The Armor of God and Our Daily Battles

Ephesians 6:10-24

Sermon Notes:

Ephesians 6:10-24 “The Armor of God and Our Daily Battles”

1. The Armor that God Supplies | 10-20

a. The enemy | 10-13

b. The armor | 13-17

c. The army | 17-20

2. The Daily Battles God’s People Face | 21-24

a. Itineraries and encouragement | 21-22

b. Incorruptible blessings | 23-24

Reflection questions:

1) Do you think verses 10-20 are meant to be an encouragement to the weak and struggling, or a warning to those who are self-confident and self-assured?

2) While Paul uses many metaphors in this passage, what types of activities (or spiritual disciplines) are clearly encouraged or commanded? In which areas are you most consistent? In which areas could you improve? What’s one step you could take to improve in one of those areas?

3) Paul uses the word “stand” several times in this passage. (See verses 11, 13, 14, as well as “withstand” in verse 13.) Based on how often he uses that word, do you think spiritual perfection or everyday faithfulness is what he expects?

Family Matters

Ephesians 6:1-9

Sermon Notes:

Four lessons about authority:

1) Children, obeying authority brings long life | 1-3

2) Fathers, teach your kids to fear God more than you | 4

3) Men under authority, God will repay your labor | 5-8 (cf Mt 8:9-11)

4) Masters, God will call you to account, too | 9

Reflection questions:

1. Children, when is the last time you disobeyed your parents? Does God’s promise to you (in 3) make the idea of obedience seem easier?

2. Parents, when is the last time you were harsh with one of your children? Did you apologize to them for your harshness? Do they know that God has expectations for both of you?

3. What are the various authorities in your life? Which ones are the hardest for you to obey?

4. What power and authority do you have in your life? Do you use it to threaten others, or do you use it in a way that honors your Master?

Imitators of God in Sacrificial Love

Ephesians 5:18-33

Sermon Notes:

1) The Universal Submission that Christ Requires | 18-21

2) The Unique Submission that Shows Respect | 22-24, 33

3) The Loving Sacrifice that Sanctifies Another | 25-30

4) The Great Mystery that Displays the Gospel | 31-33

Reflection questions:

1) If we as Christians are being filled with the Spirit, what type of behavior should we expect to see? VV. 18-21.

2) Why does Paul include the words, “as to the Lord,” in v.22? Consider this explanation from John Calvin: “Not that the authority is equal, but wives cannot obey Christ without yielding obedience to their husbands.”

3) How does Paul instruct husbands to love their wives? (Consider, from Calvin: “No man can love himself without loving his wife. Therefore, the man who does not love his wife is a monster.”)

4) How is marriage a picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? If you’re married, how you can love your spouse in a way that displays a picture of the love of Christ?

Be imitators of God in love, in light, in wisdom, and in thanksgiving

Ephesians 5:1-22

Sermon Notes:

We’re called to imitate God in the world because…

1) God’s people are children of love, not lust | 1-4

2) Unholy people will not enter His Kingdom | 5-7

3) God’s people are children of light, not shameful secrets | 8-14

4) God’s people live in evil days | 15-17

5) God’s people exude godliness when they’re filled with the Spirit | 18-22

Reflection questions:

1. Read vv. 3-7, is your speech “fitting” for a Christian? Are there any types of jokes that you need to eliminate from your vocabulary?

2. Read vv. 7-14 – Are there ways that you need to discern what is pleasing to the Lord in your life? Are there patterns of living that conform too closely to the world around you and do not exhibit a clear expression of goodness, righteousness, and truth?

3. Are you consciously trying to make the best use of your time, v16, in all areas of life? What’s one way you can better “redeem” the time? 4. What is the ultimate reason to walk in love? The ultimate reason to forgive others? See Eph 4:32-5:1.

Basic Criteria for Biblical Community

Ephesians 4:29-32

Sermon Notes:

How can you build better unity in your Biblical Community?

1) Speak to build up, not tear down | 29

2) Eagerly maintain unity of Spirit; don’t grieve the Spirit | 30 (cf 4:3)

3) Get rid of malice and its friends | 31

4) Freely give the grace of forgiveness | 32a

5) Remember who forgave you | 32b

Reflection questions:

1) How often do you un-ironically, un-sarcastically compliment someone? How often do you ask what word might best fit the occasion and give to your hearer(s)? Who is someone to whom you can speak grace (and make grace come alive) today?

2) Is malice (and her evil friends, v.31) something that grieves (v30) the Holy Spirit? Read v.30-31; which one of these evil friends do you need to put away today?

