Grow: You Must No Longer Walk As The Gentiles Do

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Grow: You Must No Longer Walk As The Gentiles Do

January 24 2021

Series: Becoming More Like Jesus

Topic: Christlikeness, Growth, Unity

Pastor Jeremy Heikkinen

Pastor Jeremy Heikkinen

Bible Passage: Ephesians 4:17-24

Summary

Growth happens when what I have been taught about Christ becomes more desirous to me than what my body craves.

Outline

  1. A) Futility of the Minds: Mind (v.17)
    1. B) Hardness of Heart: Heart (v.18 )
      1. C) Every Kind of Impurity: Body (v.19 )
        1. D) You learned Christ! (vs. 20-21)
      2. C) Put off the old man: Former manner of life (v.22)
    2. B) Corrupt: Deceitful Desires (v.22)
  2. A) Renewed in your Minds: Put on the New Self (v.23-24)

Discussion Questions

Thinking (What does the Word of God say, “Exegesis”?) Head:
  • Where were we looking in God’s Word? Summarize it in your own words.
  • Did you have any questions about certain words, the text, or what was said?
  • What do you think God wants us to understand about this section of Scripture? What is the purpose of including it in the Bible (How does it point to Jesus)?
  • What are the 3 areas that Paul addresses that makeup how the Gentiles walk?
  • Describe the walk of a Gentile from verses 17-19.
  • According to verses 20-21, what is the only hope for anything different in our walk?
  • What is at the source of the corruption of the old self (v. 22)?
Attitude (My pattern of response to God and His Word, “Hermeneutic”) Heart:
  • What does your walk suggest about what you believe and think is true?
  • How does Worship (Renew the Mind), Grow (Engage the Heart), and Serve (Enlist the Body) come out in this text? Which area in your life needs to be renewed?
  • Since “put off” and “put on” are not commands (they are infinitives), how do we grow? Is it by forcing ourselves to not do certain things while doing others?
  • Explain one way in which a thought became a constant desire, which led to an action in your life.
Behaviour (How does Jesus want to change me, what will His truth look/sound like in my life? “Application”) Hands:
  • In what ways has your mind been renewed this week about what you have learned about the truth that is in Jesus? In what ways are you going to renew it this week? (Songs, Scripture reading, Christian books, radio, podcasts…)
  • Why is it such a temptation to turn “put on/off” into a command?
  • How would you describe the process of change to someone this week? Be prepared to give a short answer to the group!