Pursue Christlike Maturity

Background to passage: First three chapters are theologically heavy. Chapters 4-6 are heavy on the practical side. Here he speaks to God’s giving ministers to equip the saints for ministry to the body that it might be built up and brought to maturity. Maturity is the next key piece in work of making followers of Jesus.

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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.

Opening illustration: strong, independent woman who was going to put up our Christmas tree about 5 years ago...Lights on the bottom 1/3 work, string lights on top 2/3, then ribbons, then ornaments, then these little glitter sprigs...

Main thought: This morning we will talk about the third piece of the HOPE discipleship strategy. This is our new vision to bring HOPE to Lagrange and beyond. Reminder of H and O. Gonna string a few more lights today.

1) Kingdom Service (v. 11-12)

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

1) Kingdom Service (v. 11-12)

Explanation: God does all things for his glory. We exist for his glory. He shouts his glory so that men and women can experience the highest and the greatest and the most satisfying of all beings in the universe. He does it through various means natural, supernatural, normal and abnormal, through creation in general, and specifically through us. We take the gospel to others to display the most God glorifying event in the history of the world and the only way of salvation. He also glorifies himself through the work of kingdom ministry.

This is not only service in the church, but for today that where our focus will be for two reasons, first of all our text deals with God’s plan for each one of the members of the body. Secondly, it’s part of Western Heights’s strategy to help you become a mature follower of Jesus.

This may seem overly simplistic, and with our Southern Baptist culture, we know what we do in church anyway, so we don’t give it much thought or intentionality. Leaders are given to churches to train and equip members for ministry.

Argumentation:

Illustration: it’s kind of like little league baseball, you got to play to get better, somewhere along the line you get really good, and maybe, just maybe you get to the LLWS where there’s a lot on the line. The Nominating Committee.

Application: So the simple questions are: if you are a leader, are you equipping? If you are a church member or attendee, a believer at our church, are you serving somewhere? We talked about spiritual gifts last week given to every believer to minister to others. Read a list of ministries from the Ministry Guide. In ministry you will find purpose. In ministry you will find fulfillment. In ministry you will mature in your walk of faith. Through your ministry people will be helped and God will be glorified.

Kingdom Ministry:

You need ministry to grow

You are needed here, don’t believe otherwise

You are gifted to serve, God brought you here

Find your place, talk to someone at the Next Steps desk

2) Spiritual Transformation (v. 13)

Ephesians 4:13 ESV

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,

2) Spiritual Transformation (v. 13)

Explanation: Theologians often use the word sanctification to describe the time between your conversion and your death/glorification. That word carries the meaning of holiness — that you are putting on more practical holiness and killing more and more sin in your life. The idea in this piece of the strategy is the fullness of our lives being conformed or transformed into the image and likeness of Christ.

The opposite of Christ transforming you into a follower who follows closer is stagnation. We are supposed to be constantly changing in our walk with Jesus. We are supposed to be looking more and more like him. We are supposed to be communing with them more and more. Abiding in him, living in him is a continuing, long-term transformation in all aspects of your life.

Argumentation: Col 3 we are told to put away sin, and put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, etc. Jesus calls us to come and see, to trust and follow, to abide in me, go tell others about me. The Spirit produces increasing depth in the fruit that it produces

Illustration: tomato hornworm turns into a five-spotted hawkmoth, or sphinx moth or hummingbird moth depending on where you live. Judy Calsing and her transformation into an evangelist for the last part of her life.

Application: God uses many ways to help us become more like him. Sometimes, as we talked about on Wed night, God uses pain and suffering to produce endurance and maturity. Sometime he uses discipline for sin for our good. Sometimes it’s a sermon, a book, a podcast that opens your eyes. Sometimes it’s a worship service that brings fresh motivation or repentance from sin. Sometimes it’s a Christian friend(s) that have a word of insight, wisdom, and guidance in your lives. You should not stay in one place in your walk with Christ. The natural progression for something that is alive is to grow.

Spiritual Transformation:

Does your spiritual life look like it did last year?

Are you growing in your practice of spiritual disciplines?

Is your character looking more and more like Jesus?

How are you positioning your life for transformation?

Who is helping your evaluate and transform?

3) Leadership Training (v. 14-16)

Ephesians 4:14–16 ESV

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. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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.

3) Leadership Training (v. 14-16)

Explanation: Part of growth in discipleship is learning how to lead others in various parts of faith. There will always be those around you that are newer or less mature in the faith than you. In the process of our church’s strategy to make fully mature followers of Jesus, individually we will pour out what God has given to us in our Christian life into others. This doesn’t mean that you have to lead a ministry in the church, although many of you have that potential. Sometimes you want to lead in ministry but we don’t teach or train you how to lead.

This is our desire is to provide training, and walk beside you training, so that you can give others what God has given you. This biggest thing about this piece in pursuing Christlike maturity is to equip you with tools and skills that you need to make other followers. We do not want to just tell you to do it, and not show you how.

Argumentation:

Illustration: a couple of years after I got saved I began teaching a college Sunday School class and I was the Sunday School director for our church. I wanted to do something to help our teachers. There was this pastor down in Cleveland, TN who had a radio program. I listened to him a lot and he really challenged me. I just decided to call him and ask him to come help train SS teachers in our entire association. Lots of time, lots of letters, finally it happened, but it was more like a calm SS rally than a training.

Application: We want to make this two fold: group and individuals. If you lead a ministry, I expect you to put prayer and thought into what your people need to do there job well. Let’s make those opportunities available. If you are involved in a ministry, expect those opportunities, and when they are presented take advantage of them. My ministry skills always need to be tuned and refined, so do yours. Anyone with a ministry or not, find someone that you can help to follow Jesus better. Make disciples.

Pursue Christlike Maturity:

Opportunities for improving ministry will be made available to you

Take advantage of those trainings

Become more intentional about passing on what you have learned in your walk

Think about those break-through times in your life, how can you transfer them?

Closing illustration: Amy Carmichael’s forced training in language in India and it’s production of a deeper ability to minister than she ever had in Japan.

Recap