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Walk in unity - Growing to Maturity Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ephesians 4:11-16 August 23rd, 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 Summarize Ephesians 4:1-11 - Walk worthy of your calling - Walk in loving unity - Know that grace is given to each one – diversity in our unity - This grace is given by Jesus the exalted king who ascended to the Father - Jesus gives leaders for equipping all Christians for ministry for the body to be built up. BODY and MEMBERS Paul is concerned about both the entire body and individual members of the body. So we need to listen to this passage thinking about the church as a whole and as individuals. If a body as a whole is going to be something each individual needs to be something. Maturity - difference between kids and mature adults ma·tur·i·ty (mə-tyŏŏr'ĭ-tē, -tŏŏr'-, -chŏŏr'-) n. pl. ma·tur·i·ties
This passage has Christian maturity as the goal of the work of the church: I see three aspects of maturity from these verses. 1) Maturity Pursued 2) Maturity Defined 3) Maturity Illustrated 1. Maturity Pursued 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 …to mature manhood…” A. Pursued by Christ – our Sovereign King “He gave…” “Grace was given to each one” (v. 7) It is Christ’s plan to bring about maturity in His church. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, (26) that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, (27) so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. He is foundational to the pursuit of the next two: 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” Spiritual leaders are GIFTED to equip all Christians for the works of service for the sake of the entire church. This has a greater purpose – MATURITY (vs 12) 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…” Every believer is part of the process of bringing maturity in the body. Every believer all the time is called to ministry. This is the calling of our lives. We are disciples and followers of Jesus. We are not our own but have been bought with a price. We must embrace a ministry mentality. 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, In verse 13 Paul defined unity (or what the building of the body of Christ is all about with three phrases: § The unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God § Mature manhood § The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ Here is maturity defined – BEING MADE LIKE CHRIST Corporately and individually “Unity of the faith” “Unity of the knowledge of the Son of God” Truly knowing Christ and the implications of being His disciples. This requires sound teaching – instruction in doctrine “The measure of the fullness of Christ” = we are being made into the image of Jesus Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 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. A. Secure – Unlike Children’s Instability and Fickleness (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. 3 Pictures: § Children § Waves and wind § Huckster with fixed dic Ignorant and fickle children are susceptible to false teaching: 1. Worldly views of family, money and church 2. One notch up views 3. Legalism and License 4. Decisionism B. Full of Truth and Love Like Jesus (15) Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, “Truthing in love” – connected to Christ (abiding in the vine) John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. C. Every Member Functioning Properly (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 points us back to the corporate identity of the church – we are called to a maturity of the church not just individuals CONCLUSION Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, (15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, (16) that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, (17) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, (19) and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (20) Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, (21) to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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