WE VS. ME EPHESIANS 4:7-16
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah s gift.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 8 For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 9 But what does He ascended mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth?
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ s fullness.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 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.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
BIG IDEA: If you want Christ to be exalted and if you want to spiritually mature then you must embrace the corporate nature of being a Christian.
OBSERVATION 1: Every believer in Christ is a part of His body called the church.
EPHESIANS 4:11-13 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
EPHESIANS 4:11-13 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
EPHESIANS 4:11-13 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ s fullness.
EPHESIANS 4:15-16 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:15-16 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
EPHESIANS 1:22-23 And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.
OBSERVATION 2: God wants every believer to participate in the local church.
EPHESIANS 4:12-16 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
EPHESIANS 4:12-16 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ s fullness.
EPHESIANS 4:12-16 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.
EPHESIANS 4:12-16 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:12-16 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
HEBREWS 10:24-25 And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
ACTS 2:41-47 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them.
ACTS 2:41-47 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.
ACTS 2:41-47 43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.
ACTS 2:41-47 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common.
ACTS 2:41-47 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need.
ACTS 2:41-47 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with a joyful and humble attitude,
ACTS 2:41-47 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
A DANGEROUS ATTITUDE: A Rugged Independence
Why does God want you to actively participate in the church?
1. Jesus is directly involved in the church.
EPHESIANS 1:22-23 And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.
EPHESIANS 4:15 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:8-10 8 For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people.
EPHESIANS 4:8-10 9 But what does He ascended mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth?
EPHESIANS 4:8-10 10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
ACTS 1:9-11 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight.
ACTS 1:9-11 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them.
ACTS 1:9-11 11 They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven.
EPHESIANS 1:22-23 And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way.
2. The church is where you will spiritually mature.
EPHESIANS 4:11-13 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
EPHESIANS 4:11-13 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
EPHESIANS 4:11-13 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ s fullness.
He wants us to become mature, or to spiritually grow up.
EPHESIANS 4:15 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ.
MYTH: Spiritual maturity is something that automatically happens over time.
TRUTH: Spiritual maturity is due to intentional training over time.
1 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,
1 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 8 for the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
THE TRAINING GROUND: Living life in community with other believers.
ELEMENT NEEDED TO PRODUCE MATURITY: The gifts that Jesus has given to every believer.
EPHESIANS 4:7-11 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah s gift.
EPHESIANS 4:7-11 8 For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people.
EPHESIANS 4:7-11 9 But what does He ascended mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth?
EPHESIANS 4:7-11 10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
EPHESIANS 4:7-11 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7 A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial.
ROMANS 12:6 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of one s faith.
THE WORD "GIFT" ROMANS 12 & 1 CORINTHIANS 12 "Gift" = "Charisma" Root word: "Charis" = "Grace"
THE WORD "GIFT" EPHESIANS 4 "Gift" = "Doma" Root word: "Doxa" = "Glory"
Some Spiritual Gifts - Leadership - Apostles - Service - Prophets - Teaching - Tongues - Encouragement - Evangelist - Mercy - Faith
EPHESIANS 4:11-14 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
EPHESIANS 4:11-14 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
EPHESIANS 4:11-14 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ s fullness.
EPHESIANS 4:11-14 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.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:12 12 So also you since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.
3. Jesus has tied your spiritual development to the development of the body.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah s gift.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 8 For it says: When He ascended on high, He took prisoners into captivity; He gave gifts to people.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 9 But what does He ascended mean except that He descended to the lower parts of the earth?
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 10 The One who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ s fullness.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 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.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:7-16 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13 For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body so also is Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-15 So the body is not one part but many. If the foot should say, Because I m not a hand, I don t belong to the body, in spite of this it still belongs to the body.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:16-17 And if the ear should say, Because I m not an eye, I don t belong to the body, in spite of this it still belongs to the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
1 CORINTHIANS 12:18-20 But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:21-22 So the eye cannot say to the hand, I don t need you! Or again, the head can t say to the feet, I don t need you! But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:23 And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:24-25 But our presentable parts have no need of clothing. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:26-27 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.
4. It makes following Christ and serving Christ tangible for believers.
MATTHEW 25:31-40 31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
MATTHEW 25:31-40 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
MATTHEW 25:31-40 33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left.
MATTHEW 25:31-40 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
MATTHEW 25:31-40 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;
MATTHEW 25:31-40 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you took care of Me; I was in prison and you visited Me.
MATTHEW 25:31-40 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
MATTHEW 25:31-40 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You?
MATTHEW 25:31-40 39 When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?
MATTHEW 25:31-40 40 And the King will answer them, I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.
HEBREWS 6:10 10 For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints and you continue to serve them.
1 JOHN 3:16-17 16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 JOHN 3:16-17 17 If anyone has this world s goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need how can God s love reside in him?
GALATIANS 6:2 2 Carry one another s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
APPLICATION 1. Do not underestimate the long-term benefit of doing life together.
APPLICATION 1. Do not underestimate the long term benefit doing life together. 2. Make it your point to love.
EPHESIANS 4:15-16 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:15-16 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.