Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School

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PFHL Course 621-- Ephesians 5 Questions

(For God-Pleasing Marriages)

Directions: Use the indicated Bible passages to carefully answer all of the questions and
requests for personal responses. This assignment is worth 4 units, so write at
least 7 quality pages (single spaced lines). It could become the most important
Bible study you have ever done or will ever do.

1. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus told his disciples that unless they change and become like little
children, they would never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! He did not direct this statement
to non-believers. Notice the word “as” in Ephesians 5:1. How does a “dear child” usually
behave? How does a “dearly loved child” act? What kind of character traits do they have?
2. How does one be a follower of God? How does one be an “imitator of God”? If you think
the answer to the last two questions is in verse two, or even if you don’t, how does an
individual live a life of love? What kind of attitude towards all others should such a person
have? What does it mean, “being a sacrifice to God”?
3. What is the most common sin of church-goers listed in Ephesians 5:3? What is the most
common sin of church-goers listed in the forth verse? What is the second most common
sin in that verse? Why are the last two sins “not convenient” or “out of place”? Why is
giving thanks always convenient and appropriate?
4. What does the word “for” mean in verse 5? How are the common sins in verses 3 & 4
immoral and how do they relate to impurity and greediness? What does Romans 14:17 say
the “Kingdom of God” is? Why are the stern warnings in Ephesians 5:5-8 necessary and
important? (Look at Hebrews 10:19-25.)
5. Does Ephesians 5:7 tell Christians to hate or condemn fornicators, immoral and coveting
(or greedy) individuals, or obscene and foolish talkers or joke tellers? How should a
Christian relate to such individuals? What does it mean to be “light in the Lord”? Does
“light” relate to “truthfulness” and is the latter the best thing for avoiding doing the sins
mentioned in the chapter? (Refer to Philippians 4:8 and Ephesians 6:14 also) How can
you “live as a child of light”? (Refer to Galatians 5:22-26 also)
6. Ephesians 5:10 has two interpretations. How can you “find out what pleases God”? How
can you “prove what is acceptable unto the Lord”? Remember, this verse is not an
independent sentence from the two verses above or even from verse 1 of this chapter.
7. How can you live Ephesians 5:11-12? Give specific examples.
8. Explain verse 13 as if you are teaching a class of new church members.
9. How does verse 14 relate to James 5:19 & 20?
10. How do verses 15 & 16 relate to 1 Peter 3:8-17?
11. What does it mean to “understand what the Lord’s will is”? Give specific examples. What
are the positive and negative motivators that prompt you to live a moral life? Are there
certain habits and relationships you need to stop? What will you replace them with?
12. Give specific examples of what you can do to live the 7 commandments in Ephesians 5:17-
21. (Incidentally, this is the third group of 7 commandments each in Ephesians 4:17-5:21
and each group relates to one of the Godhead more than to the others!) Especially explain
how you can give thanks for all things and give thanks in every situation.

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13. While restudying the first twenty-one verses of this chapter, list the indicated good
characteristics a Christian spouse should have or be striving to have. (Some of these
characteristics are the opposites of the sins listed.) Which items on the list do you still
need? How can you acquire them?
14. How should a local church be subject unto Jesus Christ? List what would be Christ
pleasing activities which would encourage it participants to be more Christ-like.
Therefore, how should wives submit or be subject unto their own husbands? (The reason
for this line of questioning is found in the word “as” in verse 24.)
15. How does Christ love His disciples? (24 different answers) Read John 14-17 before
answering. What do verses 26 and 27 of Ephesians 5 really mean? How does a Christian
husband do the same for his wife in specially relating to her? Make a practical list
assuming that both husband and wife have outside employment.
16. In what ways and how should a man love his own body? Therefore, in what specific ways
should a husband love his wife? How should his attitude toward his wife compare to his
attitudes towards other females? How is the middle part of verse 29 done? Give specific
examples. Therefore, how can a Christian husband “feeds and cares” (“nourishes and
cherishes”) his wife? Give specific examples.
17. How does verse 31 relate to the purpose of marriage (as God purposed)? (Remember this
purpose was stated to a couple who didn’t have parents. See Genesis 2:24.) What does
this purpose say about the devotion and faithfulness spouses should have to each other?
Why should marriage never be considered “fifty- fifty”? In reality, how does a husband
and wife become one? (The answer is not intercourse, because a couple who can’t do such
can still be one as verse 31 indicates.)
18. Don’t verses 32 & 33 seem to be a reiteration of verses 22-30? Why is this “great
mystery” so important for us in determining what God sees as the important characteristics
of Christian spouses?
19. Notice that in the last verse, the main command for the husband has not changed and that
the one for the wife is different wording. In what specific ways should a Christian wife
respect or reference he husband? How should that compare to how she relates to others
men, especially a boss or supervisor?
20. How much more does it seem that God holds husbands responsible for a Christian
marriage than the wives? (Count the verses related to each and determine the percentage
of husbands responsible for a Christian marriage than the wives? (Count the verses related
to each and determine the percentage of husband verses in relation to the verses in this
passage about spouse responsibilities.) Why is this understanding of God’s view of spouse
responsibility important? What are the most popular reasons for divorce? What are the
usual reasons give by couples for their marriages lasting “so long” when they are
celebrating their wedding anniversary with a banquet or party?