Deeper Christian Bible Study in Ephesians

Your mouth is important to God. It will either be characterized by the culture or marked by the language of heaven. Whichever you choose, you will either promote God’s Kingdom or the Kingdom of the World. In this study, we examine Ephesians 5:4 and Paul’s command for a Christian not to talk with foolishness or filthiness, but instead to have a mouth full of thanksgiving. Watch the video version of...

Is real freedom from sexual sin actually possible for a Christian? In a culture saturated with sensuality and sexual confusion, many believers wonder whether true purity is realistic or if constant struggle is simply inevitable. In this Bible study from Ephesians 5:3, Nathan Johnson explains Paul’s powerful command that there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among G...

What does it mean for a Christian to live a holy life? In Ephesians 5:3, the apostle Paul gives one of the most striking commands in the New Testament: there should not even be a hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among believers. In this Bible study, Nathan Johnson examines Paul’s powerful instruction and explains how the life of a Christian should be radically different from the cultu...

What does the Christian life actually look like? In Ephesians 4–6, the apostle Paul moves from theology to practical living and shows us the character of God’s Kingdom and how believers are meant to live as citizens of heaven. In this study, Nathan Johnson steps back to give a big-picture overview of Ephesians 4–6, revealing how the gospel changes everything—from our character and relationships to...

What does it mean to “walk in love” and become a fragrant offering to God? In this Christ-centered Bible study on Ephesians 5:2, Nathan Johnson explores Paul’s profound imagery of aroma, sacrifice, and the life of love that reflects Jesus Christ. The apostle declares that Christ “loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God,” and this message unpacks how believers...

What does it mean to "walk in love" as Paul commands in Ephesians 5:2? In this verse-by-verse Bible study, Nathan Johnson unpacks the radical nature of agapē love—a love that is not passive, emotional, or circumstantial, but a steadfast, sacrificial commitment modeled after Christ Himself. Paul's command to "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us" reveals that biblical love is...

In Ephesians 5:1, the Apostle Paul makes a stunning declaration about our identity in Christ—we are God's beloved children, adopted as true heirs with full access to the Father's love and affection. In this Bible study, Nathan Johnson unpacks what it means to be God's cherished child and how this transformative truth should shape the way we live, worship, and walk with Jesus. If you've ever questi...

What does Paul really mean when he commands believers to be “imitators of God” in Ephesians 5:1? Is Christian living about striving harder to act like Jesus—or something far deeper? In this Christ-centered teaching, Nathan explains why imitating Christ is impossible apart from Christ Himself and why true imitation must flow from divine impartation, not human effort. This message unpacks the gospel...

What does it mean to be a Christian in every part of life—not just in belief, but in conduct, character, and conviction? In this Christ-centered Bible teaching from Ephesians 4, Nathan Johnson takes a big-picture look at the call to live as Christians always and in all ways, showing how the gospel should radically reshape our words, actions, thoughts, and motives. Throughout the message, we examin...

In Ephesians 4:31–32, the apostle Paul draws a sharp contrast between the old life shaped by sin and the new life formed by Christ, calling believers to put away bitterness, wrath, anger, malice, and unforgiveness, and to instead live in kindness, tenderness, and Christ-like forgiveness. In this in-depth Bible study, Nathan Johnson walks through Paul’s two contrasting lists—what must be put off an...

As Christians, we are not only image-bearers of the living God, but His Holy Spirit also indwells us. In this episode, we examine Paul’s sobering exhortation in Ephesians 4:30 to “not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,” exploring what this command actually means for everyday Christian living. Rather than treating grief of the Spirit as an abstract theological idea, we look at how our attitudes, words,...

Every word we speak reveals what’s flowing from our hearts. In Ephesians 4:29, Paul exhorts believers to let no corrupt talk come out of their mouths, but only what builds up and gives grace to those who hear. Our speech is meant to reflect the transforming power of Jesus Christ—words that encourage, strengthen, and point others to Him. In this study, Nathan Johnson unpacks the biblical call to us...

