Bible ReadingEphesians 4:11-1611 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,”
[37:01]12 “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”
[45:30]13 “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”
[48:36]14 “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”
15 “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”
16 “from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
[53:15]Ephesians 4:17-2417 “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.”
[55:32]18 “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”
19 “They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.”
20 “But that is not the way you learned Christ!”
21 “—assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,”
22 “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,”
23 “and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,”
24 “and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
[01:03:02]Titus 2:2-62 “Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.”
3 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,”
4 “and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,”
5 “to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”
6 “Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.”
[47:18]Romans 2:44 “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
[01:00:37]Observation questions- In Ephesians 4:11-16, what are leaders given to do, what are the saints equipped to do, and what is the intended result for the whole body?
- What pictures does Paul use to describe spiritual immaturity and spiritual growth in Ephesians 4:14-16?
- According to Ephesians 4:17-24, what marks the old self, and what marks the new self? [56:46]
- In Titus 2:2-6, what kind of teaching takes place between older and younger believers? What ordinary areas of life are included? [47:18]
Interpretation questions- Why does Paul connect spiritual maturity not merely with knowing more, but with “speaking the truth in love” and every part of the body working properly? [53:41]
- What might it mean for a believer to be a “teacher” or spiritual mentor even without holding a formal church office? What qualities would make someone safe and helpful in that role? [47:53]
- Ephesians 4 says believers must put off the old self and put on the new self. Why is this more than simply trying harder or managing outward behavior? [01:03:37]
- Romans 2:4 says that God’s kindness leads to repentance. How does beginning with God’s mercy change the way a believer faces sin, confession, and change? [01:00:15]
Application questions- Is there a hidden place of life—disappointment, conflict, temptation, suffering, family strain, or fear—where your public confession of faith is difficult to match with private faithfulness? What would trusting God’s promises look like there this week? [43:07]
- Who has helped you follow Christ by letting you see their real life, not just by giving you information? What did their honesty, faith, or perseverance show you about Jesus? [44:24]
- In what ways are you tempted to treat church like riding on a bus, expecting others to do the work of ministry while you remain mostly passive? What is one relational way you could help build up someone else? [45:52]
- Is there someone with whom you could begin a more intentional relationship of encouragement, prayer, Scripture, and honest conversation? What might be a simple first step toward that relationship? [54:29]
- When someone brings Scripture to bear on your life, do you tend to become defensive, withdraw, or receive it as loving help? What would humble accountability look like in one current area of your life? [58:38]
- What old pattern or deceitful desire do you need to put off right now? As you turn toward God’s kindness, what specific new-self response could you put on instead? [01:00:17]
- How would the people who know you best describe your relationship with Jesus? Is there a gap between the faith you profess and the way you act at home, at work, or in close relationships? [01:06:26]
