Ephesians 4: Be Kind to One Another

Ephesians 4 begins the practical part of the letter. Paul begs believers to walk worthily of their calling with humility, patience, and love, keeping the unity of the Spirit. There is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Christ gave gifts to His people so the church would grow up in love. Believers should put away the old way of life and put on the new: speak truth, don't let anger lead to sin, work honestly, and use words that build others up. Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

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Read Ephesians 4

World English Bible · 32 verses

¹ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in us all.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ But to each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to people.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ They, having become callous, gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ But you didn’t learn Christ that way,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ and don’t give place to the devil.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander be put away from you, with all malice.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Ephesians 4 · Preschool

Be Kind

Name Date

Color the friends sharing!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God wants us to be kind and to forgive. Who can you be kind to today?

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Ephesians 4 · Grade 4

Speaking Truth in Love

Name Date

Read and Think

Paul writes as the prisoner in the Lord. He begs believers to live in a way worthy of God's call. That means living with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love. They should work hard to keep the peace and oneness the Spirit gives. There is one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Christ gave gifts to His church. Some were apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. Their work was to equip believers to serve and to build up the body of Christ. Then believers would not be like children tossed by every wind of wrong teaching. Instead, speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.

Paul says to put off the old man like old clothes and put on the new man, made like God in righteousness and holiness. So he gives clear examples. Stop lying and speak truth. Be angry, and don't sin. Don't let the sun go down on your wrath. Work honestly and share with people in need. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth. Put away bitterness and anger. Instead, be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Show What You Know

How should believers bear with one another?
What did the leaders Christ gave help do?
How should we speak truth?
What should not happen before the sun goes down?
Why should we forgive each other?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Spiritbodyonegiftstruth

That means living with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with another in love.
They should work hard to keep the peace and oneness the gives.
There is one and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
Christ gave to His church.
Instead, speaking in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.

Think About It

Paul says to speak truth in love. What is the difference between telling the truth kindly and telling it unkindly?
Paul says our words should build others up. Whose day could your words make better this week?

Memory Verse

“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making us one family. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Think of a time when telling the truth in love was hard. What helped?
How can your words help?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Ephesians 4 · Grade 5

Walk Worthily of the Calling

Name Date

Read and Think

Ephesians 4 turns from what God has done to how His people should live. I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called. Paul names the qualities this requires: lowliness, humility, patience, and bearing with one another in love. Unity matters because God is one. Paul repeats the word one seven times: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.

Yet unity is not sameness. To each one of us, the grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers. Their purpose was for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ. A mature church is not tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine. Instead, speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.

Paul then contrasts two ways of life. Some Gentiles walked in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding. But you didn't learn Christ that way. Believers put away the old man and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. Paul gives practical commands about honesty, anger, work, and speech. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Let all bitterness and anger be put away. The chapter ends with this charge: And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Show What You Know

What does Paul beg believers to do?
How many times does Paul repeat the word one?
What were the gifts of leaders for?
What does it look like to put on the new man?
What should believers not do to the Holy Spirit?

Crossword

Across

There is one ____ and one Spirit

Down

And be ____ to one another

Think About It

Paul says not to let the sun go down on your wrath. What could help you make peace quickly when you are upset with someone?
Christ gives different gifts to different people. What gifts do you see in people at your church?

Memory Verse

“And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making us one family. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you help your church family stay united this week?
What gifts do you see in others?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Ephesians 4: Be Kind to One Another

Read Ephesians 4

Worksheets

Be Kind

Prayer

Take It Home

Kind Hearts

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

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Be Kind to One Another

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Prayer

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Kind and Forgiving

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

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Put On the New

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Grow Up in Love

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Speaking Truth in Love

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Walk Worthily of the Calling

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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