Ephesians 5: Behavior that Pleases God
How might dealing with an abusive father on Earth make it difficult to appreciate our heavenly Father?
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Ephesians 5:1 As children of God, imitate your Father.
King James
Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
What qualities exist with God which we will not find in earthly fathers?
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Ephesians 5:1 As children of God, imitate your Father.
King James
Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
What makes it impossible to love our enemies? How is such love made possible?
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Ephesians 5:2 Love even those who hate you, following Jesus’ example, for he loved so much that he sacrificed his own life, greatly pleasing God.
King James
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
How are believers affected by allowing sin within their fellowship?
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Matthew 16:6–12 “Watch out,” Jesus said. “Be careful to avoid the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
They reasoned among themselves what Jesus meant. “He must have said this because we failed to bring any bread.”
Jesus knew what they were saying. “How little trust you have in me. Why do you think it’s a problem that we have no bread? Do you not yet understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves that fed five thousand and how many baskets of leftovers you had? Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand and how many baskets were left? You should know that I was not talking about bread. I am telling you to watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Then they understood that he was not talking about bread, but the danger of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
1 Corinthians 5:6–7 Your boasting is not good at all. Don’t you know that just a pinch of yeast will leaven the entire batch of dough? Get rid of the corrupting leaven and be a new lump, free from contamination, for Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb, has made this possible through his sacrifice.
Ephesians 5:3 Allow no sexual immorality, lust, or greed in your fellowship, for such behavior should never exist among God’s people.
King James
Matthew 16:6–12 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
1 Corinthians 5:6–7 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
What are some of the ways we can honor God in our speech?
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Ephesians 5:4 Avoid obscene stories, dirty jokes, and gossip, but honor God in all you say.
King James
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
After confessing belief in Christ, why should we be concerned about our actions?
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Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who calls me master will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but only those who do the will of my heavenly Father.”
Ephesians 5:5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person who values anything above a relationship with God will have no part in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.
King James
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
How can we feel the heat of sin and not be burned?
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Ephesians 5:6–7 Don’t be fooled by those who say sin is no big deal, because the disobedient will not escape God’s anger. Therefore, don’t be hanging out with them.
King James
Ephesians 5:6–7 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
If we have the light of the Lord, why would an exhortation be needed to walk in that light?
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Ephesians 5:8 You once lived in darkness, but now you have the light of the Lord, so walk as God’s children in the light.
King James
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
If the Holy Spirit within us produces only what is good and pleasing to the Lord, who or what is responsible for our doing wrong and displeasing the Lord?
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Ephesians 5:9–10 For the Holy Spirit working within you produces only what is good, right, and true, leading you to do what is pleasing to the Lord.
King James
Ephesians 5:9–10 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
When dealing with evildoers, how should we behave?
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Matthew 5:14 “You are here to give light to the whole world. A city built on a hilltop cannot be hidden.”
Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with those who live in darkness and do evil, but shine the light on them.
King James
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Why might there be a problem with talking about wrongdoing?
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Ephesians 5:12 It’s shameful to even talk about what these people do in secret.
King James
Ephesians 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
What is the result of Christ shining upon us?
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Ephesians 5:13–14 But everything is exposed for what it is when the light shines upon it. That’s why it is said, “Wake up, you who sleep. Rise up from your deathbed, and Christ will shine upon you.”
King James
Ephesians 5:13–14 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
What makes taking wise steps so important?
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Ephesians 5:15–16 Therefore, watch where you walk, taking wise steps, not foolish ones, making the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
King James
Ephesians 5:15–16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
In what areas to we make assumptions and act without thinking?
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Ephesians 5:17 Don’t act without thinking, but seek to understand what the Lord wants you to do.
King James
Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
When is it ever good to lose control?
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Proverbs 16:32 Constraining your anger makes you stronger than a bodybuilder, and controlling how you feel is a greater victory than conquering a city.
Ephesians 5:18 Don’t become intoxicated and lose control, but surrender control to the Holy Spirit,
King James
Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
How would you define the essential elements of “spiritual songs”?
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Psalm 100:1–4 Let everyone cry unto the Lord with joy. Be thankful for the opportunity to do the Lord’s will. Enter his presence with a song on your heart.
Remember that the Lord is our Creator. We did not create ourselves. We belong to him, like sheep in his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. Be thankful for his gifts, and praise him for his loving nature.
Remember that the Lord is our Creator. We did not create ourselves. We belong to him, like sheep in his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courts with praise. Be thankful for his gifts, and praise him for his loving nature.
Ephesians 5:18–19 Don’t become intoxicated and lose control, but surrender control to the Holy Spirit, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, your hearts making melodies of praise to the Lord.
King James
Psalm 100:1–4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Ephesians 5:18–19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
In the midst of tragedy, what reasons should we have to give thanks?
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Ephesians 5:20 No matter what the situation is, always give thanks to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
King James
Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
How does considering the needs of others honor God?
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Ephesians 5:21 Honor God by considering the needs of others above your own.
King James
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Why might submission to a spouse be difficult?
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Ephesians 5:22 In submitting to the Lord, you wives should put your husbands first,
King James
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
What kind of distinction should be made between calling Jesus “Lord” and calling a husband “Lord”?
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Ephesians 5:23–24 for the husband is head of the household and responsible for his wife, just as Christ is the head of the church and savior of his family. Just as believers surrender to Christ, wives should respect their husbands.
King James
Ephesians 5:23–24 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Should there be any conditions or limits to how far a husband should go in giving to his wife’s needs?
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Ephesians 5:25–28 Like Christ loved his family enough to die for us, you husbands should love your wives. As Christ made his family special, bathing us with kind, supportive words, so he would have a glorious community without wrinkles or blemishes. Likewise, husbands should love their wives as much as their own bodies, for a man who loves his wife is showing love for himself.
King James
Ephesians 5:25–28 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
How can loving a spouse or family member more beneficial than loving someone outside the family?
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Ephesians 5:29–30 Since men don’t hate themselves, they should protect and nourish their spouses, just as Christ cares for those he loves, for we are members of his body, the same as if were part of his flesh, his bones.
King James
Ephesians 5:29–30 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
What motivates men to marry?
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Ephesians 5:31 As Scripture says, A man will leave his parents and become one with his wife. They shall be one flesh.
King James
Ephesians 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
In what way is a believer’s relationship with Christ similar to marriage?
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Ephesians 5:32–33 What I’m saying may be a mystery, difficult to understand, but such a relationship exists between Christ and his followers. So again I say, this principle applies to human relationships. A husband should love his wife more than himself, and the wife should seek to please her husband more than herself.
King James
Ephesians 5:32–33 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.