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The Power of Speaking the Truth
Ephesians 4:25
– The Bible Teacher's Commentary –
Paul J. Bucknell
Ephesians 4:25 ~ Free Bible Study Questions on "The Power of Speaking the Truth" is the 5th and last section of the The Bible Teacher's Commentary in which Paul shows us how to eliminate falsehood's grasp on our lives, to find the power to speak truth and the gives us one reason to speak the truth.
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Bible Study Questions
Ephesians 4:25
Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE of you, WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another (Ephesians 4:25).
- Read Ephesians 4:24. Describe the new self.
- Is there an old self (see Ephesians 4:24)? Where did it go?
- Man was not always a liar. When did lying begin? What were some signs of falsehood found in Genesis 3?
- What is falsehood? Use at least three descriptions of how falsehood shows itself.
- What does Ephesians 4:25 tell you to do with falsehood in your life? What does this mean?
- What are you told to positively do in this verse (Ephesians 4:25)?
- What is truth? What does it mean to ‘speak truth?’
- Who is to speak truth? Is anyone excluded?
- Do people think it is okay for them to say lies at times? Why is this? It is right to think this way?
- What are the advantages of speaking the truth?
- What reason does Ephesians 4:25 give to motivate us to speak the truth?
- Jesus’ royal law says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (James 2:28). Do you like to be lied to? Why not?
- What harm do rumors, slander and gossip bring about? If you have experienced such things, perhaps you can share a bit.
- When we lay aside our falsehood, we often are afraid of the consequences. Name some possible consequences if you instead tell the truth in those situations. Later, if possible, come back and share what really happened.
- Share what the following verses say about falsehood and speaking the truth.
The wicked earns deceptive wages, But he who sows righteousness gets a true reward. He who is steadfast in righteousness will attain to life, And he who pursues evil will bring about his own death. The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, But the blameless in their walk are His delight. Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished, But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered (Proverbs 11:18-21).
- Make a time chart of your life. Graph out how much you use falsehood in your daily life, past, present and future. This prediction of your future is your commitment to obey God’s Word by His grace.
- Ephesians 4:25 tells us to ‘lay aside falsehood.’ The real way to do this, once for all, is to go to God and those you have lied to, speak the truth as to what you did wrong, why it was wrong and to ask for apology. Pay remuneration if needed. Think as to whether God is prompting you to do this for any particular situation.
- Make a plan to lay aside falsehood and speak the truth. List all the unconfessed falsehoods that come to your mind in the left column. In the middle column list the people you yet need to confess your deceiving ways. In the third (last) column write the date that you have fully admitted the truth before God and man. When you finish, pledge yourself before God to speak only the truth. You should see much more moral courage and closeness with God.
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