ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, Ephesians 4, Saturday, July 19, 2025

  

A Quick Re-Cap: 

The first three chapters of the book of Ephesians lay a foundational understanding of the Christian faith, focusing on God's eternal plan, the spiritual blessings believers receive in Christ, and the resulting unity within the church. 

Chapter 1 establishes Paul’s view on the value of our salvation in Christ, and the blessings we obtain from it. He does this in the form of praise, directed at God, and describing in detail what it means to have an inheritance in heaven. Paul praises God for the blessings believers receive in Christ, including being chosen, predestined, redeemed, and forgiven. He emphasizes that these blessings are rooted in God's eternal plan and are received through faith in Jesus.

Chapter 2 makes a couple of related points about our status as saved believers. First, salvation is entirely dependent on the grace of God, not human efforts, but as a gift of God through faith. Second, this means all Christians are part of the same family, Jew and Gentile alike. The barrier between them was broken down through Christ's sacrifice. Gentiles are now included as fellow citizens in God's household, built on the apostles and prophets with Christ as the cornerstone. This chapter contrasts humanity's former state of spiritual death with God's mercy and love.

In Chapter 3, Paul focuses on the “mystery” of God’s plan to unite Jews and Gentiles on one body, the Church, through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul, as a prisoner for the gospel, emphasizes his role in revealing this mystery to the Gentiles and prays for the Ephesians’ spiritual growth and understanding of God’s love. Chapter 3 begins the transition from a Christian understanding of salvation, grace, and the power of Christ into a practical guide for Chirstian living. To make the transition, in this chapter, Paul refers to his own calling by God and prays for the spiritual strength of the Ephesian church. The Mystery Revealed and Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles Paul discusses his role in revealing the mystery of the inclusion of Gentiles as co-heirs and members of the same body in Christ. He describes his ministry to the Gentiles despite suffering, highlighting that God's wisdom is revealed through the church.

(Most of what I have shared from this recap of chapters 1-3 was taken from our earlier blogs which are linked in each of our Clubhouse sessions. So, you can take a look at our blog and/or listen to our past conversations in the Clubhouse app. If there is ever anything particular conversation you want to listen to for whatever reasons, just let me know and I can pull the link to that discussion and send it to you. You don’t have to have the app to share these conversations either. You can share them with anyone.) 

Context for Chapter 4

The first half of Ephesians focuses mostly on doctrine, setting up ideas related to the Christian faith. The last half, beginning in chapter 4, puts those theories into practice. Paul begins by emphasizing the ultimate unity of all Christians, regardless of individual spiritual gifts. Paul also begins to explain how knowledge of the truths should translate into action. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 feature specific, real-world applications of Christianity to daily life. A Source: https://www.bibleref.com/Ephesians/4/Ephesians-chapter-4.html)

Unity of the Spirit, Part 1, Verses 1-8, TEANNIE

1 Therefore, I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. ⁷ However, he has given each one of us a special gift^[a] through the generosity of Christ. ⁸ That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”^[

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. The word “therefore” seems to be strategically placed here at the beginning of this chapter. What do you think it indicates?

2. What is a key application we can already walk away from this lesson with? 

Unity of the Spirit, Part 2, Verses 9-16, KITTY

⁹ Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.^[c] 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. ¹¹ Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. ¹² Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. ¹³ This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. ¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. ¹⁶ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

 The Christian's Walk, Part 1, Verses 17-24, DESTINY

¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

SECTION QUESTIONS: 

3. Let’s talk about Gentiles. Why is it so hard for some people to believe in God?

4. Cross Reference: JRomans 1:20-22

5. There is clear distinction between “the old man” and “the new man” in this body of scriptures. Which scriptures speak to the old man and which ones characterizes the new man?

6. Cross Reference - 1Corinthians 10:13

 The Christian's Walk, Part 2, Verses 25-32, PAT

²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”^[d] Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil. ²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. ³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,^[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

SECTION QUESTIONS (To Be Added) 

 A Personal Share: Verse 14 was the scripture that really helped me in a time when a dear friend of mine (at the time) tried really hard to persuade me to leave Christianity and join their community. That’s what they call it, a community. When the Lord opened my eyes, I saw it for what it really is. It’s a cult. It’s witchcraft. In this scripture, at the time, I felt like God was saying, learn of me. Stay with what you believe. Learn of me so that you can’t be lead astray by the elaborate lies they are telling you. I turned my back on that and I lost that level of emotional connection with my friends (or so I thought they were my friends, at the time.) What I discovered was anyone who tries to pull you away from Jesus Christ is not a friend. They are actually being influenced by satan. Not anyone or anything of satan, can attach itself to me because of my maturity in the knowledge of Christ. So, I thank God that Paul included verse 14 in this chapter. It helped me many years ago.

Confessions for Ephesians, Chapter 4

 ^"1 Therefore, I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace."  (Ephesians 4:1-3)

"Father God, we confess that we have not always lived up to the high calling you have placed on our lives. We have not always walked in humility, gentleness, and patience with one another. We have not always eagerly maintained the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Forgive us for the times we have been prideful, harsh, impatient, and unloving in our relationships with others. Forgive us for the times we have failed to see each other as temples of your Holy Spirit and have instead focused on what divides us. 

We ask for your forgiveness and cleansing, Lord, and for the grace to walk in a manner worthy of your calling. Help us to live with humility and gentleness, with patience and love, making allowances for each other's faults. Help us to be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, binding ourselves together with love and understanding. 

We pray for your guidance and strength to overcome the divisions and conflicts that often arise in our relationships. Help us to see each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, united in one body and one Spirit. May your love and peace reign in our hearts and in our church, so that we may be a testimony to the world of your grace and unity. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen." 

Source: 

Father, we thank you for the calling you have placed on the lives of each of us. Empower us to walk in a way that is worthy of that calling. Continue to teach us how to walk in humility and gentleness, with patience and love, as we seek to build each other up as opposed to harming and tearing one another down to show the world what your love truly looks like. We pray that your Holy Spirit will continue to refine us and work in us to become more like Jesus Christ. We sincerely thank you for the gift of your body, the church, and for the diverse gifts you have given to each member. Help us to use our gifts to encourage, strengthen, and build up one another in love. May our words and actions always be filled with grace, and may we strive to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.