Unity in the Body of Christ - Part 2 (Ephesians 4:7-16)

Daniel L. Arter

The Letter to the Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Ephesians 4:1–16

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Announcements

Sunday, June 13th, 2021 — the Altoona Curve is hosting a faith night that I’m encouraging our church to go to as an opportunity for some fellowship outside of church. If you’re interested, please contact me ASAP so that I can get a count on how many tickets to order. The game itself starts at 6pm but at 4:30pm they’ll have live music and after the game, there will be fireworks. Again, just let me know ASAP if you’re interested so we can buy tickets.

Sunday, June 27th, 2021 — service and church picnic will be at Coldstream dam. The service will start at its normal time (10:30am) and I’d encourage you to stick around after for lunch. It’ll be a great time of worship, fellowship, and food.

Sunday, July 4th, 2021 — we’ll have a quarterly business meeting right after the service. It should only last a few minutes but be aware, there are some things that need voted on concerning the possibility of renting a permanent home for the church, giving a small gift to a missionary, and adjusting our budget to meet our needs.

Sunday, July 11th, 2021 — during the AM Worship service, we’ll have a guest speaker. His name is Michael Dunlop, he and his family are missionaries to France but they’re still on deputation, which means that they haven’t made it to France yet because they’re still raising the funding needed to go. He will take about ten minutes to explain what his mission and vision is for France and then he’ll also preach during the service. I’m mentioning far in advance to be sure that when he comes, as many people as possible can be there to hear him. Invite your friends, invite your families, the more the merrier.

As always, let me remind you to continue worshiping the LORD through your giving. In order to help you with your giving, we have two digital ways for you to do so. To give utilizing Debit, Credit, or ACH Transfers you can either (1) text 84321 with your $[amount] and follow the text prompts or you can (2) visit us online at graceandpeacepa.com and select giving in the menu bar. Everything you give goes to the building up of this local church and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Repentance and Adoration

Sermon

Introduction

This evening’s message is a continuation of our series through the Letter to the Ephesians—in particular, it’s a continuation of Paul’s statement concerning unity within the body of Christ in chapter 4 of Ephesians. Last week, I mentioned that we really ought to do the full chapter all in one sitting but because of time constraints, we only worked through Vs. 1-7. Because this evening’s message ties into last week’s message, I want to give you a quick refresher on Vs. 1-7 before jumping into this evening’s passage.

Last week, as we worked through Vs. 1-7, we broke the passage into two based on the same premise. Both sections were based on the fact that Jesus has made one universal church. This universal church is made up of only those who truly believe in Jesus Christ and have repented from their sins, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or any other socio-economic difference—both believing Jews and believing Gentiles are in one church together. I explained that the repercussions for Jesus making one church in Vs. 1-7 are simple: (1) because Jesus made one church, we ought to walk worthy of the calling and (2) since Jesus made one church, we should seek unity within the church.

I explained that walking worthy of the calling really has to do with our manner of life—to walk worthy means to live a life worthy of our calling. And I gave some examples of what that meant, that believers are to be fruitful in every good work, they should steadily increase in the knowledge of God, they should joyfully endure and patiently persevere, and they should be thankful for what God has done.

When it came to the second proposition that since Jesus made one church, we should seek unity within the church, I explained that when it comes to the universal church, we don’t have to seek unity within it because Jesus has already unified the universal church on his Gospel. However, when it comes to local churches, unity isn’t just requested, it’s required; but only as far as the local church represents the universal church. And what I meant by this is that unity as a local church is only required when the local church only preaches the whole counsel of God—the moment that political ideology, human philosophy, or secular psychology joins with the Gospel or overtakes the Gospel within a church is the moment that we no longer should be unified with that local assembly. In addition, I explained that there are biblical reasons to separate from a local church and there are biblical reasons for local churches to not work with other local churches and the chief reason for this is pure doctrine. The Bible tells us that we must separate ourselves from those who distort the truth whether they’re denying the truth or they’re twisting the truth.

