Ephesians 6:1-4.

Spirit-filled submission plays out in our relationships of marriage, work, and family. In these verses Paul establishes how ultimate submission to Christ results in children who obey and honor their parents in the Lord.

Ephesians 6:5-9.

John 4:1-42

Ephesians 5:18, 21, 25-33.

Paul commands husbands to reflect Jesus by loving their wives like Jesus loved the church. It's important to point out that God's-design in marriage is now "wives submit; husbands boss." But rather, "wives submit; husbands love." Following the example of Christ's love for the church a husbands loves with sacrificing love, sanctifying love, and nourishing love.

Ephesians 5:18, 21-24.

Faithful in Christ. Saints in Ephesus. This dual reality describes the Ephesian Christians. Being "in Christ" by grace means they are to walk in good works "in Ephesus." This walk is a walk of wisdom where a Christian is to understand "what the will of the Lord is." His will is for us to be filled with the Spirit as we submit to one another out of submission to Christ. This Spirit-filled submission means something for marriage where Paul says a Spirit-filled wife ultimately submits to Jesus as she submits to her own husband.

Ephesians 5:15-21.

Paul says there are two possible paths for Christians to walk; either walking "as unwise" or walking as "wise." We are called to walk the path of wisdom ultimately seeking to "understand what the will of the Lord is." Paul helps us in this task when he says we are to "be filled with the Spirit." This is God's will for His people.

Ephesians 5:8-14.

A walk worthy of the gospel looks like a lot things. Paul has been explaining this walk ever since chapter 4. Now he says it looks like walking in the light. This passage is rich with the imagery of darkness and light. Paul uses this language so that those who are "light in the Lord" might know how to "walk as children of light."

Ephesians 5:1-7.

Children love to mimic and the goal of God's children is to mimic God. As Paul continues the practical application of what it means to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel, he reminds us that we mimic God when we walk in Christ-like cross-shaped love. What this means is there is a proper and improper way to love which Paul addresses in these verses.

Ephesians 4:17-32.

Now that the saints in Ephesus are in Christ Jesus they are to not only walk in unity, but they are to also walk in purity. Their life before Christ reflected the walk and talk of a God-less pursuit of impurity. But now that Ephesians 1-3 is true of them [ and us for that matter ] we must no longer live like we used to live as non-Christians. In this walk of purity our mind matters as we put off the old self and put on the new self with minds renewed by the Word and the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:7-16.

Unity + Diversity = Maturity. This is God's design for the church. Jesus is the gracious gift giver. Not only does He give gifts to each one of us, but He also gives particularly diverse gifts centered on the Word of God (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd, teacher) so the body of Christ can grow up into maturity.