March 3rd, 2024 - "Preachers and Ministers"
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Scripture reading - Ephesians 4:11-16
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
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I. Jesus gives gifted people to equip the church (vv. 11-12).
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• The church throughout the ages has had a variety of workers within it (v. 11)
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• Jesus provides pastors because pastors are called to equip the church
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• Christ gives gifted people to build up the body of Christ (v. 12b)
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II. Christ gives gifted leaders to fulfil specific purposes (v. 13).
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• First, that the church would be united in faith
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• Second, that we would be unified in our knowledge of Jesus
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• Third, that we would together become mature
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• Paul wants the church to “attain to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”
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III. Paul describes the proof of real maturity (vv. 14-15).
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• We would no longer be vulnerable (v. 14)
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• We will be like Christ (v. 15)
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IV. Paul ends with section with the pathway to progress.
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• The church, as the body of Christ, is built by joining together
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• The body of Christ is also built in love
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• The body is built when each part does its work