Which means that as individuals, we must separate from local churches that refuse to only preach and teach the counsel of God; as a church, we must separate from other local churches that distort the truth or elevate man’s philosophy to the level of Scripture; and as a people of God, we must practice discernment to determine whether those who claim to be teaching and preaching God’s Word actually are preaching and teaching God’s Word. As I said last week, not everyone who claims to preach the truth actually do; not every local church is a biblical church; and not every Christian organization is actually a Christian organization and the Bible teaches us to be united with those who are true to the Word of God and separate from those who are not true to the Word of God.

I say all this in preparation for this evening’s message, because this evening’s message builds on this. Paul is encouraging unity within the true, local church of God, those who actually believe and have covenanted together for worship in a geographically local sense. He encourages them to treat each other with humility, gentleness, patience, and love seeking unity within the local church and then he starts into this evening’s passage. Let’s read the full chapter but be aware that our focus this evening is on Vs. 7-16.

Ephesians 4:1–16 ESV

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 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.

As we study this passage tonight, we’re going to take it into two parts: (1) Grace Given by Christ (7-10), which will introduce one of the tools given by Jesus to not only unify the church but also build up the church in maturity. We’ll discuss what the Bible is referring to in this context when it refers to grace given by Christ and we’ll also discuss two often misunderstood verses and what the verses actually mean. (2) The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts within the Church (11-16), will discuss some specific spiritual gifts, more specifically some specific roles given to certain people in order to build up the church in maturity; which will ultimately lead to us discussing the need for all believers to utilize their spiritual gifts within the body of Christ for the same purpose—to build up the church in maturity.

Prayer for Illumination

Grace Given by Christ (7-10)

Ephesians 4:7–10 ESV

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Paul continues this passage with Vs. 7, “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

The but used here as a coordinating conjunction is a little confusing because it seems as if this statement is in contrast to the previous statement.

Don’t let that confuse you, the word can also be translated as and or now, which actually gives a better idea of where Paul is going in this passage.

So, remember with me, he has called them to walk in a manner worthy of the calling in Vs. 1 and he has told them to walk with all humility, gentleness, patience, and love with one another particularly in the church

And he’s reminded them that they all serve the same Spirit and the same Lord and the same God under the same faith in one hope as one body.

In Vs. 7, he’s continuing this line of thinking, “Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

Typically, when we refer to grace given to us by the LORD, we’re thinking of the grace that the Bible speaks of concerning our salvation.

In that context, we’re thinking of this unmerited favor that we have because of God’s love for us and the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.

Paul himself, speaks of grace in that context in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: is is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

But Paul in Ephesians 4 isn’t speaking of the same unmerited favor that he was speaking of in Ephesians 2.

In the context of Ephesians 4, he’s speaking of grace in the form of a divine enablement or something that God gives to us.

And this grace is “to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”

This tells us that all who believe are given this grace

And that this grace is measured out by the LORD to all who believe.

Harold Hoehner, “From God each believer receives grace or enablement as Christ apportioned it. . . Each believer is to function in Christ’s body by God’s enablement, proportionate to the gift (spiritual ability) bestowed on him, no more and no less. This means that a variety of gifts will be exercised.”

In conjunction with Ephesians 4:1-6, this teaches us that while we are to be unified as one body of Jesus Christ, we’re all gifted differently according to what Jesus needs within the church—we’re united on the Gospel despite having different spiritual gifts and different abilities.

Paul continues in Vs. 8-10 by explaining that this pattern of spiritual gifting by God has always been. God always gifts his people to do his work. He does this by quoting Psalm 68:18, which speaks about how God chose Zion for his dwelling place and how the conqueror King distributed gifts to his loyal subjects. Paul applies this idea to Jesus having victory over death and giving his people spiritual gifts. Vs 8-10, “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.)”

Vs. 8, again is the quote from Psalm 68:18.

Which Paul utilizes to compare how Jesus gifts his people spiritually.

Vs. 9-10, is then a parenthetical statement utilized by Paul to explain what he means in Vs. 8, which we have to spend a little bit of time on because 9-10 has been misunderstood for centuries.

