Ephesians 4:11-14

-Life can be complicated, there is so much we have to handle, going to work, paying bills, buying groceries, maintenance around the home, and then there is taking care of the children, a big responsibility - parent them to become adults - consider what we teach them, how we instruct them, are we preparing them for life? How are we leading them to become men and women? Paul instructed in this text how Christ has filled all things in the church, how he takes us as infants in our faith and brings us to maturity

-How does He fill all things through the church, how does God

-He gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers

-apostles and prophets

Ephesians 2:19–20 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

Ephesians 3:5 ESV

5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

-foundational, revelation given to

-they are different - why?

-apostles had seen Christ and were commissioned by Christ

1 Corinthians 9:1–2 ESV

1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

-authoritative recipients of revelation

-evangelists - heralds of the revelation (evangel - gospel)

-shepherds and teachers -

Mark 6:34 ESV

34 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

-apostles and prophets - foundation, no longer needed because there is no more revelation needed

-evangelists are still needed - proclaiming the Gospel

-shepherds and teachers - still needed

-think of it as a process - revelation, declaration, equipping

-Why did Christ give apostles, prophets, shepherds and teachers?

The Body is Equipped

-main focus of the pastor of a church is to equip the saints, it is not to entertain unbelievers, it is not to be busy doing church stuff

-the flock desperately needs to be equipped, this is the issue of the church today, it lacks being equipped, this is why you have so much disunity in the church they have not been equipped, this is why there is a lack of evangelism outside of the church walls, they have not been equipped, this is why children are not being discipled, because the church is not being equipped

-I have had numerous thoughts before with individuals who spent all their lives in the fellowship of the church and I have thought why do you not know the Word? Why is it that you are so ill-equipped?

equipped for ministry- not equipped to show up on Sunday, not equipped to sit in my pew and be entertained, but equipped for ministry

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 ESV

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

1 Peter 4:10–11 ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

-each one v. 10

-How is the body equipped for ministry - by solid teaching

Mark 10:45 ESV

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

-The reason so many in church fellowships are ill-equipped is because they are not being taught right doctrine, this is why we preach through books of the Bible, we do not pass over tough verses, we do not want to be ill-equipped

-we do not equip one another with tolerance, we do not equip one another with just a smile and good morning, we equip with the whole counsel of God’s Word

The Body Grows

-for the building up the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

-This is the result of pastors who equip the saints, those saints do the work of ministry, the result is the body is built up, spiritual growth happens

-what does this mean?

-healthy, mature followers of Christ

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

-knowledge of right doctrine

-love v. 15

-v.29

-investing in each others lives with the

-how long?

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God

-understanding, submission

-striving to build up each other to grow in our knowledge of Christ and stir one another to submit to Christ

1 Timothy 6:14 ESV

14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

-We will keep teaching the truth, right doctrine, we will keep stirring one another to pursue Christ until He returns

mature man, measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

-no longer children

1 Corinthians 13:9–12 ESV

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

-the stature of the fullness of Christ

Colossians 2:9 ESV

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

Ephesians 1:22–23 ESV

22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

-that fullness we are to attain to, aiming for the fullness of Christ

The Body is Protected

-no longer children, tossed to and fro by waves carried about by every wind of doctrine

-children - immaturity

Ephesians 6:11 ESV

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

2 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

-all of the previous is to keep us from being children, we need right doctrine, we need to preach the whole counsel of God’s Word so that we all mature and do not fall prey to false teaching