Session 5: Ephesians 3:14–4:16

OPEN

What’s something you did as a child that you still really enjoy?

Maybe it’s a food you liked as a kid, or a game you played, or a family tradition. Something you enjoyed as a child—and you still do once in a while. 

READ

Read: Ephesians 3:14–4:16

Ephesians 3:14–4:16 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

WATCH

Show Session 5: Ephesians 3:14–4:16 (12 minutes).

DISCUSS

What comments or stories struck you from this video? Did anything shine a new light on the biblical material?

How can we “live a life worthy of our calling” as Paul mentions in the beginning of chapter four? How does he describe that worthy life?

Humble

Gentle

Patient

Bearing with one another in love

Unity/bond of peace

J.D. Greear made a big deal about growing up. How do the qualities we mentioned display a mature faith?

We could make a very different list for new believers. Things like fervor and passion, courage and joy. Nothing wrong with any of those things, but Paul’s list seems especially appropriate for those who have been around the Christian faith for a while. Note especially the inclusion of patience and bearing with one another. You “bear with” someone when they annoy you.

No, things won’t always be sweet and wonderful, but true Christianity works even when people around us are less than perfect. That’s a mature take on our faith.

Take another look at verse 4–6. Why do you think Paul emphasizes “oneness” so much?

Often we can guess at the problems a church was facing by the issues the biblical writers chose to address. This context of the previous chapters and the beginning of chapter four hint at a brewing contention in the Ephesian church. Paul’s emphasis on growing up (vs. 13–15) suggests that some in the church might have been showing immaturity.

In light of contention in the church, how does a conversation about the gifts of the Spirit promote unity? Would people brag about their own gifts? Why or why not?

Let’s look further into the subject of spiritual gifts. I’m going to ask you four questions. I want you to find answers here in verses 7–13. Forget everything else you’ve learned on the subject. Find your answers here in this short section of Ephesians.

Who gives spiritual gifts?

Holy Spirit

Who gets spiritual gifts?

Believers

What are some of the spiritual gifts? 

Peek at the Greek

There might be a question about the quotation in 4:8. This is a quote from Psalm 68:18—except there’s a change. In the Psalms, God rises above the enemies He has captured, and He receives gifts from people. Here Paul changes the language to gives, in keeping with his current theme. The Greek language doesn’t help us here—there’s no double meaning. It’s possible Paul was using a rabbinic reading of that Psalm, but maybe he was just giving his own reading, something like, “You know where it says God ascended and received gifts from people? Well, Jesus ascended and gave gifts to us!” 

GO DEEPER

Learn more about spiritual gifts in the following verses:

Exodus 35:30–35; Matthew 25:14–30; Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–31; 1 Peter 4:8–11. 

Exodus 35:30–35 ESV

30 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, 32 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, 33 in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. 34 And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. 35 He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.

Matthew 25:14–30 ESV

14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Romans 12:3–8 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:4–31 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. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

1 Peter 4:8–11 ESV

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 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.

In Exodus, Bezalel and Oholiab were given special artistic talents to work on the Tabernacle. How does this compare with the spiritual gifts of the New Testament?

In the New Testament Christians are given Spiritual Gifts to work on the Kingdom of God glorifying the Father who is the New Temple.

What do the Matthew and Romans passages (in particular) tell us about using our spiritual gifts? What do these passages tell us about the attitude with which we should use our spiritual gifts?

We should use our talents to increase in the Kingdom of God. Both towards discipleship by teaching and leading new believers towards maturity in using their Spiritual Gifts and to lead people to Jesus.

The lists of gifts in Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and 1 Peter are different. Why do you think?

Each author was writing to a different culture and people each needing specific needs dealing with their current issues. They are all Spiritual Gifts and they have been emphasized to their respectful audience.

Do you think Paul was trying to be clever in 1 Corinthians 12:15–17? Does humor get his point across better? 

1 Corinthians 12:15–17 ESV

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

I think Paul was using a playbook from Jesus’ parables. Paul was trying to illustrate in terms easy for the church to comprehend.

According to Ephesians 4:12–13, why has God given us these abilities and responsibilities? What is their purpose?

To equip people for works of service

To build up the body of Christ

To reach unity in the faith

Unity in the knowledge of the Son of God

Maturity

Now as you think about the questions you’ve been considering about yourself—those abilities and passions God has given you—how can you use them for these purposes?