In Vs. 9-10, Paul is speaking of the passage from Psalm 68 and he’s again, applying it to Jesus Christ. He says that the statement from Psalm about “[him ascending] on high” means that at some point he descended into the lower regions, the earth.”

It is that statement that Jesus descended into the lower regions that has caused great confusion and part of that has to do with how we translate the word that’s translated as earth. Since the early church this passage has been translated to say that Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth.

Which sounds like Jesus descended into the earth, as in, Jesus descended into Hades, which people claimed would have happened between his death and resurrection. This is seen all the way back to 300AD in the Apostles’ Creed, which let me be clear was not a creed written by the Apostles despite its name.

The original Apostles’ Creed says that “Jesus Christ. . . suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead.” And they base that doctrine of Jesus descending into hell on this one verse. This is the same ideology that the Roman Catholic Church believes.

The issue is that that isn’t what the verse says nor is it what the verse teaches; and the logic of the passage wouldn’t make much sense if it was referring to Jesus descending into Hell.

The Bible speaks of Jesus ascending, where did Jesus ascend to? He ascended to heaven and it was after his ascent that the Holy Spirit indwelled all believers and gifted them.

Paul’s saying in Vs. 9-10, that if Jesus ascended then at some point he had to descend. Thus, Jesus, who was originally in heaven, descended to the earth, and then ascended back to heaven with the intent of filling all things.

That concept of “filling all things” speaks of Jesus being preeminent. Remember with me Colossians 1:15-23, which speaks of Jesus being “the head of the body. . . the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

And as the fullness of the LORD was pleased to dwell within Jesus Christ, the fullness of him fills us with the intent of filling all things with him.

In Ephesians 4, Paul is referring back to Ephesians 1:10, that Jesus has a plan to “unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” That Jesus would have all authority including authority over salvation to distribute spiritual gifts.

Darrell Bock, “These descriptions of Jesus present a view that does not leaven him only as a prophet or Messiah, but as one who has cosmic sovereignty, a description in a Jewish context reserved for deity. The Christ of glory fills the creation with his glory and gives gifts to his church to show himself at work.”

What Paul is saying in Vs. 7-10, is that the same Jesus who descended to the earth is the same Jesus who ascended back to heaven, who is the same person who “gave gifts to men” according to his own measure. As he transitions into the final section of this chapter, he then shows us some examples of how these gifts work within the body of Christ, coupled with the ultimate point of the gifts:

The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts within the Church (11-16)

Read with me again, Vs. 11-16

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 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.

Paul starts in his examples Vs. 11, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.” And there are several points that I want to make about this:

Starting with this point that I’m sure you noticed, these aren’t actually spiritual gifts. An apostle is not a gift, a prophet is not a gift, an evangelist is not a gift and so on and so forth. These are actually different roles that utilize different spiritual gifts.

So when Paul writes that God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers he’s referring to different roles within the church that utilize different spiritual gifts.

Quite frankly, at Grace & Peace, we’re cessationists when it comes to spiritual gifts, which simply means that we believe certain gifts are no longer active gifts—gifts like speaking in tongues, spontaneous healing, and miracles, which we typically call the sign gifts are no longer active.

Which would extend to these roles—we no longer have apostles because no one today meets the key qualification to be an apostle (no one today has physically seen Jesus Christ), we no longer have prophets because we don’t rely on prophets to proclaim the Word of God since we have the Word of God in its entirety. Both roles, apostles and prophets relied heavily on sign gifts because the Word of the Lord given through them needed to be confirmed with speaking in tongues, spontaneous healing, and miracles.

Both roles, prophets and apostles primary purpose was to proclaim the Word of God during time periods in which the Word of God wasn’t readily available or written for all to see.

Evangelists would refer to those who labor in bringing the Gospel to new people. We do have modern-day evangelists that travel to churches in the US but I would argue that the Bible has in mind more of what we would call missionaries. Those who labor to bring the Gospel to those that have yet to hear.

