We are Growing in Faith
Notes
Transcript
We are Growing in Faith
Ephesians 4:11-16
INTRODUCTION
-Multiplication Illustration
Spiritual Growth= living in faith.= living out what you have learned.
Good discipleship always leads to evangelism.
Guided by God's Word, Del Norte Baptist Church is a unified community of believers worshipping God, growing in faith, and sharing Christ's love.
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.
4 Ways We Grow in Faith
1- Grow Through Leadership (11-12)
1- Grow Through Leadership (11-12)
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,
Not an exhausted list.
These offices have specific teaching responsibilities
4 Offices
Apostles
Called specifically by Jesus
They had seen him.
They were leaders to all churches. Authority.
Prophets
Greeks- spoke for the gods
Jews- spoke God's Word
Spoke revelation from God
Expounded given revelation
Evangelists
Worked outside the church
spoke to the Lost.
Obviously had some responsibility to help train those in the church how to be better at witnessing.
Pastors/Teachers
Shepherd-Teacher
Only place the title "pastor" or "shepherd" is used in reference to church leadership. It is used of God and Jesus.
Pastor, Elder, Bishop-- same office
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
The goal of all these offices= "equip the saints to do the work of the ministry."
It is the goal of church leaders to equip church members to do ministry.
This is a command- not a suggestion.
2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
2- Grow With Unity (13a, 16)
2- Grow With Unity (13a, 16)
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,
Unified in our faith= what we believe.
Together= accountability
There is right and wrong.
Hold each other accountable to the major truths of scripture. Challenge each other in the secondary issues. When Bible is clear we are speak boldness.
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.
Our unity is in Jesus.
Unity through diversity.
Body of Christ
3- Grow For Strength (14)
3- Grow For Strength (14)
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.
“wind of doctrine”= false teachings by Christians.
“Human Cunning”= philosophies of the world.
“Craftiness in deceitful schemes”= temptations that make evil look good.
Growing in faith helps you recognize the problems that get in our way.
4- Grow Into Jesus (13b, 15)
4- Grow Into Jesus (13b, 15)
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,
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Jesus is the goal.
We continually miss the mark.
Not only is he the goal, he is the answer.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
CONCLUSION
To grow in faith begins with a death.
Jesus’ death.
Our death.
New life.
God looks at you and sees Jesus, not your sin.
Do you measure up to Jesus?