3) Is God asking us to do the impossible in Ephesians 4:29-32? Is God asking us to do anything more than He has already done for us?

Called to Put on Truth, Righteous Anger and Hard-working Generosity

Ephesians 4:25-28

Sermon Notes:

Put on Truth, Righteous Anger, and Hard-Working Generosity, because:

1) God’s Son died to make obedience possible | (Eph 2:8-10)

2) God’s People belong to each other | 25

3) God’s Enemy wants our anger to destroy our Body | 26-27

4) Other People may need our help | 28

Reflections questions:

1) Are you saved by your good works? Are you saved for good works? Read Ephesians 4:25-28 and then read 2:8-10. Why does God expect you to be able to meet His high calling?

2) What are all of the commands in vv. 25ff supposed to promote within the Church? See Ephesians 4:1-6.

3) What are some obvious ways that lies, anger, and greed tear apart Christ’s body? What are some of the less obvious ways that we break the commands regarding truth, anger, and generosity? Think of one supposedly “respectable sin” for each category that you can Put Off in the future. (No sin is supposed to be respectable. Jerry Bridges used that term to describe sins that aren’t as widely condemned that we should still repent of.)

The Christian's New Clothes

Ephesians 4:17-25

Sermon Notes:

1) Our Calling to Walk as Christians | 17-21

2) Our Calling to Dress as Christians | 22-24

3) Our Calling to Speak as Christians | 25

Reflection questions:

1. How does Paul describe the logical result of how Gentiles (non-Christians, in this case) walk, v17-19? Does he mean that there is no hope for non-Christians? Is he trying to show what this life will lead to unless someone changes course?

2. Is it possible for a Christian to not live like a Christian, to not dress like a Christian? What type of clothes has God given us, and why should we be grateful for them? (See Genesis 3:7, 21; Isaiah 61:10-11; Revelation 19:6-9.)

3. Truth, in love, builds up (Eph 4:15-16), so what would falsehood do to the Body of Christ? What is the next hard conversation you plan to have with someone? Have you thought about how you can speak the truth in love to that person?

Called to Grow in Mutual Maturity and Love

Ephesians 4:11-16

Sermon Notes:

1) God’s blood-bought gifts empower us to attain unity and maturity | 11-13

2) God’s blood-bought gifts empower us to clarify our essential doctrines | 14

3) God’s blood-bought gifts require us to grow together by truth and love | 15-16

Reflection questions:

1) Is Christian unity something you are thankful for, something you’re eager to maintain, or is it something you are striving to attain in its fullness? Which one(s) should it be for you? See Eph 4:1-6 and 11-13.

2) What does the Bible say about teaching, doctrine? It is something that can cause division and therefore should be avoided? Is it something we should learn more about, something that helps us grow together? (See Eph 4:13-15)

3) Are you more characterized by truth or love (v.15) in your interactions with others? Does God give us a choice, or does He call us to embrace both, speaking the truth in love? Is there one area (truth or love or both) that you need to grow in, for your own sake and for the sake of the body of Christ?

The Source and Purpose of Our Calling

Ephesians 4:7-12

Sermon Notes:

1) Every Christian receives a gracious gift | 7

2) Christ is the Champion and Giver of our Gifts | 8-10

3) The Word of God is the clarifying foundation for every gift | 11

4) Building up other Christians is the Purpose of Every Christian Gift | 12

Reflection questions:

1) How do our God-given gifts show us how God bestows value on His people? (See Gen 1:26-28; Eph 2:1-9) How does the purpose of our gifts keep us from becoming prideful and arrogant? See v.12.

2) What gift have all God’s people received? (see Ephesians 2:1-9) Do we also receive unique gifts? See v.7. Are those unique gifts meant to highlight our uniqueness, or do they have another purpose? See vv. 1-7, 12.

3) Who is our Great High Priest as Christians? Is there also a sense where every believer is a priest or minister or servant of God?

One

Ephesians 4:4-6

Sermon Notes:

We should be eager to maintain our unity (Eph 4:3) because…

1) We are One Spirit-filled Body, 4a

2) We have One Allegiance-demanding Lord, 4b-5

3) We have One Family with One Father, 6

Reflection questions:

1. Pardon the 17th -century English (and use Google for the hard words if you have to), and ask how this quote should motivate you to maintain unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ: “All saints … being united to one another in love … have communion in each other’s gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 26.1)

2. To borrow a line from John Calvin, do you dread every kind of animosity among the people of God? What are some reasons that you should want to strive for unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?

3. Read Ephesians 4:1-4 and Galatians 5:22-23. How does the Holy Spirit help us to stay unified as a Body of believers?