Shepherds and Teachers, I’m going to suggest refer to one role that labors within the church. And I’m going to suggest that based on the articles used in Vs. 11, “he gave the apostles [referring to one role], he gave the prophets [referring to one role], he gave the evangelists [referring to one role], he gave the shepherds and teachers [referring to one role]”

Shepherds translates the word poimen, which can also be translated as pastor. Pastor in the Bible is often translated as shepherd because it emphasizes the main goal of a pastor. To gently lead God’s people to more spiritual maturity, to protect them from false teachings and false doctrine, to feed, nurture, and care for the congregation of God as an under-shepherd to the Shepherd. This is a role that’s given by God to biblically qualified men as his means to lead the church.

Teachers refer specifically pastors who labor in teaching. The ESV in its footnotes to this verse mentions that the idea here is not just any teacher—it’s not referring to teachers at the local high school, but it’s specifically referring to shepherd-teachers or what’s sometimes called teaching elders or pastor-teachers. It’s a role that’s specifically referring to pastors who labor in teaching, which is a role that’s given by God to biblically qualified men as a means to mature the church through discipleship.

Again, these aren’t spiritual gifts, these are spiritually gifted people who serve in different roles within the church. And Paul is specifically emphasizing these roles because those who are gifted to function in these capacities are responsible to do what he says in Vs. 12-13.

Vs. 12-13, “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.”

Pastors and pastor-teachers are roles in which biblically qualified men work to do two specific things that Paul lists in Vs. 12.

“To equip the saints for the work of ministry”—the saints refers to all who truly believe in Jesus Christ. The word that’s translated as saints literally means “consecrated to God” or “holy.” We know that it refers to all who truly believe in Jesus because the Bible teaches us that those that truly believe are being set apart for God. Not to mention that the Bible repeatedly refers to living believers as saints. So, if you truly believe in Jesus Christ, you are a saint and pastors and pastor-teachers exist to equip you for the work of ministry.

Paul then says that pastors and pastor-teachers exist “For building up the body of Christ”—which again, refers to all who truly believe in Jesus Christ.

These two verses tell us that the primary purpose of a pastor and a pastor-teacher within the local church is to equip the saints and build up the body of Christ; and I would argue that these two goals aren’t separate from each other but rather build upon each other.

What I mean by that is that as pastors and pastor-teachers equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

And as the saints do the work of the ministry, the body of Christ will be built up.

This teaches us that all believers are responsible to “minister” and be involved in “ministry.” All believers are gifted to serve one another spiritually.

It just so happens that those who fill the role of pastor or pastor-teachers are to equip all believers to serve one another spiritually.

The question then is how do pastors equip all believers to serve one another? Let me point you to 2 Timothy 3:15-4:2. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus. . . preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

Paul writes to Timothy, the young pastor of Ephesus, that all Scripture is breathed out by God. That all Scripture is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Word of God is how the man of God will be complete, equipped for every good work.

And then he goes on and tells Timothy that because the Word of God is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness preach the Word [of God] and use the Word of God to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with patience and teaching.

In other words, Paul writes to Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus to equip the saints. How is Timothy to do that? By preaching the word of God and by using the Word of God to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with patience and teaching

What does this tell us? That the primary role of a pastor within a church is to preach and teach the Word of God in order to equip all who believe to do the work of ministry.

And as all believers within the church do the work of the ministry, the body of Christ is built up. Vs. 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.”

Pastors and pastor-teachers are to continuously teach the Word of God to the all believers until all believers reach the

Unity of the faith and the full knowledge of the Son of God

And spiritual maturity to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

This means that the ultimate goal of a pastor within the church is to not just encourage unity within the body but to also to help believers be mature spiritually. Both of which, unity and spiritual maturity reflect the character of Jesus Christ.

William Barclay, “The aim of the church is that its member should reach a stature which can be measured by the fullness of Christ. The aim of the church is nothing less than to produce men and women who have in them the reflection of Jesus Christ himself.”

Or as our church’s mission statement says, “We exist to make mature believers of Jesus Christ in Central Pennsylvania.” That is the purpose of the church, which is the goal of every biblical pastor—to make mature believers of Jesus Christ.

Any local church that settles for simply entertaining people, filling the seats, or only doing good things in the community without aiming to make mature believers of Jesus Christ isn’t doing what God has called them to do.

