Ephesians 4:11-16

Building the Body of Christ, Part 2

Ephesians 4:11–16

1927

September 3, 1978

I. Big Picture Summary

This sermon centers on God’s purpose to “perfect the saints” (Eph 4:12) and shows how Christ uses gifted men (apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers) to equip believers for ministry so that the whole body grows to maturity in Christ.

MacArthur explains:

Three kinds of “perfection” in Scripture

Positional perfection – already ours in Christ (we are “complete in Him”).

Ultimate perfection – our future state in glory.

Experiential (practical) perfection – our day-to-day growth in holiness now.

God’s tools for experiential perfection

The Holy Spirit.

Trials and suffering.

The Word of God, especially through evangelists and pastor-teachers.

The progression in Ephesians 4:11–12

Gifted men equip the saints.

The saints do the work of ministry.

The body is built up.

Purposes and results of this perfection (vv. 13–15)

Unity of the faith.

Deep knowledge of the Son of God.

Christlikeness (“measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”).

Doctrinal stability instead of being “tossed to and fro.”

Evangelistic witness: “speaking the truth in love.”

The power behind it all (v. 16)

Christ the Head supplies all life and power.

Every part doing its work causes the body to grow and edify itself in love.

The sermon is a strong corrective to a numbers-driven, program-driven view of church. The true test is not how many people attend, but whether the saints are being brought to maturity and doing the work of ministry.

II. Detailed Sermon Summary

1. The Text and the Theme: “Perfecting the Saints”

MacArthur reads Ephesians 4:11–16 and gives the sermon title “Perfecting the Saints.” He ties it back to Jesus’ shocking command in Matthew 5:48:

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (NASB)

God’s will is clear: He desires a redeemed people who are “perfect.” That perfection is at the heart of His redemptive plan.

But Scripture speaks of “perfection” in three distinct senses, and it’s crucial to differentiate them.

2. Three Kinds of Perfection

A. Positional Perfection

When we believe in Christ, our standing before God is perfect.

Verses cited:

1 Corinthians 2:6 – Paul speaks of “those who are perfect,” i.e., mature believers.

Colossians 2:10 – “In Him you have been made complete.”

Hebrews 10:14 – “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

At conversion, the barrier of sin is removed; Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us. Our “position” before God is perfect—complete in Christ, not because of our behavior but because of His finished work.

We cannot improve this perfection; it is already accomplished and secure.

B. Ultimate Perfection

This refers to our future state in glory.

Hebrews 12:23 speaks of “the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”

Philippians 3:12 – Paul says, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect,” looking ahead to resurrection glory and complete conformity to Christ.

Ultimate perfection happens when we are with the Lord, free from sin, in glorified bodies. We cannot make this happen; it awaits our departure from this world.

C. Experiential (Practical) Perfection

This is the focus of Ephesians 4:11–16.

It is the day-to-day growth of the believer.

God is not demanding sinless perfection now, but maturity, completeness, and full equipment.

The Greek root behind “perfecting” (he references katartismos / katartizo) carries the sense of being fully equipped, mature, complete.

So:

Positional perfection – gained by salvation.

Ultimate perfection – gained by glorification.

Experiential perfection – gained by sanctification in this life.

Ephesians 4:12 is about this third category—practical maturity. Christ gives gifted men not to secure positional or ultimate perfection (only He can do that), but to bring believers to maturity in daily life.

Now notice verse 12, the reason that there are evangelists and teaching pastors, as there were apostles and prophets, is for the perfecting of the saints. Now mark it. Those men couldn't make you position ally perfect, only Christ could do that. Those men can't make you ultimately perfect, only God can do that. But we are called to bring the saints to a practical kind of perfection. Now that's what this passage is all about.

3. How God Produces Experiential Perfection

MacArthur then surveys the means God uses to mature His people.

A. The Holy Spirit

Galatians 3:3 – “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”

The implication: the Spirit, not the flesh, perfects the saints.

We are:

Born of the Spirit.

Indwelt by the Spirit.

