Sermon Notes (1.2.22)
GROW TOGETHER
Ephesians 4:1-16
4 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 For it says:
When he ascended on high,
he took the captives captive;
he gave gifts to people.
9 But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part. (CSB)
Unified Together
Ephesians 4:1-10
ONE BODY – ONE SPIRIT – ONE HOPE – ONE LORD – ONE FAITH – ONE BAPTISM – ONE GOD
From Indicative to Imperative
“What we want, if men become Christians at all, is to keep them in the state of mind I call ‘Christianity And’…If they must be Christians let them at least be Christians with a difference. Substitute for the faith itself some Fashion with a Christian colouring.” – C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
Immature Together
Ephesians 4:11-14
IT’S A WE ISSUE
Ephesians 4:13 – until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son,n growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
WHERE ARE YOU IMMATURE?
Doctrine & Devotion
Ephesians 4:14 – Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
Do you have a plan to deepen doctrinally?
Ephesians 4:1-3 – Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
ARE YOU GUILTY OF GHOSTING THE CHURCH?
If you want to become like God, if you want to have this divine life grow and you grow into maturity…you cannot just drop in on church and expect that you’re going to grow. That means, of course, you also can’t be on the outs with people. Do you realize how absolutely outrageous and inappropriate it is for you to have the life of the Trinity in you and yet there are some people around that you avoid because you’re kind of on the outs with them? How dare we do that? – Tim Keller
Grow Together
Ephesians 4:11-16
SACRIFICIAL SERVICE
Ephesians 4:11-12 – And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ…
Ministry Model – Business? Bus? Body?
Ephesians 4:16 – From him the whole body, fitted and knit togetherr by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
VULNERABLE RELATIONSHIPS
speaking the truth in love
How the Cross speaks Truth in Love
HOW WILL YOU RESPOND?
Confess.
Celebrate.
Commit.
A Prayer for Salvation
“Heavenly Father, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever before believed, but through your Son Jesus I can be more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you that he lived the life I should have lived and paid the debt and punishment I owed. Receive me now for his sake. I turn from my sins and receive him as Savior. Amen.”