The true, biblical purpose of every church is to make mature believers through the pastor and pastor-teachers continually preaching and teaching the Word of God.

Only then can the saints be equipped for the work of ministry

And only then will the saints build up the body of Christ by doing the work of ministry

And only then can we attain the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God

And only then can we reach spiritual maturity.

With the ultimate goal being found in Vs. 14-16, “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.”

Pastors and pastor-teachers must labor to preach the Word of God accurately and consistently to equip the saints and the saints must labor in the work of the ministry to grow the body of Christ, for these specific purposes.

“So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

So that we “speak the truth in love, [and] 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, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

This means that the goal of a biblical pastor or pastor-teacher within a local church is to rightly handle the word of truth to preach the word: to reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with patience and teaching so that those within the church don’t get caught up in false teaching.

Vs. 14 calls this, “every wind of doctrine,” which is taught by “human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Paul describes this every wind of doctrine as ideas that toss people back and forth like waves in the ocean.

Harold Hoehner, “False teachers cause this kind of confusion regarding the truth in order to try to bring believers into their erroneous schemes. In contrast Paul stated . . . that by speaking the truth in love believers may grow up into him.”

The ultimate goal of every biblical pastor is to properly exegete Scripture in a way that exposits the truth in love so that those within the church are united on the Gospel of Jesus Christ (we are to be united on true Christian doctrine), so that all believers within the church can mature spiritually and avoid false teachings that trick immature Christians.

As the maturing Christian believer continues to grow in their faith unified in the Gospel with the rest of the church as the maturing Christian believer is equipped by the teachings of the pastors and pastor-teachers, they are to utilize their own spiritual gifts to minister to the whole body of Jesus Christ. How do I know this?

Vs. 7, makes it abundantly clear that each believer is given a spiritual gift according to Jesus’ own measure. We are all spiritually gifted and Paul utilizes those who are gifted to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, and shepherds and teachers to show us how spiritual giftedness works within the body of Christ.

As Vs. 12 says, the purpose of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers is to utilize their spiritual gifts “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” primarily through the teaching of God’s Word.

And as Vs. 16 closes with, “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.”

Or in other words, every believer has a spiritual gift given to them by God, some people are gifted to teach and to preach but not everyone is. If you aren’t gifted as a teacher or preacher that doesn’t diminish the worth or necessity of your spiritual gifts, it simply means that you are gifted differently than those who teach and preach.

Whatever your spiritual gifts are, this passage is abundantly clear, you are to utilize those spiritual gifts within the body of Christ so that the whole body grows and builds itself up in love.

Which means that regardless of if you are the guy up front teaching, or the woman serving at the welcome table, it doesn’t matter if you’re the elder helping to make spiritual decisions are you’re the deacon meeting the physical needs of the church and seeking to serve the congregation. It doesn’t matter if you serve as a singer on the worship team or if your area of giftedness is in mercy ministry—aiding those who need help physically. All of our spiritual gifts are to work together to build up the body of Jesus Christ so that the whole group grows and builds itself up in love.

As we start to wrap up the message, let’s take a look at specific application:

Application

Paul’s primary point here is that some people are gifted specifically for the purpose of the ministry of the Word of God, but not everyone is gifted to teach and preach. Everyone is gifted in some way and the purpose of these spiritual gifts is to build up the church in unity and of the knowledge of God, into spiritual maturity. The idea is that the whole church should be ministering to those around them in order so that the whole church builds itself up in love and unity. So, how can we apply this passage to our lives today?

The application for this passage is actually quite simple—if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God through the Holy Spirit has given you spiritual gifts that are to be utilized to build up the church and help others become mature in Jesus Christ as well, so utilize your spiritual gifts.

In this particular passage one of Paul’s primary focuses is on the spiritual gifts of those who are called to pastor and teach, which is not everyone; but just in case you happen to be one of them, let me give some application for you.

Biblically speaking, pastors are given qualifications in order to be qualified according to God, you can find them in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. And let me be abundantly clear, the Bible is abundantly clear that true elders, true pastors have to fit the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy and Titus 1. If they do not meet these qualifications, they aren’t qualified to be a pastor.

