Sermon Tone Analysis

March 7, 2012

By John Barnett

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Grace-energized men get “sound in faith” when they are mended (by equipping) and built up (through edification) by the Word of God’s truth.

Then they go through life building others up (edifying them) by God's Word.

In Christ's church each of us has a different giftedness God wants to use in His construction of the Church.

If you come to the building site and do not do what He made you to do—the entire process of building up the Church suffers.

And that brings us to Ephesians 4:11-13.

Ephesians 4:11-13 /"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12* for the equipping* of the saints for the work of ministry, *for the edifying* of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."/

NKJV

*Mended and Built By The Truth*

How is this done within a local church?

Paul introduces us to the twin concepts of the “equipping church” and the “edifying church”.

Both ministries are vital.

We all need to grasp our responsibility, so that we come to church and operate as a church in the way that God designed us to serve Him—*mending lives so that those lives can be engaged as tools in Christ's hands building up, helping, exhorting, and discipling others.*

First, mending means finding that Jesus comes to us by His Spirit, through His Word and gives us the power to reach out and mend others with His Word.

This power to do what He has told us to do in the Bible is grace.

And all that was to happen within the context of grace-energized, truth-filled lives of those called to be menders.

Secondly, we need to examine the other half of our calling.

Look again at Ephesians 4:12.

Ephesians 4:12 “…*for the equipping* (Gk.

# 2677, n. from v. #2675 lit.

“mending”; KJV ‘perfecting’) of the saints for the work of ministry, *for the edifying* (Gk.

#3619 lit.

“building up”) of the body of Christ…” NKJV

The second half of the plan is “edifying”, or being—

*Built up by The Truth*

What exactly does an edifying church do?

Again, we learn that by seeing the early church in action through the New Testament.

And, as we do so, go back to that house-building picture.

Think of what it takes to build a house: a succession of skilled workers that work together with a common goal, following the same plans, and guided by the master builder/contractor who is doing the bidding of the owner.

Now think about that.

We are all individual workmen, as Paul told Timothy ‘rightly dividing’ the plans in God's Word.

The project managers are the elders who are to make sure that everyone is mended and spiritually healthy and as soon as they are—make sure they are helping out in the building.

The Owner is always present and observing our work—and of course that is the Lord.

Edification is just building the house according to the plans God left us.

Pleasing Him as we do so.

Now let’s do another word study, this time it is on that second half of Ephesians 4:12

Ephesians 4:12 “…*for the equipping* (Gk.

# 2677, n. from v. #2675 lit.

“mending”; KJV ‘perfecting’) of the saints for the work of ministry,* for the edifying* (Gk.

#3619 lit.

“building up”) of the body of Christ…” NKJV

*3619* oikodome *{ oy-kod-om-ay’}*: n f; AV - edifying 7, building 6, edification 4, wherewith (one) may edify 1; 18x in the N.T.

*Definition*: (the act of) building, building up; metaphorically= edifying, edification; the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness; a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice)

• Matthew 24:1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the *buildings* of the temple.

NKJV

• Mark 13:1-2 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what *buildings* are here!”2

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings?

Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

NKJV

• Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may *edify* another.

NKJV

• Romans 15:2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to *edification*.

NKJV

• 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s *building*.

NKJV

• 1 Corinthians 14:3, 5, 12, 26 But he who prophesies speaks *edification* and exhortation and comfort to men. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive *edification*.12

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the* edification* of the church that you seek to excel.26

How is it then, brethren?

Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation.

Let all things be done for *edification.*

NKJV

• 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a *building* from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

NKJV

• 2 Corinthians 10:8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for *edification* and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—NKJV

• 2 Corinthians 12:19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you?

We speak before God in Christ.

But we do all things, beloved, for your *edification.*

NKJV

• 2 Corinthians 13:10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for *edification* and not for destruction.

NKJV

• Ephesians 2:21 in whom the whole *building*, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, NKJV

• Ephesians 4:12, 16, 29 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the *edifying* of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the *edifying* of itself in love.

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary *edification*, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

NKJV

Before we go any further, let me just explain a life long building ministry we should seek to be a part of.

I like to call this—

*4 Types of Edifying Friends Every Believer Needs*

Tragically, many believers are among the loneliest people on the face of the earth.

But that is contrary to all that God has planned for His Church.

Edifying friendship is a vital part of New Testament ministry and leadership.

Without quality, biblical friendships, we are modeling a flawed Christian lifestyle for our church members.

Yet, for many, the difficulties of close friendships outweigh the benefits.

Many believers find themselves in an unhealthy relationship where their marriage partner is their only friend and counselor.

I believe our partners should be our best friend, but not our only friend.

If you are a typical believer without close friendships, I urge you to seek out one of each type of these Christians who can build you up by only one thing God blesses—His Word.

God's Word is the tool with which all spiritual building is done.

/“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work”/ (2 Tim.

3:16–17).

That is the tool with which every believer should be skilled, and should share.

In my over 30 years of ministry, I have learned that every believer needs at least four types of friends around them who are skilled in using God's Word:

1. *We Need to be Edified by The Developer*: Your best friend will always be the person who brings out the very best in you.

According to Billy Graham, he wouldn’t have made it as an evangelist if he had to minister alone.

In 1948, Billy Graham met his staff and best friends: Cliff Barrows, George Beverly Shea, and Grady Wilson.

These three men protected him, strengthened him, counseled with their wisdom, and corrected him when he needed it.

He is convinced that without these friends he would have burned out within a few years after his first groundbreaking crusade in 1949 .

Developer friends will bring the gift of encouragement to your life and bring out the very best in you.

2. *We Need to be Edified by The Designer*: We tend to think of mentors as a personal, hands-on coach.

The Latin and Greek define them more as “advisors” or “wise men.”

Jesus was a master mentor.