In "Biblical Perspective", Dr. Gordon Snider writes:

This basic command to love originates in the Old Testament. With all thy heart ... soul ... mind ... strength. The interpreter should resist the temptation to find subtle differences between these words. They are used here to show that love must flow from the entire person. Love cannot be separated into compartments. The suggestion is that we will either love God with our all, or not at all. This is the first commandment. Jesus did not mean that this is the first commandment given in time, but that it is the first commandment in terms of priority.

Source: Biblical Family Values: Adult Teacher's Insights, p. 5.

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise." (Ephesians 5:15)
Greg Blake writes in "Teaching Tips" for this week's lesson:

verse 15 is heightened by the imperative command in verse 17 to “become” or “be” (or even “prove yourselves”) “not unwise.” Sounding a definite warning to avoid foolishness and the dangers that the enticing ways of the “unwise” present, verse 17 rephrases Paul’s earlier urgings in verses 9 and 10. The “will of the Lord” is the standard for all Christian behavior. Disregard or disobedience will be evident by ensuing “unfruitful works of darkness.”

Discussion: In a practical sense, how does one walk circumspectly from day to day?
Source: Galatians and Ephesians, Adult Teacher's Insights, page. 75.

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." (Ephesians 5:2)
William Sillings writes in this week's "Word Focus":

Followers (mimetes) presents a nice picture. The word means “an imitator.” It comes from a verb form which means “to mimic.” The picture is of a small child trying to be like his father.
“Be mimickers of God, as dear children.” Follow His footsteps. Seek to adopt His personality. Love the things He loves. Do the things He wants you to do. Obey Him from the heart, hating anything that might disappoint Him. What a beautiful picture of the Christian walk!
Walk in love (agape) means “benevolence” (5:2). It is this word that is used so often to describe the love of God — as it does here. The example for us to follow, the touchstone of love, is the love Christ had for us in giving Himself to die for us. It is also used to describe the love of the heart perfected by the Spirit of God.
Walk as children of light (photos) (5:8). Verse 13 defines light for us — “whatsoever doth make manifest.” Manifest (phanerountai) means “to make apparent.” The idea here seems to be that we should walk in light so much that we continually see the truth for what it really is, and not be deceived or go back to darkness.
Walk circumspectly (akribos) (5:15). This word means “to walk exactly, or accurately, or carefully.” Accurate walking is defined as not walking as fools (without wisdom) but as wise (with wisdom).

Source: Galatians and Ephesians, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.

In the "Biblical Perspective" for this week's lesson, Dr. Marsh Jones writes:

To be a follower of God means to imitate Him in His moral and ethical attributes. This is not follower in the sense of having an interest in a particular person or party, rather it is follower in its most intense meaning — one who sincerely seeks to take on the traits of the one to whom he has joined himself.

Discussion: Having followers or being a follower is a common term today. How is its use similar or different from the biblical meaning?
Source: Galatians and Ephesians, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 75.

"And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32)
Dr. Marsh Jones writes in "Biblical Perspective" for this week's lesson:

Kindness, generosity, and compassion are all traits that a Christian constantly displays. Christ has given us an example of this in His behavior toward those to whom He ministered and those who were His detractors: “When he was reviled, [he] reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not” (1 Peter 2:23). The apostle also reminded us that when we feel unwilling to forgive someone who has wronged us, we should remember that Christ has forgiven us for the stupid and sinful things that we have done in the past. We should therefore forgive those who are only acting as we might have acted were it not for the grace of God!

Discussion: Why do we have difficulty being kind to anyone when we will not forgive a particular someone(s)?
Source: Galatians and Ephesians, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 72.

"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Ephesians 4:24)
In "Word Focus" for this week's lesson, William Sillings writes:

(1) Put off (apothesthai) means “to remove as one takes off clothes.” The verb is an aorist middle infinitive which indicates three things: (a) this is something we must do for ourselves, an action only we can carry out; (b) it is to be a once-and-for-all kind of action, “put off that old life once and for all, and never go back to it”; and (c) the infinitive form is used to denote the substance of what they had been taught, that which they were to put away, the old life with its old ways of thinking and acting.
(2) Put on (endusasthai) contrasts with the putting off. This word is often used of putting on a garment and is the positive side of verse 22.

Discussion: With this explanation in mind, what does it mean to put off the "old man" and to put on the "new man"?
Source: Galatians and Ephesians, Adult Teacher's Insights, page 68.