Building Up the Body

10th Sermon in the Series: Who is the Church? A Study of Ephesians
Rev David Bisgrove - 4 December 2011

Ephesians 4:1-16
1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--- 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over and through all and in all.

7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:
"When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men"

9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of every service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until 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.

14Then 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. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will win in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From 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.

A CALL - live a worthy life of humility, gentleness, and dignity.
--the church is an attempt to match the unity that exists in Heaven

A RESOURCE - manifestation of the spirit of the Common Good from Jesus.
--we are an extension of Jesus' power.
--we, the consumer, should become ministers.
--who am I uniquely qualified to minister to?

A PURPOSE - time for us to grow up and do the job on our own.
--Don't be dictated by circumstances.
--Don't just rely on others in the Church.
--Bring God into our lives through the prayer of community.
--It's unloving to withold the truth