EQUIPPED, FOR WHAT?

Ephesians 4:1-16

I. Opening:

Paul’s challenge to the local church of Ephesus - “Walk worthy of the calling…”

II. The Local Church – equipped for effectiveness                                                                 Definition of the Local Church: “A local body of professed Christian believers who are associated in a biblical pattern of organization for the goal of meeting the Great Commission and fulfilling the biblical outline of local church functions.”  -David Plaster, Grace Theological Seminary

            A. Unity

 

                        1. Keys to relational unity – v. 2-3

                        2. Pursuing unity – v. 4-6

 

            B. Diversity  - the unique gifting of each believer.  v. 7, 11,12

 

            C. Maturity

           

                        1. Speaking the truth (in love).  v. 15

                        2. Everyone doing their part.  v. 16

 

III. Equipped, for what?

            The impact of a unified yet diverse, maturing local church where everyone is         doing their part = OUTREACH!

 

            John 13:34,35

            John 17:23

            Acts 16:30

            I Peter 3:15

 

IV. Application

 

            A. Pursue unity.

            How can you demonstrate humility, gentleness, patience & tolerance in your church?

 

           

            B. Do your part!

            Where are you serving?  How might God use your gifts & abilities for His glory?

 

            C. Reflect Christ to the world.

            How can you allow God to use you to share His love with others?

            Inside the church?  Outside the church?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Therefore I, the R193 prisoner of the Lord, implore R194 you to walk R195 in a manner worthy of the calling R196 with which you have been called, R197

2 with all humility R198 and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in R199 love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond R200 of peace. 4 There is one R201 body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope R202 of your calling; 5 one R203 Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who R204 is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to R205 each one of us grace R206 was given according R207 to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it F56 says, "WHEN R208 HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED R209 CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." 9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," R210 what does F57 it mean except that He also had F58 descended into the R211 lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far R212 above all the heavens, so that He might fill R213 all things.) 11 And He gave R214 some R215 as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, R216 and some as pastors and teachers, R217 12 for R218 the equipping of the saints F59 for the work of service, to the building up of the R219 body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the R220 unity of the faith, and of the knowledge R221 F60 of the Son of God, to a mature R222 man, to the measure of the stature which F61 belongs to the fullness R223 of Christ. 14 As F62 a result, we are no R224 longer to be children, tossed R225 here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness R226 in F63 deceitful R227 scheming; 15 but speaking F64 the truth in R228 love, we F65 are to grow R229 up in all aspects into Him who is the head, R230 even Christ, 16 from whom the R231 whole body, being fitted and held together by F66 what every joint supplies, according to the proper F67 working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in R232 love.