptism into unity and equality

But in our roles there is a "Captain of the ship" designated by God in the family

5:21
5:22

Tue

The question is, how are the these roles to be managed...

Here Paul gives God’s perfect way ~ the high calling of God...

5:23

Wed

The fellows are to love their wives to the same degree and to the same extent as Christ loved the Church - laying down his life for her

5:25-32

Thu

On the basis of this love a wife is to respect the role and task given to her husband by God... in the context of this Godly love, there is joy and security...

In the world this is an issue of power...

in Christ this is an issue of love!

5:33
5:1

References

Gal 3:28, Col 3:18-19, 1 Peter 3:1-7

Application

Godly submission is to honour and respect the authority invested by God in Christ... in God, in our Government (Rom 13:1), in our Pastor and spiritual leaders (1 Thes 5:12), and in the husband.

This is not about power... but about working together in love and with Godly order. Power plays and domination are Satanic perversions of God’s intentions.

Here Paul is wanting us to be immersed in God’s ways for our families... to live and love together under the headship of Christ - with different roles being recognised and respected between husbands and wives.

Record any thoughts or experiences that relate to this teaching...