Written by Paul J Bucknell on March, 12, 2019

Five Examples of Christian Growth:  A Study on Ephesians 4:25-32

Five Examples of Christian Growth

A) Identify the Three Key Principles (4:22-24)

B) Examine the Five Examples (4:25-32)

²² That, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, ²³ and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph 4:22-24).

^4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, Speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and do not give the devil an opportunity. ²⁸ Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share with him who has need. ²⁹ Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (Eph 4:25-32 NASB)

Main Point of Ephesians 4:25-32

Paul is concerned with making us more like Christ, and so, he is not content only to share the three principles to be like Christ (22-24) but practically, in each area of our lives, to apply these three principles. “The new self which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (4:24). Fill in the five areas in the top chart row:

Summary

The three principles (4:22-24) help us to develop the unChristlike areas of our lives, though Paul will later mention other spiritual principles dealing with light (5:8-9). Verses 25-32 demonstrate that God does not want us to remain in the pit but instead provides sure and practical steps laying out a pathway that we can utilize to grow strong and Christ-filled lives, developing great confidence of God’s work in us. Remember, by faith (Eph 2:8-19) we are already children of God, but now we are getting dressed for the big wedding banquet through putting on the appropriate outfits (i.e., righteous lives 2:10).

Small Group “COMA”:

Context:
1. Chapters 1-3 deal with teachings about the church but starting in chapter 4, Paul elaborates on specific ways God’s people can become more holy.
2. Paul here in Ephesians 4:25-32 piggybacks on the three principles clearly defined in 22-24 by presenting fives areas of our lives that can be transformed by observing the above principles.

(2) Describe the right way to think

Go back to verses 4:21-24 and write down the three principles (one for each verse).
Finish filling in the bottom three rows of the chart (4:25-32).
1. (1) List the prohibition listed in each section.

(3) Write down the right way to behave.

Note each of the five examples has a full prescription on how to handle it.

What does it mean to “lay aside” (22)?
What does it mean to “renew your mind” (23)?
What is the difference between “falsehood” and “deceit”?
Give examples of “speaking truth” with another. How is this hard?
What are the implications behind the phrase “we are members of one another”? Why does Paul say this?
What conditions does Paul give on using anger in verses 26-27?
How can our anger give “the devil an opportunity” (27)?
Define labor and stealing and state the difference between them (28)?
What would be included in the description of “unwholesome words” (29)?
How does Paul define “a word as is good for edification” (29)?
Is it fair to say that you only can grieve a person? How is the Holy Spirit grieved by us sometimes (30)?
How do you respond when grieved? How might the Holy Spirit respond when grieved by His children?
Where else in Ephesians did Paul use this phrase “sealed”? State its relevance.
What does the “day of redemption” refer to? Again, what is its importance?
Define each of the six bad attitudes in verse 31 and describe how they differ.
How can Paul tell us be angry (26) but then tell us to “let all anger” be put away (31)?
Define each of the actions given in verse 32 that are now to shape our thinking, actions, and attitudes.
Describe three ways people say they forgive someone including the way Paul says to do it here in verse 32. Make sure you differentiate them.
Paul doesn’t allow us to conclude Christians are best described by not doing certain actions. How would Paul want us to describe the Christian?

Which of the five areas do you seek greater grace now? What do you need to put off and on?
What are one or two excuses you might use to excuse yourself from adopting the new life Paul describes here?
Give an incident where someone spoke grace to your life.
Do you find it hard to “give grace” to others? Explain.
Do you get angry? Explain your kinds of anger in light of what Paul says here.
When do you tend to get most “mean-spirited” in your life? Why so?
Who have you not forgiven? Why?
Which “renew your mind” set of instructions is most helpful to you? What practical steps will you take to renew your mind?
Go beyond these five areas and ask the Lord to make you more like Jesus! Start by thinking of any areas that you have grieved the Spirit.