From Titus 1 that would include: being above reproach, the husband of one wife, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain. They must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. AND he must hold firm to the trustworthy word [of God] as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradict it. 1 Timothy 3 adds that the pastor should not be a lover of money, able to teach, able to manage his own household, and he cannot be a recent convert.

Which means that if you think the LORD is calling you into pastoral ministry, you need to meet these qualifications. That doesn’t mean that you’re going to be perfect but it does mean that your life needs to be characterized by these qualifications or according to Scripture, you’re not qualified to pastor God’s people. So application one for those who think they might be gifted to pastor the church, be sure that your life is characterized by these qualifications.

Secondly, you will never know if you’re gifted with preaching and teaching until you actually try to preach and teach; just like all of the spiritual gifts

This means that you need to take the time to learn how to rightly handle the Word of God before jumping behind a pulpit

But then you actually have to stand behind a pulpit and preach. Only then will the church tell you if you’re truly gifted in preaching and teaching.

So if that’s you—you feel that you’re gifted to be a pastor, your life is characterized by the qualifications necessary for pastoral ministry, and you’ve taken the time to learn how to rightly handle the Word of God, come and talk with me and we’ll give you an opportunity to preach and to teach for the purpose of discerning if you’re gifted to be a pastor.

Now most people listening would say, I know I’m not gifted for pastoral ministry but I don’t know what my spiritual gifts are. My application for you is to simply start serving in the church.

The spiritual gifts are unique from a regular talent because spiritual gifts are only discerned when one serves within a local church. Or in other words, if you’re waiting to start serving until you figure out what your spiritual gifts are, you’ll never figure it out.

You have to start serving before you’ll learn what your spiritual gifts are, but if you’re looking for some help, you can find the spiritual gift lists in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, and 1 Corinthians 12:28—these lists include: prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leadership, mercy, wisdom, knowledge, faith, the sign gifts (which I explained that we believe the sign gifts have passed), discernment, and the gift of helps.

Those are not all-inclusive lists, there could definitely be more spiritual gifts that aren’t listed in the Bible.

So for you, your application is simple, recognize that you have spiritual gifts, serve in the church to figure out what they are.

And finally, for those that already known what your spiritual gifts are—do your best to utilize them within the church whenever you can.

The primary purpose of all the spiritual gifts is to be utilized to do as Vs. 15-16 end this passage with. “We are to grow up in every way . . . 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.”

The whole point of our spiritual gifts is to utilize them within the church to minister to one another and help each other mature in Christ Jesus.

So, maybe your gift isn’t teaching and preaching but maybe your gift is in leading. You don’t have to preach and teach in order to help lead, your gift in leadership can be utilized to serve those who are laboring in preaching and teaching by helping to lead the congregation behind the scenes.

Maybe your gifts aren’t teaching, preaching, or leading, but you might have the gift of mercy or the gift of helps. These gifts lend themselves to what we call compassion ministries—feeding the homeless, clothing the poor, helping the widowed and taking in the orphaned.

Maybe your gift isn’t in teaching, preaching, leading, mercy, or helps but it is in giving. And this is more than just financially giving, there are some that are gifted with giving to the extent that they would give their shirt off your back, they would give you a house if you needed one, they would provide food for you, they would give you what you need.

Each of these gifts are vitally important within the church and without them, the church couldn’t function—my spiritual gifts are primarily preaching, teaching, and administrative work.

Without those of you who are gifted in mercy, leading, giving, and encouragement, we couldn’t function as a complete church. We need you just as much as the church needs me.

So, let me exhort you, to learn what your spiritual gifts are and actively seek ways to use them.

Put simply, Paul in Ephesians 4, is teaching the Ephesians that Jesus has made them one church unified on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because we are one church, we are to utilize the gifts that Jesus has given us to (1) equip the saints for the work of the ministry, (2) get involved with the work of the ministry, (3) and encourage mutual spiritual growth leading to spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ. In short, as a church, we are to worship Jesus, equip believers, and make disciples.