SUNDAY LESSON, 10/18/26
TAME YOUR THOUGHTS: FUTILE THINKING
Ephesians 4:17-24
As we continue our series TAME YOUR THOUGHTS, we are reminded of how easy it is to fill our minds with worldly clutter. This is especially true in today’s media saturated culture. Even though we, as a society, are constantly scrolling through our screens and filling our minds with endless content, there are countless numbers of people whose lives feel so empty—something that Paul refers to as FUTILE THINKING.
Paul in writing the church of Ephesus is reminding them of the dangers of reverting back to their old lifestyle before Christ. So, he begins by reiterating what a life guided by futile thinking looks like. It’s a life they knew very well, because they lived it. But when Paul said, “you must no longer live as the Gentiles (unbelieving pagans),” indicates that there were those within the church who were doing just that. And, sadly, this is an ongoing problem even in the church today.
Paul is reminding the Christians at Ephesus to replace “futile thinking” with a godly thinking—a renewed mind. He then urges them to continue to “put off the old self . . . and to put the new.”
Come join us Sunday as study the dangers of FUTILE THINKING and counter it with a RENEWED MIND in Christ..
EPHESIANS 4:17-24
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
