10_15_2023 - Ephesians 4:11-16 - The Gift and the Goal

(Opening Prayer)

(Sermon Introduction)

Today we continue our “Ephesians” series.

(AG Reminder)

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(Ephesians Context)

The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are what we call the “Prison Epistles.”

Paul is writing Ephesians during his first imprisonment in Rome around 60 AD (recorded in Acts 28).

Like Colossians, this letter was carried to the province of Asia by Tychicus (Eph. 6:20-21).

This explains the similarity of doctrinal content, the same ideas being fresh in the apostle’s mind as he wrote these letters.

On Paul’s second missionary journey he planted the church of Ephesus (Acts 18:19).

On his third missionary journey Paul pastored the church of Ephesus for three years (Acts 20:31).

Paul finishes his third missionary journey and stops in Ephesus to say goodbye as he made his way to Jerusalem and ultimately to prison in Rome where he is writing this letter to them.

(Series Recap and Sermon Title)

Since July, we have been going through the Bible book of Ephesians.

In Ephesians 1 we focused on the calling of Paul and the nature of the gospel.

In Ephesians 2 we focused on the impact of God’s love, mercy, and grace upon us and the people around us and how being “in Christ” changes us.

In Ephesians 3 we focused on the mystery of Christ being played out in the Church.

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Robby, spoke from Ephesians 4:1-6 and the “Unity” we need.

Last week, we spoke from In Ephesians 4:7-10 about “The King That Gives Grace and Gifts.”

Today, we are in Ephesians 4:11-16 and talking about “The Gift and the Goal.”

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NLT)

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.

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.

1. The Gifts Christ Gave Reflect His Heart

Ephesians 4:11 (NLT)

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

The Ministry Gifts of Ephesians 4:11

Ministry gifts are given by Christ to certain members of the body, as He choses (Eph. 4:7, 11).

Ministry gifts are functions/offices of the body that are intended to bring about leadership, guidance, and fruitful ministry (Eph. 4:16).

Ministry gifts are roles exercised for the sake of the equipping of the body to minister to the body and reach the world (Eph. 4: 12).

As we look at Ephesians 4:11 these gifts have often been called “The Five-Fold Ministry” or “The Four-Fold Ministry.”

As you study the text and look at the Greek sentence structure and wordage that is used it is widely understood that the Pastor and Teacher roles that are listed are indeed two aspects of the same office and role that of Pastor-Teacher.

We are going to talk about them from that point of view today.

From this point on as I refer to pastors you are safe to understand that I am referring to both Pastor and Teacher.

Apostles

Fire Bible Quote

The title “apostle” is applied to certain leaders in the New Testament.

The noun apostolos comes from the verb apostello, which means “to send” someone on a special mission as a messenger and personal representative of the sender.

©2001 Crossway Bibles, Hendrickson Publishing Marketing, pg. 2032.

In the Bible, this generally refers to individuals specifically called, commissioned and given authority by Jesus Christ to be his representatives in proclaiming His original message and establishing the Church (Eph. 2:20; 3:5).

This title is used of Jesus (Heb. 3:1-2), His disciples (Mt. 10:2), Paul (Rom. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1) and others (Acts 14:4, 14; Rom. 16:7; Gal. 1:19; 2:8-9; 1 Thess. 2:6-7).

It is best to understand the office and function of Apostles in three degrees of understanding:

The Special Sense (Not is Operation Today)

Apostles in the special sense refers to the office given only to those to whom Jesus revealed Himself while on earth.

This office/function of establishing the church and the New Testament Scriptures was temporary and is no longer in operation today.

Throughout Scripture there is a finality of language in regard to this role and function as Peter and the others demonstrated.

The original apostles have no direct successors.

The General Sense (In Operation Today)

Apostles in the general sense of the term refers to the function and work of the those who extend the gospel to places where it has previously been absent.

This speaks to the heart of apostle Paul to preach the gospel where no else has ever preached it.