Placed into the body by the Spirit.

And we are perfected by the Spirit as well.

No human minister can mature another person in their own power; the Spirit is the agent of growth.

B. Trials and Suffering

James 1:2–4 – trials test faith, produce endurance, and lead to a “perfect and complete” result.

1 Peter 5:10 – God will “Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” after you have suffered for a little while.

Trials and suffering are like spiritual resistance training—they stretch and strengthen us when we respond in faith. God orchestrates these; pastors don’t have to “create suffering.” God will see to this part of the program.

C. The Word of God

God's going to send along trials to make you mature.

In I Peter 5:10 it says God is going to make you suffer before you're perfect. So the work of the Holy Spirit is to make you mature. The work of trials and suffering is to make you mature. And there's a third agency of your maturity and that is the word of God. In I Peter 2:2, it says, "As babes desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby." The word of God is the agency of perfection. In II Timothy 3:16, it says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, mature, truly furnished unto all good works." All right the Holy Spirit is working on your maturity. Trials and suffering are working on your maturity. The word of God is to work on your maturity, to make you mature.

This is where evangelists and pastor-teachers especially come in.

1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 – Scripture is inspired and profitable so that “the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

The primary tool of the Spirit in perfecting the saints is the Word of God. That’s why Christ gave evangelists and pastor-teachers.

MacArthur notes:

He doesn’t need to “help” the Spirit.

He doesn’t need to manufacture trials or suffering.

His one sphere of direct responsibility is to faithfully teach the Word so that the saints are equipped.

4. The Progression to Perfection (Ephesians 4:11–12)

MacArthur highlights a clear, three-step chain:

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:11–12, NASB)

Step 1 – The Gifted Men Equip the Saints

Christ gave:

Apostles and prophets (foundational, now passed off the scene).

Evangelists (those who bring Christ where He is not named and help plant churches).

Pastor-teachers (shepherds who feed and lead the flock).

Their shared purpose: “for the equipping (perfecting) of the saints.”

MacArthur emphasizes:

Their task is not:

to fill buildings,

to run social programs,

to entertain people,

or even simply to “get decisions.”

Their task is to build mature believers.

He quotes Colossians 1:28, where Paul sums up his own ministry:

And beloved, the early apostles didn't miss on this. Man, they understood this totally. Just to give you a glimpse of how clear it was in their minds listen to what Paul says in Colossians 1:28, referring to Christ, as the antecedent to the word whom he says, "Christ whom we preach," now listen, "Warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, giving him all the wisdom of God, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." Paul said the goal of my ministry is mature saints to build them up not just to leave a whole bunch of squalling spiritual babies lying all over the world, but to win them and build them that they may be mature.

Paul said to Timothy again in I Timothy 4:11, "These things command and teach." This is your job, command and teach. "Let nobody despise your youth, be an example." In other words, let your life support your message. "Till I come, give your attendance to reading, exhortation, and doctrine." You know what those three things mean? Read the text, explain the text, and apply the text. That's biblical teaching.

When they had a revival in Nehemiah's day it started in Chapter 8, verse 1, with these words, "Bring the book." Did you ever read that? "Bring the book." We have one primary duty to teach the word of God that you may become mature. My ministry and that of any other that is appointed by God as an evangelist or a teaching pastor is to equip the saints. That is our ministry and my task is never complete as long as there is one individual who lingers in spiritual infancy. That's why I say I have never ever asked God for more people in this church. Never.

“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.”

That is the goal of pastoral ministry: every believer complete in Christ.

This perfection has two aspects:

Maturing each individual believer.

Bringing all those individuals into unity, “perfectly joined together” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:10).

So “perfecting the saints” means both personal maturity and corporate unity.

Step 2 – The Saints Do the Work of Ministry

All right let's go to the second feature. First we see in the progress to perfection the gifted men equip the saints. Secondly, now watch, the saints do the work of the ministry. "For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry." Now who does the ministry? The saints. A lot of people who think that the pastor has to do everything. That isn't what the Bible teaches. The gifted men do not do the work of the ministry. They concentrate on the word, they perfect the saints, and the saints do the work of serving one another.

