This week, we are starting a brand-new series called Level-Up where we are continuing our study on the book of Ephesians. Today, we are looking at Ephesians 4 and how our attitudes can better represent Christ and point others to Him. The first three chapters of Ephesians teach us about all God has done for us. As we study Ephesians 4 today, we will look at how we are to respond to all that God has done for us, starting with our attitude.
Who do you know who displays an attitude that reflects Christ? How does their attitude point others to Christ?
1. What do our attitudes reveal about ourselves?
2. Read Ephesians 4:1-4. According to this passage of Scripture, how can we lead a life worthy of our calling that God has given us?
Ephesians 4:1-4
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.
3. Why is unity important when it comes to the church?
4. Read Ephesians 4:5-13. What is at stake if we do not use the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us?
Ephesians 4:5-13
5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. 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.
1. Look back at Ephesians 4:1-4. Which of the characteristics comes most naturally to you? Which of those characteristics is most difficult?
2. How can followers of Christ today help contribute to the unity of the church?
3. How has God specifically gifted you when it comes to serving the church?
Look back at the Ephesians 4:1-14. Pick one of the attitudes described in these verses that you would like to grow in. Share it with your group along with one way you can start growing in that attitude this week. When everyone has finished, pray together. Ask God to help you all as you seek to grow in these areas and develop attitudes that reflect Christ.
When it comes to having an attitude that honors God the Father, there is no greater example for us than Christ. He modeled for us how to live a life that points others straight to God the Father. Specifically, He modeled humility, service, and love.
Although He is the Son of God and the King of all kings, Jesus adopted an attitude of humility when He came to earth. This humility shined through His actions and teachings throughout His entire ministry. This humility led Him straight to the cross, where He laid down His life for the sins of the world.
1. Read Philippians 2:2-8, a passage of Scripture where Paul reflects on Jesus’ humility.
Philippians 2:3-8
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
2. After reading this passage of Scripture, how would you define humility?
3. How did Jesus demonstrate humility, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. Do you find humility difficult or easy to demonstrate? Why or why not?
5. How can followers of Christ adopt Jesus’ attitude of humility today?
Jesus deserves all of the worship, praise, and service, but He did not come to earth to be served. Instead of demanding that the people around Him serve Him, Jesus served them. Imagine the Son of God coming to earth as a servant to serve others and ultimately lay His life down for them. If the Son of God had the mindset of a servant while He was on earth, we, too, must adopt the servant mindset.
1. Read Matthew 20:20-28
Matthew 20:20-28
20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. 21 “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” 22 But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” 23 Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.” 24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2, Contrast the attitudes of Jesus’ disciples versus the attitude of Jesus in this passage of Scripture.
3. What was Jesus’ reason for coming, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. How can followers of Christ adopt Jesus’ attitude of service today?
Perhaps the most wonderful of all of the attitudes that Jesus displayed is His love. Throughout His entire ministry on earth, He demonstrated love for everyone He encountered. His love motivated everything He did and caused Him to sacrifice His life to rescue the world from sin and death.
1. Read John 15:9-17.
John 15:9-17
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
2. How did Jesus demonstrate an attitude of love?
3. How are we to respond to the love Jesus has shown us?
4. How can followers of Christ adopt Jesus’ attitude of love today?
Jesus’ humility, service, and love serve as an example for us today. Take a moment to reflect on which one of those three mindsets is the most challenging for you to adopt. Look back at the passage of Scripture that you studied regarding that mindset and pick a verse from that passage to memorize. Share with your group the mindset you find the most challenging and the verse you selected to memorize. When everyone has shared, pray together, asking God to help each one of you grow and become more like Christ.
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