In many ways this is the work of the missionary to preach the gospel and plant the Church where it has not been preached and where no gospel expression exists.

In this definition of the term, there are many who are engaging in this apostleship work around the world.

Apostles in the general sense are the Spirit-filled, Christ-called, and Pioneer-focused missionaries being “sent” by the church today.

They are the tip of the spear.

Every healthy church must have missionaries who embody the “apostle-like spirit” to extend the gospel’s reach to the ends of the earth.

Prophets

Fire Bible Quote

Prophets in the New Testament were those spiritual leaders who were uniquely gifted in receiving and communicating direct revelation from God by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

©2001 Crossway Bibles, Hendrickson Publishing Marketing, pg. 2033.

One of the main concerns of New Testament Prophets was the spiritual life, purity, and faithfulness of the body of Christ.

Under the new covenant, prophets were chosen by God and given power by the Holy Spirit to bring a message from God to His people (Acts 2:17; 4:8; 21:4).

Although Old Testament Prophets and New Testament Prophets have many differences, it is clear that New Testament prophets were to be Spirit-filled speakers and interpreters of God’s Word.

They were also called by God to warn, challenge, comfort, encourage, and build up the Church (Acts 2:14-36; 3:12-26; 1 Cor. 12:10; 14:3).

Prophets were often used by God in the spiritual gift of prophecy.

Although there are times that the Lord used them to proclaim the future it was not the mainstay of their role within the early church (Acts 11:28; 21:10-11).

Like OT Prophets, NT Prophets were to expose sin, speak about what is right by God’s standards, warn of judgment to come and battle worldliness and spiritual complacency and unconcern among God’s people.

A prophets character, concern, desire, and ability include:

A passion for church purity (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:22-25).

A deep sensitivity to evil and the ability to identify anything that opposes or defies God (Rom. 12:9; Heb. 1:9).

An alertness to the danger of false teachings (2 Cor. 11:12-15; Gal. 1:9).

A strong dependence of God’s Word to confirm their message (1 Cor. 15:3-4; 2 tim. 3:16).

A concern for the the spiritual success of God’s Kingdom, mission, and purposes (Acts 20:27-31).

The direction that a Prophet gives needs to be tested and proven.

NT Prophets who proclaim God’s Word are needed today!

If Apostles are the tip of the spear, then Prophets are the twine that fasten the tip of the spear together with the shaft.

A healthy church needs the bold proclamation and understanding of prophets to help the Church understand where they are and where they need to go.

Prophets help the people of God stay connected to the mission of God.

Evangelists

Fire Bible Quote

In the NT, evangelists like Philip (Acts 8) were godly ministers who were gifted and commissioned by God to proclaim the gospel of spiritual salvation to those who did not know Christ.

©2001 Crossway Bibles, Hendrickson Publishing Marketing, pg. 2033.

Although it is truly the responsibility of every believer to share the good news and lead people to Christ, Evangelists have been given the gift to do so to help the Church grow numerically.

God does care about numbers! Every number has a name, every name has a story, and each of them matter to God.

He wants more people to come to know Him each and every day.

The work of the Evangelist although similar to the work of the apostle is quite different.

The Evangelist spreads the gospel primarily where there has already been a church planted.

The goal of the Evangelist is to make Jesus Christ known and see the Church grow and multiply.

Whereas the Apostle is the stream that flows in and out of the church, establishing new lakes, the Evangelist is the spring runoff flowing into the lake fresh water to increase the capacity and size of the lake.

Philip is a good example of this.

He was told to go and preach the gospel to the people of Samaria (they had already experienced the ministry of Jesus and the disciples of Jesus who had been scattered there (Acts 8:1).

Philip preaches the gospel in Samaria (Acts 8:4-25) and many experience the salvation of Christ and Philip sends for others to disciple them.

Then Philip is called to go down toward Gaza and leads the Ethiopian man in Acts 8:26-39 to Christ, only to be sent from there to Caesarea to preach the gospel there (Acts 8:40).

