Call to Community in Christ

Ephesians 4:1-16

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have

received, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in

love, [3] making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. [4]

There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope at your calling- [5]

one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is above all and

through all and in all. [7] Now grace was given to each one of us according to the

measure of Christ's gift. [8] For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives

captive; he gave gifts to people. [9] But what does "he ascended" mean except that he also

descended to the lower parts of the earth? [10] The one who descended is also the one

who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. [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. [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.

1Walking Worthy of Our Calling in Christian

Community

Introduction

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians, he urges us to "walk worthy of the calling you have

received" (Ephesians 4:1). This command encapsulates the essence of the Christian life, a

life that is not lived in isolation but within the context of a community—a community

marked by love, humility, gentleness, and patience. The Christian journey is a communal

one, where each member is essential to the proper functioning of the body, the Church.

This week, I want us to see how Paul connects our calling to the necessity of living in a

community, and how love is the foundation of walking in a manner worthy of that calling.

1. Walking Worthy: The Call to Christian Community

Paul begins by urging us to "walk worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians

4:1). This "calling" is the gracious invitation into the family of God, the Church, through

Jesus Christ. However, this calling is not just an individual experience; it is a communal

one. The very nature of this walk demands that we live out our faith in the context of

Christian community.

Paul does not leave us guessing about what it means to walk worthy. In Ephesians 4:2, he

gives us the attributes that should characterize our walk: humility, gentleness, patience,

and bearing with one another in love. These qualities are not just personal virtues but are

relational, showing us that our faith is meant to be lived out in relationships with others.

2The importance of community is further emphasized by the fact that it is in community

that we are able to truly grow and mature in our faith. The “lone Christian” is a

contradiction in terms, or an oxymoron. We need one another to be reminded of God's

love, to be encouraged in our struggles, and to be held accountable in our walk.

Without community, we cannot fully walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

2. The Centrality of Love in Christian Community

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul provides one of the most beautiful and comprehensive

definitions of love in all of Scripture:

"Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not

rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds

no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

This passage from 1 Corinthians is often quoted at weddings, but its application is far

broader. Paul is describing the kind of love that should characterize the entire Christian

community. It is this love that enables us to walk worthy of our calling. Notice how the

attributes of love in 1 Corinthians 13 echo those in Ephesians 4:2. Humility, gentleness,

patience, and bearing with one another in love are all aspects of this love that "bears all

things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

To “walk worthy”, then, is to walk in love. And this love is not a vague sentiment but a

practical, self-sacrificial commitment to the well-being of others. It is in community that

3we learn to live out this love. We cannot be patient, kind, or humble in isolation; these

qualities are tested and refined in our interactions with others.

3. The Gifts of Christ and the Unity of the Body

Paul goes on to explain that "grace was given to each one of us according to the measure

of Christ's gift" (Ephesians 4:7). Each believer is uniquely gifted by Christ for the purpose

of building up the body of Christ. No one is superfluous; every member of the body is

necessary for its proper functioning.

These gifts are diverse, yet they work together in harmony when used in love. The unity of

the Church does not mean uniformity, but rather a beautiful diversity that reflects the

creativity of God. Each of us has a role to play, and it is in community that we discover

and exercise our gifts.

Paul emphasizes that these gifts are given "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to

build up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). This means that every believer has a

ministry, a calling to serve others in love. The work of ministry is not reserved for pastors

and leaders; it is the responsibility of every member of the body. We are all called to build

one another up, to encourage one another, and to spur one another on in our walk with

Christ.

Conclusion: A Call to Live in Love and Unity

As we reflect on these passages, we see that walking worthy of our calling is inseparable

from living in Christian community. It is in community that we grow in love, humility,

4gentleness, and patience. It is in community that we discover and exercise our gifts. And it

is in community that we build up the body of Christ, growing together into maturity in

Christ.

Therefore, let us pray:

God, help us to commit ourselves to walking in a manner worthy of the calling we have

received. Give us the grace to love one another deeply, to serve one another selflessly, and

to strive together for the unity of the body of Christ. As Paul exhorts us in Ephesians, may

we make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Let us be a

people who reflect the love and unity of Christ, so that the world may see and believe in

Him.

Amen.

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