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Walk in Unity - maturity in the body Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ephesians 4:15-16 August 30th, 2009
Ephesians 4:11-16 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (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, (14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (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. INTRODUCTION LAST WEEK 1. Maturity Pursued A. Pursued by Christ – our Sovereign King “He gave…” B. Pursued by Church Leaders – Equippers “the shepherds and teachers, (12) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (13) until we all attain … to mature manhood” C. Pursued by All Christians – Ministers “saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (13) until we all …to mature manhood…” 2. Maturity Defined for building up the body of Christ, (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, 3. Maturity Illustrated (14) so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (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. This Week I want to sum up this passage by bringing out four points about the Body of Christ: 1. The Body of Christ is called to Maturity (we are going somewhere) (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, Christ is working to make the Church mature. Stagnancy is unacceptable to Him. He is going somewhere. Broken-down house analogy – the Restorer is dissatisfied with anything but perfection 2. Maturity is centered in Jesus (He is the goal and the means/source) Note the continual reference to Jesus in this entire passage. Jesus is central to this maturation process of His body. He is the picture of maturity – the goal or end – “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” “grow up into him” He is Our Head – we follow His orders and instructions He is Our Source (as a head is a source) – “from whom…is equipped” (better translation—supplied) We must cling closely to Jesus in our process of growth in the Church. I like the language that pastor Dave uses so consistently – “Following Jesus.” 3. Jesus makes us full of Truth and Love (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. Being like Jesus means that we become full of Truth and Love. Lovers in Truth Truthers in Love We are founded strongly on the rich foundation of Jesus We are full of grace and mercy and love 4. Truth and Love produce mature growth as we Function as the body of Christ Truth and love are not characteristics of Christ that are to function as individuals in their own little island for themselves. Truth and love truly produce Christlikeness and growth as they function as part of the body of Christ. Jesus does the joining and binding closely together. This points back to verses 12 – EVERYONE is a MINISTER – everyone is given grace 1 Corinthians 12:13-27 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (14) For the body does not consist of one member but of many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? (18) But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. (19) If all were a single member, where would the body be? (20) As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (21) The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." (22) On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, (23) and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, (24) which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, (25) that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (26) If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (27) Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. SOTIS MEDICAL ILLUSTRATION We Need to commit to 3 things: - Vision - Commitment - Training |