All of these places were along roads and cities where the gospel had been planted but needed to be grown.

The Evangelist is essential to the God’s purpose for the church.

The church that fails to support the ministry of the evangelist will bring fewer people to Christ than God desires. It will become spiritually stagnant and lacking in growth and effective outreach.

In contrast, the church that values the gift of the Evangelist and continues to grow in their deep desire and love for those who do not yet know Christ will communicate the message of salvation with great power and effectiveness (Acts 2:14-41).

If apostles are the tip of the spear, and prophets are the twine that fastens the tip to the shaft, then the Evangelist are the shaft.

The shaft represents the growth and length of the church.

The Evangelist works to increase the size of the spear.

Pastor-Teachers

Fire Bible Quote

The title “Pastor” are those whose God-given ministry and calling cause them to devote themselves to oversee and care for the spiritual needs of the congregation.

They are also called “elders (presbyteros)” (Acts 20:17; Titus 1:5) and “Overseers (episkopos)” (1 Tim. 3:1; Titus 1:7).

©2001 Crossway Bibles, Hendrickson Publishing Marketing, pg. 2032.

Ephesians 4:11 is the only place in the Scripture where the word “pastor (poimen)” is used, all other places they are referred to as elders/overseers and sometimes “shepherds.”

The pastor is to exercise leadership in the local church and be an example of moral purity and sound teaching (Titus 2:7-8).

The pastor’s task is to help the body grow.

Pastors are typically connected to the work of the Evangelist in the one-two method of partnership.

They work together to see the church grow.

The goal of the pastor is to grow those are being brought in by the Evangelist.

If apostles are the tip of the spear, and prophets are the twine that fastens the tip to the shaft, and the Evangelists are the shaft and the shaft-lengtheners, then the Pastors are the fletching of the spear that assists the spear in hitting the target.

Without fletching the spear would not fly straight and would not hit the mark.

Pastors are those who keep the body of Christ on the trajectory that is intended.

I have heard it said that the Four-Fold Ministry that Jesus Christ gave to the Church was to be a manifold expression of Himself among the body of Christ.

Jesus is the “Sent One” (Apostle).

Jesus is the Proclaimer (Prophet).

Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Evangelist).

Jesus is the Chief/Good Shepherd (Pastor).

Through all of these “gifts” an expression of Jesus is seen, felt, and heard in His body, the Church as the Holy Spirit leads us and we yield to Him we will see what a gift each of them is to the work and goal that Christ has for the Church.

2. The Gifts Are Not the Goal, Growth is the Goal

Ephesians 4:12–16 (NLT)

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.

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.

How do the gifts of Christ accomplish the goal of Christ?

(Instrumental Music)

Equipping for Ministry

Ephesians 4:12a (NLT)

12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work

Building Up of the Body

Ephesians 4:12b (NLT)

12 and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Unity of the Faith, Knowledge, and Fullness of Christ

Ephesians 4:13 (NLT)

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.

Grow in Spiritual Maturity, Doctrine, and Practice

Ephesians 4:14–15 (NLT)

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.

Work as God Has Intended for the Sake of the Gospel

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)

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.

(Sermon Recap)

The Gifts and the Goal

The Gifts Christ Gave Reflect His Heart

The Gifts Are Not the Goal, Growth Is the Goal

(Closing Tension)

Are you doing what God has called you to do?

Whether it be expanding the gospel to the ends of the earth, proclaiming the truth of the God’s Word to the people of God, reaching people with the message of the gospel, guiding the body of Christ, or ministering to the body of Christ as a member of the body, or sharing Jesus with a neighbor, we all have a part to play and each of us is called to grow in Christ, and grow the body of Christ.

What is your part in the goal of Christ?

How will you live out what God has given you?

Will you commit yourself to the mission of God and the Building of the Kingdom One Disciple At A Time?

(Response Card)

(Closing Challenge)

(Response)

(Invite Prayer Team)

(Closing Blessing)

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you.

25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.