To Be The Church
Notes
Transcript
To Be The Church
Eph 4:7-16
Theme- Believers in Jesus Christ are called to be functioning members of the Church body.
Aim- To help believers understand their calling in Christ’s Church.
Introduction: Good morning everyone, for those of you who did not join us last week, my name is Keith and it is a privilege to be here again sharing God’s Word with you this morning. Kathy and I want to thank you for making us feel welcome during our time with you. You have treated us like family and we really appreciate you for that. We are continuing our study on “Called by God” - “To be The Church.” Last week we learned that God chose us, adopted us, and called us, and that Christ’s power is at work in us enabling us to live a life worthy of our calling as we follow Him. We also talked about how every believer in Jesus Christ is called by God, for God’s Kingdom purposes, to bring “Him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations…(Eph 3:21). Today we are going to focus on what it means to be the church. We will look at how Christ designed His Church to work like a body, and how believers are integral parts of His body. My hope is that every one of us will take our next steps to follow Him so that we may bring Him glory as the church. There are many methods and models about how the church should function. Well intending conferences, books, and online media speak into this subject at length, causing some to ask, “what is right for me and my church?” This morning I hope to answer that question as we look at the Biblical Church model. This design was established by Jesus Himself, and is the one true way for the Church to function. Therefore, I believe it to be where we need to focus our attention this morning. Before we begin our time in the Word would you pray with me…Prayer: Father thank you that we have been given truth in your Word. We have so many things competing for our allegiance claiming to be true and right. Help us now to push all those other things out of our hearts and minds. Give us focus and clarity as we spend time in your Word this morning. Open our spiritual eyes to see truth that you want us to grow in concerning your church. Thank you for the privilege we have as believers to be members of your church body. May we bring glory to you in and through the church, it’s in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Since the title of this sermon is “To Be The Church” it would be good for us to first have a Biblical definition of the Church.
Christ followers
Meeting
Teaching
Fellowship
Communion
Prayer
Here is what I came up with after searching the Scriptures: The Church is made up of Christ followers who meet together and devote themselves to the teachings of the Word, fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer, as established in the early church in (Acts 2:42). Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church (Eph 4:15), and the Church has many members of the one body (1 Cor 12:27), each of which have been gifted to serve the church body (Eph 4:7). The Church then is primarily a gathering of believers in Christ who devote themselves to sound teaching of the Holy Scriptures, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, including, (sacraments-communion, baptism), and to prayer; growing in their knowledge of, love for, and obedience to their Lord Jesus Christ; bringing glory to God in and through the church. Church leadership is responsible for overseeing, modeling, shepherding, building, equipping, and sending believers (Eph. 4:11-16; 2 Tim 3:16-17); and enforcing orderly worship (1 Cor. 14:40).
Please turn with me to Ephesians chapter 4. I want us to read our entire key passage Eph 4:1-16 as a reminder of last week’s message, and so we can transition to where we are going today.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called—
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
We are transitioning from what our calling means to us and for us personally and moving into what our calling means to us and for us corporately as members of Christ’s Church. Paul begins here in V.4:7
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Each believer in Christ receives particular enablement by the Holy Spirit. We see this explained in Rom 12:3-8.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,
so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.
If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Each believer in Jesus Christ is given an unequaled portion of faith and gifts to serve the body of Christ. Members of Christ’s Church are to serve the body using their gifts “in accordance with the measure of faith God has given” (Rom 12:3). John MacArthur calls believers, “spiritual snowflakes,” in that God’s gifts are given to each individual believer very specifically in varying degrees. Please hear this: If you are not using your gifts to serve the body of Christ, nobody else can take your place and minister the same way you would because you are uniquely created and uniquely gifted for particular works of ministry that only you can do. Paul said it this way in Eph 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
See, only you can do the works that God prepared for you to do.
V.8
This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
This is a succinct summary of Psalm 68 which depicts a military leader’s right to give gifts to those who belong with him after a victorious battle. Paul uses this as a lens for us to view Christ as the victor who conquered sin and death, redeeming his people and giving them gifts, and as gifts to the church. V.9
(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
This describes Christ’s descension (His death and burial in the grave) and ascension (His resurrection and subsequent ascension) to the right hand of the Father, which brought victory over sin and death. V.10
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
This has enabled those who believe in Jesus to be redeemed and become recipients of His grace/gifts through the indwelling Holy Spirit which we are sealed with at the time of our conversion. At the very moment you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit comes and indwells you. At that time you are given the gifts and the faith to carry out those gifts that Christ apportioned for you to have. Christ, then gifts His church with those same gifted people, “in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be” according to (1 Cor 12:18).
