STRONGER-Part 10-AFTER THE SERMON
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: STRENGTHENING THE CHURCH
Main Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-16
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Check out this overview of the entire book, especially the first chapters of Ephesians to better understand the depth of Ephesians 1 Ephesians Overview
Summary:
Pastor Ryan continued to unpack chapter 4 for us. We learned that we all have received gifts from Christ. These gifts are meant to equip and build up the body of Christ, the church. The leadership gifts given to the church are responsible to equip us, the saints. We saints are responsible for submitting to the equipping process for works of service in the body and for God’s mission on earth. But we also have received gifts that we should learn and grow in to build up the body of Christ too. The result of this maturity and building up is we will be more like Jesus. We won’t be like little children being tossed back and forth by every new wave of teaching. We will have the discernment to keep us from falling for clever lies. We will be full of truth and love and speak to one another with both, truth and love. Lastly, there will be cooperation and teamwork resulting in a church that is healthy and full of love. Paul showed us in verses 1-6 how we keep and preserve unity. Now Paul is showing us that we strengthen the church and our unity through the gifts of Christ and Christ-like maturity.
Pastor Ryan’s teaching notes:
V. 7-10 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
V. 7-8
Paul turns the focus from all of us to each of us. In our unity there is diversity.
Our gifts come from Christ. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, dwelling in us at salvation.
The picture here is of a military conqueror or king leading his captives (once prisoners of war) and giving the plunder and spoils to His people or soldiers.
We who were once held captive by sin, death, and Satan have been rescued...set free by Jesus Christ.
V. 9-10
Jesus Christ, our conquering King, defeated sin, death, and Satan for us! As if that wasn’t enough, Jesus blesses us with spiritual gifts we are to use to strengthen one another and thrive!
He ascended so that we may fill the universe with himself. Cross ref: Eph 1:20-23
When? After 40 days of appearing to His followers, Jesus ascended. 10 days later the Holy Spirit came and filled the believers at Pentecost according to Acts 2.
You have been blessed with a gift from Christ to bless others, not to bless yourself. (But you will be blessed in the process!)
11-13 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Paul focuses only on leadership gifts here...
Apostle means “one who is sent.” The apostles served as God’s ambassadors.
Prophets act as messengers—telling people what God wants them to know.
Evangelists proclaim the Gospel especially for the lost but can equip others too.
Shepherd-pastors take care of sheep. The word shepherd was used metaphorically in both Old and New Testaments to speak of caring leadership (Psalm 23; John 10).
Teachers instruct people in sound doctrine (1Timothy 1:8-11; 2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 1:9)
All of these have in common that they are messengers for God in some way
V. 12 Leadership roles are responsible to equip God’s people to do his work on and build up the church.
“Equip” or “perfecting”
Other gift lists: Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 28-30; 1 Peter 4:10-11
THIS BRINGS UP IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
How do we discover our gifts?
The best way is in fellowship with and serving one another. Knowing what gifts exist helps but when we fellowship and serve other believers we can experience our gifts first hand.
One way to recognize gifts is when you get energy from serving or doing something…a passion rises up.
How do we grow in our gifts?
Use and practice them on a regular basis.
What’s the purpose of being a part of a church on Sunday morning and throughout the week?
I’m here to preach, teach, guide, and equip you to become more like Jesus. I’m not here to entertain. When I preach I am not performing. When the band is leading us in songs of worship to God it isn’t a performance. We’re not on American Idol or America’s Got Talent. We are responsible for leading us all in worship to God, we are here to equip, train you for service and encourage maturity in Christ.
This means we should not come to church to be entertained either. We are part of this church to worship God and to be equipped for ministry. We are here to mature and become more like Jesus. We are meant to serve one another and use our gifts to do so. This can’t all happen on Sunday mornings it can happen even more in our community groups and ministries throughout the week. The stronger and healthier the church the more effective we are in the mission fields of Delaware.
This scripture means we are all responsible in some way to equip and be equipped, to follow Christ and help others follow Christ, to serve and help others serve, and to grow and help others grow.
Verse 13 tells us the goal: The goal is unity and Christlike maturity. Christlikeness is a desire to follow and live like Jesus better than the day before. When you use your gifts to serve others and let people use their gifts to serve and build you up a mutual edification occurs (unity and Christlike maturity).
14-16 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
NEXT WEEK’S MESSAGE!
S
Our unity is strengthened when we serve one another with the gifts of Christ.
The church will never be revitalized without individuals being revitalized. If we want to have a strong and healthy church, we aren’t dealing with an amorphous mass or a team of pastors and a board of deacons. Rather, each member of the body has to exhibit godly characteristics in order to have a shift in the church. Thankfully, God makes His resources available to each person in order to build a strong body. Christ apportions grace individually—“to each of us.” No one is left out. Each Christian is given enough of this wonderful provision of grace to successfully carry out their particular function in the body of Christ. Whatever area of ministry and contribution we’ve been designed to do, God provides enough for us to fulfill it. -Carolyn Tennant from her book, Catch the Wind of the Spirit.
Our unity is strengthened when we grow and mature in Christ.
Unity matures when we mature in Christ. When we fellowship with Christ-like maturity it builds up, strengthens, and fortifies the church as a whole.
Takeaways:
Jesus Christ, our conquering King, defeated sin, death, and Satan for us! As if that wasn’t enough, Jesus blesses us with spiritual gifts we are to use to strengthen one another and thrive!
You have been blessed with a gift from Christ to bless others, not to bless yourself. (But you will be blessed in the process!)
Christlikeness is a desire to follow and live like Jesus better than the day before. When you use your gifts to serve others and let people use their gifts to serve and build you up a mutual edification occurs (unity and Christlike maturity).
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from today’s message?
What something new you learned, today?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
How can we strengthen our unity according to this scripture?
One way to recognize gifts is when you get energy from serving or doing something…a passion rises up. What have you noticed moments like this? What were you doing?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see my sin and how wrong it is. I see how without Jesus I’m lost. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know!
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!