Understanding Discipleship: Building Up The Body Ephesians 4:14-16
Notes
Transcript
14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Look back at.......
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
v. 14 we=community, teaching=the false teachings of other (remember that a disciple is a learner. disciples of Christ are learners of Him)
Community protects (we-no longer tossed)
There is a scheme to trap us (look up scheme in other places) but God has given us a way, by being a community of gifted disciples.
v. 15 we are to grow in Him
we are growing together (our gifting is working together, a community of disciples)
we are growing in Christ together (look up references)
v. 16 we are to do this together (from here go back and look at vs. 11-13)
We are a community of disciples.....
Introduction: Something about going at it alone.
God has given gifts to the Body, this is both universal and local.
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
And the point of this is found in v. 13
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
So part of the functionality of the church is to be a community of disciples who are making disciples. It is through the ways that we are gifted that we help to cultivate the work of the Spirit in the life of others by utilizing the gifts that the Spirit has given each of us.
It is safe to say that when we have not submitted ourselves to a a discipleship process that we are lacking in spiritual maturity. Likewise when we are not using of gifts the Body as a whole is lacking in it functionality.
You have a gift! Use it! (Talk about the survey)
Why We Need a Community of Disciples
14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
Because the enemy is slick with it. It is only the mature believers that can stand against the false teaching and narratives that seek to lead us astray. When these winds blow we must be like the tree and not like the waves (one follows the wind and one is rooted in the ground).
These winds are blown with cunning and cleverness. There are people that we know who have fallen for this very thing. Some were devout preachers. This is why serving each others with our gifts is vital to seeing mature believers. The one who pours and is never poured back into is also susceptible and vulnerable to these attacks. WE NEED EACH OTHER!
One of the schemes of the enemy is make you think you’re good without community. (RC Groups, Sunday, Serving).
These things aren’t about excitement. They are about development and if you think they can be done better, come and be a part of it and help make it better.
Don’t be that lone sheep who has wondered off.
Christ Grow Us
15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
“truthing in love” it is keeping, living, and doing truth.
balancing truth and love-
The Message of Ephesians 4. Christian Unity Demands the Maturity of Our Growth (Verses 13–16)
Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth
It is Christ who it growing us. Our functionality comes from the Head. It is the Head that gives the Body movement. What’s guiding you?
23 A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the Lord supports him with his hand.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;
How can we know if we are not mature enough to know? How can we mature if we’re not actively participating in a community of disciple (this is God’s model and we ought to trust it-example Football Training yesterday-it feel strange until you get it).
It is not a message of individual growth.
16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
This is a a body growing together.