To be the church thus far means:
1. Every believer has different gifts, and a measure of faith according to the grace given them.
2. Members of the body “are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10).
3. Jesus gifts His Church with gifted people
4. The church body has great diversity within an all-encompassing unity
Alright, we are ready to turn the corner here in verse 11, are you ready? Some of you are on the edge of your seat in great anticipation I see. Well, sit back and hold on here we go.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
In V.11 Jesus gave gifts to His church in the form of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These Apostles and prophets ceased to exist once the apostolic period was over when John the Apostle, the last living Apostle, died. Since that time Jesus continues to provide His church with evangelists, pastors and teachers. Then Paul explains why He does this in verses 12 and 13.
to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
We God’s people, the church, have three goals then:
1. to be built up unto the unity of the faith
2. to be built up unto the full knowledge of the Son of God becoming mature
3. to be built up unto the whole measure of the fullness of Christ
All according to His power that is at work within us as we follow Him
This is how Christ’s church is divinely designed to work! Jesus as the head of His church, provides everything needed to build His church. This kind of church is unstoppable when it comes to Kingdom work. It is absolutely critical that we do not drift from Jesus’ church model in thinking that there is a better model to follow. Every member in the body of Christ must fight to remain anchored in Jesus’ directives for His church. Pastors and church staff are leaving the ministry at alarming rates because of burnout. They are exhausted, they are discouraged, perhaps this is happening because they are the only ones doing the work of the ministry. But, isn’t that what they get paid to do? According to (Eph 4:11-13), they are divinely placed in the church to prepare God’s people for works of service, for ministry. Pastors and teachers build and equip the saints, those (holy ones, called out, and set apart for God’s use) to do the work of ministry. Paul clearly defines these roles for us so that the body of Christ may be built up in unity, faith, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ according to His divine design for His church.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.
Remember Paul’s intent for writing this letter was to equip the church so they could guard against false teaching. This equipping happens in the church as Christ provides gifted pastors and teachers to equip members of the church with sound doctrine, enabling the church to guard against false teaching. As a result of this equipping Paul says in V.15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
This phrase “speaking the truth in love,” has the connotation that your life speaks truth in love in both speech and deed, in word and action.
Are others receiving truth in love as they look and listen in on our lives? Are they seeing us tossed back and forth by the waves of this fallen world? Are we adrift, lights out to God, consumed by fear, worry, and anxiousness? Or, are we anchored, firmly connected to the Head, that is Christ? By whom Paul says, V.16
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Jesus said that He would build His church, “and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18). We have just learned the process by which Jesus builds His church, and it is amazing! Who wouldn’t want to be built up in love along with your church family as each serve one another using their gifts resulting in glory to God in and through the church. This is exciting! How are we doing? Church leaders, are you faithfully building and equipping the saints to do the work of ministry? Members of the body, are you faithfully giving yourself to church leadership for your building, equipping, and spiritual development, in order to be all God has called you to be and do in His church? This, by the way, is one example of speaking the truth in love. My intention is to build you up to maturity in the faith, so you may build one another up in love, as each of you serve using your gifts.
When Christ’s Church works according to His plan and purpose:
1. the church is unified through the power of the Holy Spirit (4:3).
2. pastors and teachers prepare God’s people for works of service (4:11-12)
3. every member of the body is using his/her gifts for ministry (4:7,12,16b).
4. believers recognize false teaching because they are mature in the faith (4:14).
5. they speak truth in love to one another edifying the body (4:15).
6. Christ operates as the Head of the church, joins and holds the body together, as each part does its work (4:15-16).
Based on my study of this passage I recognize three steps we can take to remain anchored in the Biblical Church model:
Pray
Grow
Use your gifts
1. Pray with a sincere heart like the Apostle Paul did in Eph chapters 1 and 3. Ask the Lord Jesus to strengthen you with power, along with all the saints, to intimately know the love He has for His Bride the Church. Pray with a teachable spirit and ask the Holy Spirit to confirm your spiritual gifts and to present opportunities within the church for you to use those gifts.
2. Continue being an ongoing disciple of Christ, growing in your knowledge of, love for, and obedience to the Lord Jesus; remaining committed to the Biblical church model as found in the Scriptures (Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:4-27; Eph 4:1-16; 1 Pet 4:8-11).
3. Finally, remember what it cost Jesus to be able to provide the spiritual gifts you now have. He gave up everything, He was betrayed, beaten, mocked, spat on. He took the full wrath of God on Himself as our substitute while nailed to a Cross to pay the penalty for my sins, for your sins, and ultimately for the sins of the world for all who believe in Him. So that through faith in Him we now stand reconciled to God, totally forgiven, fully accepted, fully assured an eternity with Him. And as if that wasn’t enough, we have been given grace/gifts from Jesus Himself to serve as an integral member of His Church for His glory and for the good of others.
I plead with those of you who haven’t made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Please take some time right now to meet with God, consider all Jesus has done to make a way for you to be forgiven of your sins. Then believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and raised to life 3 days later, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. When you believe this and confess Jesus as Lord of your life, the Bible says you will be saved and pass from death to life in Christ.
Reflection Questions
1. Are you devoting yourself to the teachings of the Word, fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer, like those believers in the early church found in Acts 2:42-47?
2. Have you identified your gifts and are you using those gifts to serve the body of Christ?
3. Do you believe your local church body is building itself up in love as each part does its work?
4. In what particular ways can you help yourself and other members of the body grow in the unity of the faith and in the knowledge of Jesus in order to move towards maturity in Christ?