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As we’ve walked through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we’ve discovered a new way of looking at ourselves, our world, and the church in light (“New Light”) of the reality that we are now “in Christ” and called to see things differently. As Paul might put it, “the world is broken, but because of Jesus you have a new and better way to live.” Now we turn to perhaps the most challenging relationship in which to live that out – our marriages – to see how we’re called to live them out “differently.”

In Ephesians 4:17–31, Paul delivers a direct challenge: growing old is inevitable, but growing up is a choice. This week, we identify two essential steps toward spiritual maturity. The first is a decisive moment that breaks the cycle of spiritual incrementalism and calls out the “casuals.” The second is inner transformation — the Spirit’s work of renewing the mind with a new way of thinking, not from fear or pride, but from gratitude.

As we continue our study of Ephesians, Paul offers a passionate prayer that his fellow believers would experience not just the presence of the Holy Spirit, but the active power of the Spirit in their daily lives. The message presses a vital truth: a Christian can “have” the Spirit and yet live without (“have not”) his power, much like a house fully wired for electricity but cut off from the grid. The path from powerless to powerful runs through understanding, experience, and a deliberate drawing close to God through community, prayer, obedience, and surrender to Christ.