ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS, Ephesians 5, Saturday, August 2, 2025

   

Context for Chapter 5

Chapter 5 continues the very practical second half of the book of Ephesians. Chapter 4 encouraged Christians not to live as unbelievers do, but worthy of the gift we have been given. Chapter 5 gives even more direct application of these principles. Paul details impure attitudes and habits which Christians ought to put aside. He then details the proper approach to marriage, rooted in a Christian understanding of the gospel. This advice will continue into chapter 6. Paul's advice will culminate in a famous analogy about applying Christian principles to all of life, using the symbolism of a suit of armor. 

A Source: https://www.bibleref.com/Ephesians/5/Ephesians-chapter-5.html)

Living in the Light, Verses 1-14, Small Group Discussion 

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us^[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. ³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. ⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. ⁶ Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do. ⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. ¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

SECTION QUESTIONS :

1.Verse 1 says, “Be imitators of God…” Who do you think people typically imitate?  

2.  Point of Reflection: Verse 2 says, “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. What are ways you feel like you are carrying out this command in your life day by day?

3. What are some key themes and points made in this section of scripture? 

 

Living by the Spirit's Power, Verses 15-20, Small Group Discussion

¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. ¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. ¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, ¹⁹ singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. ²⁰ And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

4. According to Paul, what does it mean to be wise?  

5. Cross Reference: James 4:14, “How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it is here a little while, then it’s gone.”

6. What would you say is a key theme for this section of scripture? 

 Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands, Verses 21-33, Small Group Discussion

²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. ²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. ²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.^[b] 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. ²⁸ In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. ²⁹ No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church. ³⁰ And we are members of his body. ³¹ As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”^[c] 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. ³³ So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

SECTION QUESTIONS:

7. Verse 22 says that wives should submit to their husbands as to the Lord. What are your thoughts?

8. While single, who is a Christian woman subject to? (1Peter 5:5)

9. What can single women be doing to prepare for submitting to their husbands?

10.Cross Referecne - Verse 25 says, "Husbands love your wives just as Christ loves the church." 1 Peter 3:7; Colossians 3:19 

11. Paul sets a very high bar and points to Jesus as the example for husbands. So, how did Christ love the church?  

12. Cross Reference – Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

13. I want to look at verses Ephesians 5: 25-27

 1.      Idol – (1) An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship (2) a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.

(1  There are still cultures in the world that practice idol worship. For example, Hindus and Buddhists practice idol worship openly as a central element of their faith. In these religions, idols or statues serve as symbolic representations or embodiments of the divine. So, they pray to these things and perform rituals before them. For example, in Hinduism, the ultimate reality, Brahman, is believed to be present in all creation, and idols are seen as a way to connect with and understand the divine in a tangible form. Similarly, Buddhists may use statues of Buddha and other enlightened beings a objects of meditation and reverence.

(2   Today, a lot of people have heroes they look up to and want to be just like. They want to look like them, talk like them, act like them. The problem with this is that the people they want to emulate are most often morally and spiritually corrupt. 

Confessions for Ephesians, Chapter 5

^"6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do. ⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!" (Ephesians 5:6-8)

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Dear Lord, how I long to reflect the light of Your love as I journey through this dark world. Thank You for bringing me into the wonderful light of Your saving grace. Please help me to walk in spirit and truth so that I may be used as a channel through whom Your love, grace, healing, and forgiveness may flow to others. In the name of Jesus I pray, AMEN.

¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Ephesians 5:13-14)

Today, in the name of Jesus, I declare and decree that I walk in newness of life, and live in the light of Christ's lovely presence. I pray that I press on for the high calling I have in Christ Jesus and produce the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth. Holy Spirit, empower me to honor Your holy name by the life I live and the attitude of my heart. Thank You for the many privileges I enjoy as Your child and because of your strength in me I will fulfil the responsibilities I have to live according to Your Word and to walk in the light as Jesus is that light in me. All things in the name of Jesus, we pray, AMEN.

²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. ²² For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³ For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. ²⁴ As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. ²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. (Ephesians 5:21-26)

Heavenly Father, thank You for our homes and families and for the wonderful way that You have designed the different roles of husbands and wives which bring glory to Your name when applied in our home situation. I lift up all Christian marriages today and pray that in Your grace, many wives may see the beauty there is in godly submission to their husbands. And in-turn, I pray that men may reflect the great love for their wives that Christ has for the Church, Who out of love for us, gave Himself for us

Thank You, Father, that I am positioned in Christ and being conformed, day by day, into the likeness of the Lord Jesus, through the power of Your Holy Spirit. I pray that You would work deeply in my life, and that I may be practically sanctified, daily cleansed, and purified with the washing of the water of the Word of God so that I may stand before You without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Ephesians/5