People of Light (Ephesians 5:8-14 NLT)

8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, "Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light."

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What were we at one time, what are we now, and how are we to behave as a result? (v.8-10)
2) What are we to "take no part in" and what are we to do instead? (v.11-12)
3) What does the light do concerning the deeds of ungodly people? (v.13-14)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Are you a child of the light or of the darkness? Why?

LIFE LESSONS
5) The light of Christ exposes the thoughts and intents of the human heart.

Imitate Christ (Ephesians 5:1-7 NLT)

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes--these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don't participate in the things these people do.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Why should believers imitate God? (v.1)
2) As followers of Jesus Christ, how should we live our lives? (v.2a)
3) How did Christ demonstrate His love for us? (v.3)
4) What are we to refrain from doing? Why? (v.4a,5-7)
5) How are we to behave instead? (v.4b)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) How do you know that you are a child of God?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Children of God consistently manifest the love of Christ.

Grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:25-32 NLT)

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle Paul tell the Galatians to stop doing and do instead? Why? (v.25-32)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
2) Have you, or anyone you know, grieved the Holy Spirit by your/their actions?

LIFE LESSONS
3) Sinful actions grieve the Holy Spirit.

New Man (Ephesians 4:17-24 NLT)

17 With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. 18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. 19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn't what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God--truly righteous and holy.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle Paul write to his readers under the Lord's authority? (v.17a)
2) Why are some gentiles confused? (v.17b-19)
3) What does the apostle write concerning the disciples of Christ? (v.20-21)
4) What does Paul encourage his readers to do instead? (v.22-23)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you "thrown off" the old man and put on the "new nature"? If so, how do you know?
6) Do you personally know of any professing believer who is overcome by the darkness within him/her/them? If so, what, if anything do you do to help him/her/them?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Putting off the "old" nature and putting on the "new" nature can only be done through the grace of God and in cooperation with the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Gifts (Ephesians 4:7-16 NLT)

7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say, "When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people." 9 Notice that it says "he ascended." This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What will God give each of His people? (v.7)
2) What Scripture does the Apostle Paul quote and why? (v.8-10)
3) What spiritual gifts have been given to the church and for what purpose(s)? (v.11-12)
4) Why are these gifts given, how long will it continue and why? (v.13-14)
5) What else does the Apostle Paul write about the body of Christ? (v.15-16) 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
6) What spiritual gift(s) have you been given and how do you use it in your local church body and/or ministry?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Every member of the body of Christ has a spiritual gift to impart to the rest of the members of the body.

Unity in the Body (Ephesians 4:1-6 NLT)

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) How did the Apostle Paul refer to himself in this passage of the epistle? (v.1)
2) What did Paul urge the readers of this epistle to do? (v.2-3)
3) Why did the apostle urge Christ's disciples to behave in such ways? (v.4-6)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Generally speaking, how patient, gentle and humble are you toward your brothers and sisters in Christ?

LIFE LESSONS
5) It is necessary for all members of the body of Christ to maintain unity through love, humility and patience.

Love of God! (Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT)

14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle Paul pray for the readers of this epistle? Why? (v.14-19)
2) Why does the apostle glorify God? (v.20)
3) How does Paul conclude this passage in his epistle? (v.21)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) How do you pray for new converts to Christianity?

LIFE LESSONS
5) As disciples of the Lord Jesus, we are commanded to teach them how to live as Christians.