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Ephesians 4:17-5:2

 

[Grace and Peace] EPHESIANS_

 

[Activity] Spend some time exploring the logical flow of Ephesians 4:17-5:2…

 

[Read Ephesians 4:17-24]

 

In verses 17-18, how does Paul describe the pagan mind and heart?

 

 

What behaviour resulted from that thinking (verse 19)?

 

 

How is this kind of thinking similar (or different) to our culture today?

 

 

In verses 20-24, in contrast, what teaching did the believers receive?

 

 

How can we be “renewed in the spirit of our mind” (verse 23)?

 

 

[Read Ephesians 4:25-5:2]

 

What are the sins that Paul says we are to ‘put off’?

 

 

What new behaviours are we to ‘put on’ instead?
What reasons does Paul give for each of these?

 

 

How wide-spread and evident are these “new behaviours” in our culture today?
Why do you think that is?

 

 

In verse 30, what’s the main reason to change our thinking in order to change our behaviour?

 

 

The word Paul uses for “God’s mark” could refer to the “seal” or the official stamp on a letter or parcel… marking it out for a particular use or occasion.
The mark indicates who it belongs to and what it is for.

 

 

Which of these old ways of thinking and behaving do you need to ‘put off’?

 

 

In Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul says that we should imitate God.
How do we do that?

 

 

[Activity] Take some time to look again at the list of “new behaviours” at the end of chapter 4… but this time, read them as a description of how God acts towards us.
How does that make you think and feel differently about the whole passage?

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