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Ephesians 4:1-16 Wednesday Study

I. The Church Should Be Marked by Unity


1. Unity in Our Calling (1)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called

  1. Paul is a prisoner for the Lord = Lordship

  2. Walk - means to conduct one’s life


2. Unity in Our Conduct (2–3)


2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

  • Humility

  • Gentleness

  • Patience

  • Bearing with one another in love

  • Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace


3. Unity by Gospel Confession


There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

  • One Body

  • One Spirit

  • One Hope

  • One Lord

  • One Faith

  • One Baptism

  • One God and Father


II. The Church Should Have Spiritual Diversity


1. We Have Diverse Gifts (7–10)

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”[a]9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?[b] 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

  • This is not saving grace; this is ministry grace. The grace and gifting to do ministry and build up the body of Christ.


2. We Have Diverse Responsibilities (11–12)


11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[c] and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

The fivefold ministry model for the church — these are five God-given abilities or service roles to provide spiritual leadership and ministry for the church.


Apostles


The Function of the Apostle of the New Testament


Greek word for Apostle, apostolos, means one sent out for a specific purpose or mission.

  1. The mission of the apostle is to establish the church among the unevangelized.

  2. The mission is to pioneer and establish churches and church-related ministries and to ensure they are founded on sincere devotion to Christ and faith in the true original message.

  3. Responsibilities in regard to the mission:

    1. An urgent God-given desire to maintain a church’s purity by calling for separation from sin and ungodly beliefs and behavior from the world.

    2. A desire to proclaim Christ’s message and to defend it against contradictory beliefs, new religious trends, and false teachers.

    3. Often accompanied by signs and wonders.

    4. If the church stopped sending out people who function in this apostolic role, both numerical and spiritual growth would be hindered.


Prophets

One operating in the function of the Prophet is a spiritual leader uniquely gifted in receiving and communicating direct revelation from God by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

  1. The New Testament prophets functioned in the New Testament:

    1. They were Spirit-filled speakers and interpreters of God’s word, called by God to warn, challenge, comfort, encourage, and build up God’s people.

    2. They were at times seers (1 Chronicles 29:29).

    3. Expose sin and speak out about what is right by God’s standards.

    4. Warn of judgment to come and battle worldliness and complacency.

    5. Can expect rejection in the church when people are spiritually unconcerned or rebellious.

  2. A church that rejects God’s prophets will decline in spiritual sensitivity and discernment.


Evangelist

One operating in the function of the Evangelist is gifted to share the salvation message.

  1. They have a special gifting for sharing God’s plan of salvation, and many will be receptive as they share.

  2. They will help the church to be equipped, mobilized, and engaged in evangelism.

  3. Will see preaching, water baptisms, miracles/healings, and Spirit baptisms.


Shepherd

Also known as the function of Pastor, this function includes those whose God-given ministry gifts and callings cause them to devote themselves to overseeing and caring for the spiritual needs of the local congregation.

  1. Must exercise leadership in the church.

  2. Direct the spiritual life and formation of the church.

  3. Help the church to be Spirit-led.

  4. Teach people how to live according to God’s Word.


Teachers

A person functioning with this gift has a special ability to clarify, explain, and communicate God’s Word to build up and edify.

  1. They will uphold the integrity of God’s Word.

  2. They will help people not just to be hearers of the Word, but doers.


III. The Church Should Be Marked by Spiritual Maturity


1. Maturity Involves Christlikeness (13)


13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,


2. Maturity Involves Doctrinal Stability (13–14)


13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[e] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, and by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.


3. Maturity Involves Truth Joined With Love (15–16)


15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

  • We are a family and should operate in love, not shying away from the truth but leading with love.


4. Maturity Involves Contribution (16)


16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

  • You are part of the body and a participant who is needed to build up the church.





 
 
 

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