Ephesians Week 6

Joshua Bledsoe

Wednesday Night Study: Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

0 ratings

· 4 views

Notes

Transcript

Handout

We are Unified in the Church

Ephesians 4:1–16 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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.

According to Ephesians 4:1-16, what are the characteristics of a healthy church?

We can trace Paul’s teaching by noting three marks of a healthy church: 1) Spiritual Unity, 2) Spiritual Diversity, 3) Spiritual maturity

A Healthy Church is Marked by Spiritual Unity

United by Divine Calling

What does it mean to walk worthy?

b. United by Christlike Conduct

What character traits are necessary to have Christlike conduct?

-Humility, Patience, Bearing one another in love, Making every effort to keep unity

What are the important aspects of each of these character traits?

What is the difference between passive unity and active unity?

c. United by Gospel Confession

What essential beliefs are needed for Christian unity?

-One body, One Spirit, One hope, One Lord, One faith, One baptism, One God and Father

2. A Healthy Church is Marked by Spiritual Diversity

How do Spiritual Unity and Spiritual Diversity work together?

a. We have Diverse Gifts

What are the gifts God has given his people? Which gift has God given you?

b. We have Diverse Responsibilities?

How do these spiritual gifts work together? What are examples of roles in the church these gifts may play?

-The leaders equip the saints (apostle, prophet, pastor), The saints do the work of ministry

3. A Healthy Church is Marked by Spiritual Maturity

What are the markers for Spiritual maturity?

a. Christlikeness

b. Doctrinal Stablility

c. Truth joined with Love

d. Contribution

Is there a process for gaining these? Is one marker needed prior to any of the others?

What is the connection between each?

Personal Reflection

Why is the unity important in a local church?

2. What do all believers share in common? What should all believers be pursuing?

3. Which gifts has God blessed you with? How are you currently using them? How can God use these to strengthen both your Spiritual walk and the Spiritual walk of others?

4. Which of the marks of spiritual maturity stuck out to you the most? Why? Which areas are you strong in? Which areas to you need improvement?

Related Media

Related Sermons