Study Questions: Ephesians #10

Kyle Bartholic   -   October 10, 2024

Truth and Love

Ephesians 4:25-32 (CGS#10)

INTRODUCTION:  The Bible routinely offers us paradoxes. That is, it gives us two things that seemingly don’t fit together and tells us that in the kingdom of God, these two things fit precisely. In fact, not only do they fit precisely, but they also help us to know and experience God in a personal and real way. We are told to hold sorrow and hope together (1 Thes. 4:13). God has both compassion and justice (Isa. 30:18). And when we speak truth in love, we are just like Christ (Eph. 4:15). The tough thing in all of this is that our minds struggle to understand how two seemingly opposite things not only go together, but when they are lived out, it is a demonstration of the character that God is forming in us. We are indeed his children, formed into the image of his Son. Truth and love might just be one of the most difficult paradoxes for us in our current cultural moment. Why? Because we tend to be a culture of pendulum swings. We have a negative experience in one way, and we swing to the very opposite side. Then that side lets us down, and we swing back, missing the very thing we’re looking for in the process. This is why when the Bible invites us into these paradoxes, it helps us to resist the pendulums and not miss out on what is beautiful, noble, eternal, true, and lovely.

 

Truth and love are one of those paradoxes and Paul tells us that holding them together is part of living out our new self in Christ. Here is how Paul says it in v. 25, “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” – One commentator helps us to understand Paul’s emphasis in v.25. “Falsehood was a characteristic of the “old man”; the people of Christ should be men and women of truth. “Each of you must speak truth with his neighbor” is a straight quotation from Zech. 8:16, where members of the postexilic community of Judah are urged to keep covenant one with another. So here openhearted candor within the fellowship is especially enjoined, “because we are members of one another,” but it is plain that in their relations with the world in general Christians should have a reputation for truthfulness, men and women whose word is their bond. This is part of the wise conduct toward outsiders which the Colossians are urged to practice (Col. 4:5): “tell no lies to one another” (Col. 3:9) is as valid in the wider context as in the narrower. The ethical implications for Christians of their being “members of one another” have been drawn out in earlier Pauline letters (Rom. 12:4–5; 1 Cor. 12:14–26); they are reinforced in Colossians and Ephesians by the consideration that the body of which they are fellow-members is the body of Christ: his grace and truth should be exhibited in them.”[1]

 

For Paul, the life of Christ in us is to result in specific outward actions, postures, and attitudes. Especially among believers who share Christ in common. As Christians, we are to speak the truth in love, which means we value honesty and uprightness. We are to put away malice and not be sinful in our anger. When we speak the truth it is to be aimed at building up, encouraging, and sharpening one another. And in doing all of this, we honor the Spirit of God who is indwelt inside of us. These aren’t optional things, they are the normal things of the Christian life. It is the good fruit that we are to bear. There is no doubt that this is hard. But, we are not doing it through our own strength. God helps us. But we cannot be misled. Truth needs love, and love needs truth. In other words, truth and love cannot be separated.  That is what we experience in the gospel. It is what the Bible teaches.

 

GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. Who is or was someone in your life who was truthful in an honoring and respectful way? How did they do that?

 

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

 

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

 

Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.

  1. If you had to summarize chapter four in a sentence, what would it be?
  2. The Bible helps us to do some introspective reflection. In vv. 25-32 what of the things that Paul tells us to put away is the hardest for you and why? What is a step to take this week in your heart and your life to put it away?
  3. With question 3, we also want to celebrate growth. How have you grown in putting away these things or the one(s) that you struggle with?
  4. Paul has now told us of the importance of speaking the truth twice in chapter four, vv. 15 & 25. How do you see Jesus speaking the truth in love in the Gospels? Consider: John 4:1-26 & 6:22-40; 60 & 66.
  5. How do you need to grow in speaking the truth in love? It could be on the truth side of things where you are growing in being clear about the truth. Or, it could be on the love side of things where you are increasingly considering how you present the truth. I.e., It’s not just what you say but how you say it. Again, keep Jesus’ example in mind, remembering that in him, we see that truth and love cannot be separated.

 

 

 

[1] F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1984), 360.