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Ephesians 4:7-32 (MSG)

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⁷ But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. ⁸ The text for this is, He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people. ⁹ It's true, is it not, that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? ¹⁰ And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, ¹¹ filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher ¹² to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, ¹³ until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. ¹⁴ No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. ¹⁵ God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. ¹⁶ He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. ¹⁷ And so I insist--and God backs me up on this--that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. ¹⁸ They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. ¹⁹ They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. ²⁰ But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! ²¹ My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. ²² Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything--and I do mean everything--connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life--a God-fashioned life, ²³ a life renewed from the inside ²⁴ and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. ²⁵ What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. ²⁶ Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry--but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. ²⁷ Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. ²⁸ Did you used to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work. ²⁹ Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. ³⁰ Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted. ³¹ Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. ³² Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 11) Leadership - God gave some the gift of leadership
(v. 11) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 12) Leadership - God gave some the gift of leadership
(v. 12) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 13) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 14) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 15) Unity - Together to grow and build each other up in love
(v. 15) Discipling / Correction - Speaking the truth in love and build each other up
(v. 16) Discipling / Correction - Speaking the truth in love and build each other up
(v. 16) Unity - Together to grow and build each other up in love
(v. 17) Discipling / Correction - Speaking the truth in love and build each other up
(v. 18) Word of God / Teaching / Knowledge - Ignorance comes from the hardening of our hearts
(v. 18) Heart - Ignorance comes from the hardening of our hearts
(v. 21) Honesty / Truth / Vows / Oath - Truth is in Jesus
(v. 26) Anger / Fits of Rage / Bitterness - Do not let the sun go down while you are angry
(v. 26) Anger / Fits of Rage / Bitterness - Do not sin in anger
(v. 27) Sin / Wickedness / Satan - Do not give the devil a foothold
(v. 29) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth
(v. 29) Speaking / Gossip / Lying / Slander - Only words helpful for building others up according to their needs
(v. 31) Hatred - Get rid of all bitterness
(v. 31) Anger / Fits of Rage / Bitterness - Get rid of all bitterness
(v. 32) Forgiveness / Mercy / Atonement - Forgive each other
(v. 32) Kindness - Be kind to one another
(v. 32) Compassion / Concern - Be compassionate to one another

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 7) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 7) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 8) Waking Dead - At War (part 2) (2010-08-07)
(v. 8) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 9) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 9) Waking Dead - At War (part 2) (2010-08-07)
(v. 10) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 11) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 11) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 11) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 11) Life to the Full - In His Steps (part 2) (2010-04-19)
(v. 12) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 12) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 12) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 13) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 13) Purpose Driven Life - It Takes Time (2008-06-22)
(v. 13) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 13) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 14) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 14) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 14) Men Leave Childhood Behind (2013-09-11)
(v. 15) Men Leave Childhood Behind (2013-09-11)
(v. 15) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 15) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 15) Raising Awesome Kids - Openness (2009-01-13)
(v. 15) One Another - Making it Clear (2009-09-25)
(v. 15) One Another - Speaking the Truth in Love (2009-10-06)
(v. 16) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 16) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 17) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 17) Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 8) (2010-07-21)
(v. 18) Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 8) (2010-07-21)
(v. 18) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 19) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 19) Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 8) (2010-07-21)
(v. 19) Mind of Christ - About Self (part II) (2011-07-16)
(v. 20) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 21) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 22) Purpose Driven Life - Created to Become Like Christ (2008-06-15)
(v. 22) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 22) Mind of Christ - Relationship with God (part VI) (2011-07-05)
(v. 23) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 23) Mind of Christ - Relationship with God (part VI) (2011-07-05)
(v. 23) Purpose Driven Life - How We Grow (2008-06-16)
(v. 23) Purpose Driven Life - Created to Become Like Christ (2008-06-15)
(v. 24) Mind of Christ - Relationship with God (part VI) (2011-07-05)
(v. 24) Waking Dead - Christ's Great Works (2010-09-20)
(v. 24) Purpose Driven Life - Created to Become Like Christ (2008-06-15)
(v. 24) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 25) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 26) Teach Us To Pray - In Marriage and Family (2008-09-12)
(v. 26) Waking Dead - Spiritual Warfare (part 4) (2010-09-12)
(v. 26) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 27) Teach Us To Pray - In Marriage and Family (2008-09-12)
(v. 27) Waking Dead - Spiritual Warfare (part 4) (2010-09-12)
(v. 27) Purpose Driven Life - Overcoming Temptation (2008-06-21)
(v. 27) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 28) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 29) Raising Awesome Kids - Repect: Eliminate Critical, Harsh Talk (2009-01-11)
(v. 29) Kingdom First - Personal Responsibility (part 1) (2010-01-27)
(v. 29) Followup: Relationships in the Body (part II) (2011-09-15)
(v. 29) Followup - Relationships Demonstrated (2011-01-29)
(v. 29) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 29) Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone (part 2) (2010-04-21)
(v. 29) Day 27 - Learning to be Loyal (2011-12-30)
(v. 29) Holy Spirit (part II) (2011-01-05)
(v. 30) Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone (part 2) (2010-04-21)
(v. 30) Blessings In Christ (part VI) (2012-03-10)
(v. 30) Holy Spirit (part II) (2011-01-05)
(v. 30) Raising Awesome Kids - Repect: Eliminate Critical, Harsh Talk (2009-01-11)
(v. 30) Prayer of the Righeous - Knowing God through His Word (part I) (2013-03-20)
(v. 31) Raising Awesome Kids - Repect: Eliminate Critical, Harsh Talk (2009-01-11)
(v. 31) Mind Change - Forgive (2011-11-11)
(v. 31) Holy Spirit (part II) (2011-01-05)
(v. 31) One Another - Forgiving One Another (part 2) (2010-02-26)
(v. 31) Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone (part 2) (2010-04-21)
(v. 32) Mind Change - Forgive (2011-11-11)
(v. 32) Hurtful Examples and Lies (2013-08-27)
(v. 32) Holy Spirit (part II) (2011-01-05)
(v. 32) Falling in Love with God - Bitterness (2008-04-02)
(v. 32) One Another - Forgiving One Another (part 2) (2010-02-26)
(v. 32) One Another (part III) (2011-03-17)
(v. 32) Promises of God - Forgiving Others (2009-03-04)
(v. 32) Raising Awesome Kids - Repect: Eliminate Critical, Harsh Talk (2009-01-11)
(v. 32) One Another (part I) (2011-03-15)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 11) Devotional: Leadership in the Church (2008-12-18)
(v. 12) Devotional: Leadership in the Church (2008-12-18)
(v. 13) Devotional: Leadership in the Church (2008-12-18)
(v. 29) Sermon: Practical ways to live by the spirit (2015-08-02)
(v. 30) Sermon: Practical ways to live by the spirit (2015-08-02)
(v. 31) Sermon: Practical ways to live by the spirit (2015-08-02)
(v. 32) Sermon: Free the prisoners (2013-04-28)
(v. 32) Sermon: Practical ways to live by the spirit (2015-08-02)