I believe during every week, every Christian should be engaged in ministry, spiritual service to the body of Christ. You're gifts aren't for you, they're for somebody else, and if you don't minister them somebody else doesn't benefit. You know if you go back in history and study the book of Acts you'll find that Christianity began as a lay movement. You know that? There weren't any professionals really. They were lay people serving each other, witnessing to the world, and somehow it degenerated into a professional pulpitism financed by lay spectators and that is what it is today.

I'm just one of you. I happen to have certain gifts. I happen to manifest those certain gifts in this fashion, that's all. No different than you. It's not for me to do visitation of the sick anymore than it's for you to do. Not for me to do the working and discipling of new Christians anymore than you, following up people with problems, spiritual counseling, prayer, physical provision, showing love, reaching people with the gospel. That isn't my work, that's your work. It's all the service of the Christian and the church is the training place to bring the saints to maturity where they can get their spiritual preparation and go out and minister. Our task is to develop full-grown equipped saints and see them serving.

The text says: “for the work of service” (diakonia).

The saints, not the pastors, do the bulk of the ministry.

Pastors equip; saints serve.

Acts 6 is cited: the apostles refused to be diverted into food distribution, appointing others instead, so they could devote themselves to “prayer and the ministry of the word.”

MacArthur laments the unbiblical clergy/laity divide and the idea that “the pastor does everything.” Every believer has spiritual gifts and is responsible to use them (Romans 12:3–8; 1 Peter 4:10–11).

Evangelism, discipleship, counseling, mercy, practical help, hospitality—these are not “staff-only” jobs. They belong to the whole body.

Step 3 – The Body Is Built Up

Now the third thing in the progress is this: the gifted men equip the saints, the saints do the work of the ministry, the third thing that happens, the body is built up. The end of verse 12, "For the edifying of the body of Christ." When we all do our part the whole church matures, the whole body matures. When we minister to each other, when we serve one another, when we use our gifts toward one another, then the whole body grows to maturity and God's will is fulfilled. Now that, beloved, is the progress of perfection. We want a mature church, don't we? Don't we want a church that can stand in this world and represent Jesus Christ? It's going to come if we equip the saints and the saints do the work of the ministry then the body will be built up and Christ will be made visible. That's the progress to perfection.

As:

gifted men equip the saints,

the saints serve with their gifts,

the result is: “the building up of the body of Christ.”

The church grows:

In numbers (as God adds),

But more importantly, in maturity and Christlikeness.

This is God’s growth formula for the church.

5. The Purposes and Results of Perfection (Ephesians 4:13–15)

When this progression is followed, several results follow.

A. Unity of the Faith

Number two, the purposes of perfection, the purposes of perfection. These are not only purposes, but results. For where there are divine purposes there will also be divine results. What God intends to do He accomplishes. The first one, the first result or purpose is verse 13. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith," the unity of the faith. God wants a united church. God wants a mature, working, serving, united church.

There will always be division where there is spiritual infancy. There will always be division where there is not maturing. So when we mature the saints, unity comes. Mature saints are one. It's a heartbreaking thing when there isn't that maturing process because then the church is fractured and factions and disconnected and the testimony to the world is tragic.

“…until we all attain to the unity of the faith…” (v. 13)

Genuine doctrinal and practical unity arises from maturity, not from ignoring doctrine.

Division usually flourishes where believers are immature (“babes in Christ,” 1 Corinthians 3).

As believers are taught sound doctrine and grow, they converge around God’s truth.

