A Working Growing Church
These Forty Days • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsPaul outlines the working growing Church where everyone is using their gifts and filling their purpose in the kingdom.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Paul’s picture of a Church
Paul’s picture of a Church
What would it look like if a church was working and growing?
Where leadership recognized everyone’s gifting?
Provided space for everyone to fulfill their purpose in the Kingdom of God?
In Ephesians Paul provided a snap-shot of what a community of believers looks like as God looks in.
Ephesians 4:11–16 (NASB 2020) pew Bible 783
11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of 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 a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Are you ready for the message God has for us? Let’s dig in!
A Church where gifts are used
A Church where gifts are used
Certain gifts are used to equip people for their work, or purpose in the kingdom of God.
Apostles is a gifting not a position - church planters like Paul and Barnabas in Acts, often sent buy a church hence one sent
prophets - one who speaks forth openly before any one, a proclaimer of a divine message
evangelists - a messenger of glad tidings, a proclaimer of the gospel story, of the facts of redemption
pastors - a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks, not merely one who feeds, but one who tends, guides, nourishes, and cherishes God’s flock
teachers - a teacher, instructor
These specific gifts Paul mentions are the ones which prepare and equip the church for ministry
Then Growth happens
Then Growth happens
This is where growth happens
Paul states “Building up”
Assisting in the construction of an incomplete building, the building being the body of Christ.
Also their is growth in the individuals - Ephesians 4:13
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
This growth means also we are developing roots in the word of God together. Not so easily lead astray Ephesians 4:14
14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
Then we grow up!
Not like children becoming adults, hahaha
The body becomes larger there is increase.
This is where we are fulfilling our mission of growing wide.
There is a steady stream of people coming to Christ and giving their lives to Him.
When Everyone is Working
When Everyone is Working
Look again at Ephesians 4:16
16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
So the whole body, it is the complete and full body, that is everyone, youngest to oldest.
From the littlest part to the biggest, everyone is working
Do you see the unity in this verse?
Fitted and Held together - we are connected to each other that is how we become a coherent whole body of Christ
We are held together by coming together, because God brought us together at this time for His purpose!
There is growth in the body when we recognize that about ourselves as a church!
You know the word “every” in this passage is interesting.
It means all, the whole!
Each of us supplies a ministry or help that causes the growth of the body.
The church is building itself in love!
That is our Mission Statement: Building an authentic community of believers who love God and Love people!
Conclusion
Doesn’t that sound exciting!
Ephesians 4:11-16 is a wonderful snapshot of a church, a perfect picture.
As a church that is who we should be!
Are you part of the body of Christ?
Doesn’t it sound like a wonderful place to be?
Have you given your life to Him?
Do it today, the altars are open!