Connected In Growth, Pt.1
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Intro: It is amazing how the physical body and the spiritual body [church] are compared to one another in the scriptures. Paul reminds us of how all the parts are individual in their roles but also how they are joined together to work as one under the head [Christ]. Of how the body when it is well it rejoices and when any part of the body suffers, all the body suffers.
But there is a great difference between the physical body and the spiritual body when it comes to growth.
The physical body starts as an infant and begins to grow physically to adulthood. Some grow at different paces and sizes than others, many times based on DNA and the intake of food/proper nutrition. But there will come a point in the physical body that it will stop growing and begin to decline in strength and stature till it comes to the point of death. There is nothing we can do to prevent it.
The spiritual body starts the same way, as an infant or a babe in Christ. The spiritual body grows the same as the physical body, mainly based upon the spiritual diet [intake of the Word] because we all have the same DNA, Christ Jesus. The difference in the spiritual body and the physical body is that the spiritual body should never come to a point where it begins to decline in strength or stature to the point of death. The spiritual body should never quit growing!
This morning and tonight we are going to look at how we are “Connected In Growth”
Text; Eph. 4:7-8
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
Paul has just explained about “unity” in the church and said we were connected by One in Christ. Now Paul reveals that Christ has given some gifts to the body [church] for the growth of the body with the aim that each person/whole reach maturity or be fully developed in Christ.
1. Christ Gives Gifts; 7-8
1. Christ Gives Gifts; 7-8
The picture we have here is that of a conquering king returning home in a victory parade.
This is based upon Psalm 68, a victory hymn. Historically it was typical to bring back the spoils of war after a king won a significant military victory, with great celebration, rejoicing and giving of gifts. Here, having triumphed over sin, death, hell, and the grave, our Savior gave His church spiritually gifted people that they might minister to His church.
God not only gives grace to us to save our souls, but He also gives grace to help us serve Him and live our lives day by day.
He not only gives us daily bread for the physical body, He gives us daily grace for the spiritual body to serve Him!
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2. Christs’ Gifts to the Church; 11
2. Christs’ Gifts to the Church; 11
He gave- sovereign choice. It is the choice of Christ, not ours of what gifts He gives and to whom He gives them.
Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers are divinely called and placed in the church by Christ.
The Apostles and Prophets were foundational gifts to the church. Look at [Eph. 2:20, 3:5].
Apostle- ‘send’, ambassador; in the NT, one of those who, having seen the risen Christ, is a witness of His resurrection, and, commissioned by Him, preaches the gospel to all the nations.
The apostles include the Twelve, who had the office of apostleship by virtue of being with Christ (Acts 1:21–22) and having been appointed by Him (which would also include Paul; 1 Cor. 15:8–9; Gal. 1:1; 2:6–9). [Others such as James (1 Cor. 15:7; Gal. 1:19), Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14; 1 Cor. 9:6), Andronicus and Junias (Rom. 16:7), Silas and Timothy (1 Thes. 1:1; 2:7), and Apollos (1 Cor. 4:6, 9)].
Prophets- In Old Testament times, the prophets proclaimed God’s will and message to the people of Israel. Their message also involved the proclamation of events that would take place in the future that were revealed to him by the Lord [Isaiah-Malachi]
In the early church before the New Testament was complete, people didn’t have a Bible like we do. Prophets under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit shared/clarified truth that had already been revealed by God and the apostles.
27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem.
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
Now that Scripture is complete, there is no need apostolic/prophetic revelation. If you hear a preacher on television or in a church say, “I have a new revelation from God” mark it down he is lying.
Evangelists and Pastor/Teachers are equipping gifts to the church.
Evangelist are gifted men in reaching people for Jesus by sharing the Gospel and winning the lost for Christ [we all are called to evangelize the lost]. But God gifted some men with this specific call [Philip and Timothy].
8 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
We would think of people like John Wesley, George Whitefield, Jonathon Edwards, D.L. Moody, Billy Graham.
3. The Pastors Purpose; 12-13
3. The Pastors Purpose; 12-13
Pastor/Teacher- [poy-mane’] shepherd. Their task involves feeding, nurturing, and shepherding the local assembly/flock. Making Disciples.
In listing the spiritual qualifications of the pastor, scripture gives only one qualification that relates to a specific function: he must be “able to teach.” All the other qualifications relate to personal character.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Equip the saints [training] - Pastors are to study the doctrinal truths of scripture and teach it to the congregation.
Equipping/Training is like pre-season in football. The coach gets the players ready for the season/games.
A. They study the play book [Bible]
No coach goes and tells his team just go out and win the game without having a game plan. The pastor is no different. The flock is not fed by skits, jokes or entertainment but by the Word of God preached by the man of God who is filled by the Spirit of God.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
B. They practice the plays
Every coach teaches the plays in practice, over and over, to make sure it will work and to get the right personal in the right positions. The pastor does the same thing in his praying, preaching and bible study.
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
C. They scrimmage for the real game
The reason we have 3 services a week, plus extra ministries, is to scrimmage for the game [work of the ministry]. Every opportunity we take to be a part of the scrimmage [services], the better we become at the position God places us His team.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Kingdom work- playing in the game. No player goes through training camp so they can sit on the bench and be a spectator. They want to be a starter!
My job is to get you to be a first stringer. So when you are called upon, you get in the game and the team continues to excel and grow because you are ready!
How many coaches have you seen playing in the game? None, there job is to prepare the players and encourage them in the game plan. [Andy Reid/Kansas City Chiefs coach]
Building up/edifying- to build up is to come alongside as a team member to let your team know you got their back and we’re gonna win this game if we stand and work together.
That means we all have to be involved in practice; prayer, worship, Bible study, and doing our part on the team.
[13] Team- working together. As Christians we maintain our God-created uniqueness but share a common vision and goal, the Gospel. A football team includes players with different roles, but teammates work together for the same purpose.
Unity of the faith- teammates in the family of God
Knowledge of Christ- continual study/understanding of our playbook, Bible
Perfect man- becoming a “mature” player through practice and growth
Fullness of Christ- being a starter in every game
Paul Tripp :
Your life is much bigger than a good job, an understanding spouse, and non-delinquent kids. It is bigger than beautiful gardens, nice vacations, and fashionable clothes. In reality, you are part of something immense, something that began before you were born and will continue after you die. God is rescuing fallen humanity, transporting them into his kingdom, and progressively changing them into his likeness—and he wants you to be part of it. (Instruments, 20)
Merida, T. (2014). Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Eph 4:12). Holman Reference.
Close;
God has called me to coach this team here at Westview Baptist Church. I think we have a very good team. But we won’t win the super-bowl of kingdom work unless we continue to grow and we all do our part on the team.
We need to study our play book [Bible]
Desire to be a starter [kingdom work]
Build each other up [encourage]
Quit being a spectator and get “Connected In Growth”