B. Deep Knowledge of the Son of God

Second, in this purpose he says, "Not only do we want you to come in the unity of the faith, but of the knowledge of the Son of God." We want the church to grow up into the knowledge of the Son of God. Now this isn't basic knowledge; this is deep personal experiential acquaintance with Christ. We want you to really know Christ. We want you to mature where you plumb the depths of who He is. Paul prayed in Philippians 3, "That I may, what? Know Him." He didn't mean superficially, he meant deeply. When the gifted men equip the saints, and the saints do the work of the ministry, and the body is built up, there will be a supernatural unity and there will be a deep personal experiential intimate fellowship with the Son of God. It's like Ephesians 3:17 where he says, "I pray that Christ may settle down and be at home in your life." Katoikeso. Christ may settle down and be at home in your life; deep, intimate fellowship. A body learning, a body serving, maturing will be united, and it will be deeply involved with Jesus Christ.

“…and of the knowledge of the Son of God…” (v. 13)

This is not superficial knowledge but a deep, experiential acquaintance with Christ—knowing Him personally and intimately.

MacArthur ties this to Paul’s longing:

“That I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10).

As the church is matured by the Word and the Spirit, it grows into an ever-deepening relationship with Christ.

C. Christlikeness: The Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ

Another reason, a third one, "Unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." The third result of perfection is that we become like Christ. When we mature the body is built up, we're one, we have a deep knowledge of Christ, we find ourselves becoming like Him. In fact, in II Corinthians 3:18 it says, "As we gaze at His glory we're changed into His what? Into His image by the Holy Spirit." So the deeper our knowledge of Christ, the more we penetrate who He is, the more we're transformed into His very image. Notice what he says in verse 13, "Unto a perfect man." The aim of every believer, the aim of the whole body is to be mature, full grown, that the whole church may represent a full-grown Christ. They look at us and they evaluate Christ.

God's not satisfied that people just go to church. He's not satisfied they're decent respectable people. He demands they be full-grown spiritual men, robust, vibrant, strong, that they be the image of Christ and that the church collectively be the stature of the fullness of Christ. You measure the stature of Christ. You evaluate the fullness of Christ and you'll know what God wants His church to be. Nothing short of that. We are to be just as perfect as Christ. That's God's desire. That's our goal.

“…to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (v. 13)

The corporate goal is that the church, as a body, would mirror Christ’s character.

Individual believers grow to maturity.

Together they display “the stature of the fullness of Christ”—the world should see something of Christ Himself when they look at the church.

D. Doctrinal Stability

Now there's a fourth result when the progress is followed. Verse 14, "That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness in which they lie in wait to deceive." What He wants to see in us resulting from perfection is experiential oneness, a deep abiding fellowship with Christ, Christ likeness, and watch this, the knowledge of sound doctrine. When the church is matured they won't be hassled by false doctrine. Look at verse 14. Who really gets tossed to and fro carried about by winds of doctrine? Who is it? Children. Children. They're gullible, they're undiscerning. I remember one time I was preaching on this subject and I said, "Why I remember when Matt was a little boy and he crawled around on the floor. He wasn't discerning. He didn't know what was good for him and what was bad. I mean he stuck lint in his mouth and cotton in his mouth and pins and paper clips and tacks and anything else he could find. He didn't know the difference." Somebody came up to me afterward and said, "Boy your wife must be some housekeeper." So I don't use that illustration anymore. My wife is a good housekeeper. We were visiting friends.

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine…” (v. 14)

Children are gullible and easily misled. Immature Christians are:

Tossed around by new teachings,

Deceived by false teachers,

Unstable in belief and practice.

Maturity brings discernment. With sound doctrine firmly in place, believers are not easy prey for error, trickery, and cults.

E. Evangelistic Witness: Speaking the Truth in Love

Look at verse 15, "But speaking the truth in love." Stop right there. Beloved, one of the purposes of maturity is that we may speak the truth in love.

Two great enemies to evangelism: number one, not speaking the truth. That's a great enemy to evangelism, departure from the truth. The second is indifference to people, chilling, cold indifference to people where you don't care.

