Put Off Your Old Self

Ephesians 4:17-32

Central Themes

1. All the way through Ephesians, Paul is mapping out both doctrines and practices that will enable the fledgling church in Ephesus (and us) to live the lives God planned for them.
2. The theme of the supernatural world and spiritual warfare also runs throughout the book.
3. The key theme of this passage is the need for Christians to “Put off” their old nature and “Put on” the new one they have been given.
4. We are also warned not to live our lives “as the gentiles do.”

Questions (take time to reflect and answer as honestly as you can):

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the secular (Pagan) world and 10 is God’s Word, give yourself a score to indicate where the main influence on your thinking and behaviour comes from?
2. Why do you think your score is what it is?
3. What are some practical, achievable things you could do to get your score closer to a 10?
4. Romans 12:2 (J.B. Phillips version) urges us not to let the world “Squeeze us into its mould.” Are there any areas of your life where you know the word has squeezed you into its mould?
5. What can/should you do about that?
6. How do we “Put off” our old nature and “Put on” the new?

Read Psalm 139:23-24 and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what, if anything, He wants you to “Put off” and/or “Put on.”