Marriage, Sex and Sexuality 1 - Eph.5:1-7
By now, you’ll have picked up something of how this term is working out as we re-engage with Eph.5 & other related passages as the term progresses. We’ll be exploring together the sweep of the Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexuality. But Paul doesn’t simply drop the question of ‘Christian households’ onto his congregation(s) ‘out of the blue’. It is a natural and Spirit-inspired outworking of a train of thought that we boarded in Eph.1:1. Paul has been exploring the glory and joy of so much of what God has done in the Gospel. Part of the problem for us has been the immensity of Paul’s vision and the vast scope of all he has taught us. The Gospel – as we experience it – stretches back into the heart and mind of God before even Creation is called into being. The Church has been caught up into God’s purposes of redemption and renewal, and as such has been re-created, restored to the very life and community of God, and renewed in their whole experience of being human. An entirely new way of being human has opened up to them – a vision for life that goes far beyond our wildest hopes and dreams.
We have been immersed in God’s love for us in Christ Jesus, and on that foundation the Spirit longs to rebuild us individually and together into that Christ-oriented way of being and living. Paul (and the Spirit who is inspiring his writing) isn’t simply looking for us to become more moral, or to clean up our act (a bit!). We are called to a total transformation, to ‘put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness’ (Eph.4:23-24). When we left off Ephesians last year, we had begun to get a sense of what that new life looked like, and just how different it is from ‘life’ as experienced by so many. Coming into Ch.5, we pick up Paul’s desire for us our spiritual development, and growth into Christlikeness...
Just how different do you think the ‘Christian’ life is from the life that is lived and experienced by those who don’t know Christ? Is Paul perhaps exaggerating for effect? How different do you think your own life is from that of others who know who aren’t Christians? Do you think it should be (very) different? Why / why not?
You might find it helpful to look at some passages where Paul seems to stress some of these differences: Eph.2:1-3; 4:17-24; also e.g. Titus 3:3-8. Do you think such generalisations are accurate… or helpful?)
How would you describe what it looks like to ‘follow God’s example …and live a life of love’ (Eph.5:1-2)? It might help to be as specific as possible… Have you ever known someone who really gets this? What were they like?
How important is it for us to be confident in our being ‘dearly loved children’ (Eph.5:1)? What would you say to someone who wasn’t so sure they fell into this category? What does it feel like to know you are ‘dearly loved’ by God in Christ? How does it shape your view of yourself and how you aspire to live?
Why is Paul so focussed on immorality, impurity and greed? How would you recognise people who were characterised by these patterns of sin?
What do you think constitutes ‘obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking’ (Eph.5:4)? Does it really matter how you speak?
Why does he call greedy people ‘idolaters’ (Eph.5:5)?
Is Paul saying that people like this aren’t Christians? What would you say to someone who struggled with greed, or immorality?
What ‘empty words’ is Paul worried about Christians hearing?
What does it mean to be ‘partners’ with such people? How far can you disengage from them?