Always with something to share: the Christian's call to work and giving. As believers, we’re not called to take but to give. In Ephesians 4:28, Paul calls Christians to abandon the old life of idleness and selfish gain and instead work diligently with their hands so they always have something to share with those in need. True Christian stewardship and generosity flow from a transformed heart—a lif...

Anger is a powerful and often destructive emotion. But is it ever acceptable for a Christian to be angry? In this study, we dive deep into Ephesians 4:26–27 where Paul says, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” In this study, you’ll discover: What the Bible actually says about anger in the Christian life The difference between r...

As Christians, our lives must be marked by the truth. Because God does not lie and because we are members of one body, we must aggressively throw any lie, hypocrisy, or duplicity from our lives. In this study from Ephesians 4:25, Nathan talks about truth, lying, and how both are far more than merely the words we say but also include how we live our lives. Watch the video version of the study on Yo...

Jesus is to have first place (be preemenient) in every area of our lives. He is not an add-on to our lives, He is to be our lives—which should radically transform every area of life. In this study, Nathan Johnson gives a review of what we've covered thus far in Ephesians 4 and examines Paul’s practical examples of what it means to be a Christian (Ephesians 4:25-5:18). Watch the video version of th...

After Paul exhorts believers to put off sin and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, he gives practical examples of what that means in the everyday areas of our lives. In this study, Nathan gives a broad overview of Ephesians 4:25–32 and examines the “therefore” of how we practically apply the clothing of a Christian to our lives. Watch the video version of the study on YouTube See the notes for this stu...

In Ephesians 4:17–24, Paul gives a tremendous contrast between the life of sin and the life of a believer. In this study, we step back and look at an overview of the entire passage and examine four key aspects we must keep in mind if we are to wear the clothing of a Christian.  Watch the video version of the study on YouTube See the notes for this study --------------------- Deeper Christian...

The prophet Isaiah called Jesus our “robe of righteousness”—the clothing we must wear if we desire to live holy, godly, and righteous. In Ephesians 4:24, Paul uses the same clothing language to give the final aspect of what it means to “learn Christ”—that as we put off sin, so too we must put on Christ. In short, our lives are not our own and we must be marked by His life, righteousness, and holin...

While we are to put off all sin from our lives and put on the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 4:23 that the spirit of our minds are to be renewed continually. In this study, we examine what the “spirit of your mind” means and how we can continually live in the renewal of our innermost being. Watch the video version of the study on YouTube See the notes for this study --------------...

Paul says that we, as believers, must “learn Christ”—but what does that mean? Paul answers with three specifics—the first being to put off the old man (the corrupt sinful, selfish nature we all have prior to Christ). In this study, we examine Ephesians 4:22 and what it means to “put off” sin so that we might live as new creations in Christ Jesus. Watch the video version of the study on YouTube See...

We don’t learn godliness by living in sin; rather, as Paul declares, we have learned Christ for truth is in Jesus. In this study, we examine Ephesians 4:20–21, and Paul’s argument for us to be schooled in Christ, or to say it slightly different, to be "taught in truth." Watch the video version of the study on YouTube See the notes for this study --------------------- Deeper Christian Bible Study i...

There is a great depth of depravity in the lives of unbelievers. And while selfishness and sin once marked our lives (in the past), it should no longer be a part of how we live. In Ephesians 4:17–19, Paul describes the old life (and the current life of unbelievers) and boldly argues that this is NOT how we are to live. We are, as Paul exhorts, to put off this former way of living because we have b...

There is a beautiful paradox with the body of Christ—Jesus supplies everything we need for life and godliness, yet we as the body are to build each other up in love, causing the growth of the body. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4.15–16 that Jesus is the head of the Church, but he exhorts the body to be abundantly supplied by Christ to function, grow, and mature as the body is called to be. In this...

Truth should mark our lives and lips as Christians. We are called to know the truth, be grounded upon the truth, and proclaim the truth. Yet, truth without love is not true truth, just as love without truth is not true love. In Ephesians 4:15, Paul declares that truth is to find its permanent residence in love—and as Christians, our lives and lips must have an accuracy of both truth and love. In s...