Letter to the Ephesians, Pt. 11

Written By Upper Thames

Have you ever encountered a Christian who looks at the world and is angry at the people who dive deeper into sin? Perhaps you’ve been Christian who is angry at the people around them who keep walking the path of sin. I admit that I have been, and still am sometimes.

What’s wrong with this view? Well, to start, we get offended and angry far too easily, when instead we should be compassionate toward the people who’ve been fed the lies of the world and need to be softened to the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus. We, after all, were all in the same position once, and we didn’t need anger to save us, we needed love. God’s love is expressed to these people in Jesus, but too often we don’t reflect Jesus love as we should.

This week let’s look at this really helpful passage in Ephesians to remind us how to view the ways of the world and the people who are trapped in them.

Bronze Sculptures, Marseille, France



Anchor Passages:

Ephesians 4:17-24 ESVUK - The New Life

It’s also Ascension Sunday (Commemorating Jesus ascending to Heaven to sit at the Father’s right hand) - Read this great Psalm below and rejoice with creation that Jesus reigns!

Psalm 98 NIV

John 1:1-9 NIV 


Questions to Ponder:

  1. Read John 1:1-9. What does it mean that Jesus is “light”? What does his light expose in the world?

  2. Read Ephesians 4:17-19. How would you put this in your own words?

  3. How would you explain Ephesians 4:17-19 to someone who isn’t a Christian but is open to listening to you?

  4. Read Ephesians 4:22-24. How do we explain new sin or ongoing struggles if we have “put on the new self?” (Hint: Look at 20-21 - think about how “the way” that Paul talks about points to a progression and a path, not just exchanging the old for the new once-for-all.)

  5. What is something from the “old self” you still see in yourself? Pray and listen for what step God is calling you to take to put off this old way of life.


The Theme in Song:

This song by The Afters is about the process of hearing that call of Christ and rising up out of the shadow life into the fullness of life.




Upper Thames
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Letter to the Ephesians, Pt. 10