BIG POINT: always produces a
We cannot change ourselves by ourselves. Change requires…
1. God’s part: He and
2. Our part: We actively and
NOTES:
QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Read Ephesians 4:17-5:2 and discuss:
• What are some visible differences you think should mark a follower
of Christ in everyday life? Where do you see that difference most
clearly (or most challenged) in your own life?
• Paul connects darkened thinking, hardened hearts, and enslaved
desires. How have you seen wrong thinking lead to wrong living, either
in your own life or in the culture around you? What are some common
“soul cravings” people turn to when they feel empty?
• Regeneration precedes reformation. Why is it important to
understand that Christianity starts with a new heart, not just new
habits? How does this protect us from moralism?
• What does it practically look like to have your mind “renewed”? How
have God’s Word, God’s Spirit, or God’s people helped reshape your
thinking in recent years?
• Paul doesn’t just tell us to stop sinning; he tells us what to replace it
with. Look at the contrasts he makes in vv. 25-32. Why is it important
to replace the old pattern rather than simply remove it?
• How does thinking of sin as grieving a Person (the Holy Spirit), not
just breaking a rule, change the way you think about obedience? What
stood out to you about the connection between assurance (“sealed for
the day of redemption”) and holiness?
• What is the biggest takeaway from this passage?
PERSONAL REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Reflect: Where in your life right now do you sense God saying, “That no
longer fits who you are”?
Apply: Don’t just identify what to remove; actively replace it.