So he says, "Mature saints will speak the truth and they'll care." They'll do it in love. That's evangelism and it is a by- product of a growing church. Look at Acts 2 in your mind. Remember the passage? The church was born there. 3,000 people moved into the church that first day. They met together for prayer, communion, breaking of bread, fellowship and the apostles' doctrine. They went from house-to-house and house-to-house breaking bread and sharing and teaching. It doesn't say they did any evangelism. They were just growing and growing and it says, "The Lord added to the church daily." And you go later in the book of Acts and they were exhorting and they were studying the word and the Lord multiplied the church. Evangelism is a by-product of maturity. So very important to go God's pattern, do it God's way.

“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ…” (v. 15)

MacArthur stresses:

Mature believers don’t retreat from truth; they speak the truth.

They do it in love—with genuine care and compassion.

Two enemies of evangelism:

Departure from truth.

Lack of love for people.

A mature, loving, truth-speaking church has powerful evangelistic impact. Evangelism becomes the natural overflow of a healthy, growing body, not just a program.

He points to Acts 2: the early believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. As they grew, “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Evangelism was a by-product of their growth.

6. The Power Behind Perfection (Ephesians 4:15–16)

Now to conclude Paul gives the truth that makes the whole thing hang together, the power of perfection, the power. Verse 15, He desires to grow up into Him, that is into Christ in all things who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." All that scrambled King James English means is this: ultimately it is Christ who is the head from whom the whole body functions.

Finally, MacArthur points to Christ as the Head and source of all growth:

“…we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (vv. 15–16, NASB)

Key points:

Christ is the Head – the life-source, director, and authority of the church.

The body is “fitly joined together” – an organic unity where every part is connected and needed.

Growth happens “from whom” – from Christ.

Each part must work effectively and in its measure.

The body builds itself up in love as each member does its Spirit-empowered share.

The emphasis of the sermon has been on our responsibility—equip, serve, grow—but the closing focus is: all true growth and power come from Christ. Our obedience aligns us with His design; He supplies the power.

III. Application Points

See the true goal of your Christian life. Not just being “saved and decent,” but growing to maturity so that your life increasingly reflects Christ.

Submit to the Spirit’s maturing work. Don’t resist trials, suffering, or conviction by the Word. See them as God’s tools to perfect you.

Prioritize the Word. Make it a habit to sit under expository teaching and to personally feed on Scripture. Growth is “by it you may grow.”

Embrace your ministry. You are not a spectator. God has given you spiritual gifts for the benefit of others. Ask: Where am I serving the body?

Pursue unity through maturity. Invest in sound doctrine and godliness. Unity flows from maturity, not from lowest-common-denominator theology.

Guard against doctrinal gullibility. Aim to be stable, discerning, and grounded, so you’re not blown around by every new teaching.

Speak the truth in love. Combine doctrinal fidelity with genuine compassion, both inside the church and in evangelism.

Depend on Christ as Head. Remember that all real growth is “from whom”—from Christ. Serve diligently, but rely on His power, not your own.

IV. Memory Verses

Ephesians 4:12 (NASB) “For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:13 (NASB) “…until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB) “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

1 Peter 2:2 (NASB) “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.”

V. Key Cross-References

Matthew 5:48 – God’s standard: “Be perfect as your Father is perfect.”

Hebrews 10:14 – Positional perfection: perfected forever by Christ’s single offering.

Hebrews 12:23 – Ultimate perfection: “spirits of the righteous made perfect.”

Philippians 3:12–14 – Pressing toward the goal of Christlikeness.

James 1:2–4 – Trials producing endurance and maturity.

1 Peter 5:10 – Suffering as a means of God’s perfecting work.

Colossians 1:28–29 – Presenting every man complete in Christ.

Acts 2:42–47 – Teaching, fellowship, and God adding to the church.

1 Corinthians 1:10; 3:1–4 – Unity vs. carnality and division.

VI. Teaching Outline (For Preaching / Teaching)

Title: Perfecting the Saints Text: Ephesians 4:11–16

Introduction

Read Ephesians 4:11–16.

Connect to Matthew 5:48 – God’s will is perfection.

Clarify confusion about “perfection” by distinguishing three categories.

I. Understanding “Perfection” in the New Testament

A. Positional Perfection

Complete in Christ (Col 2:10; Heb 10:14).

Secured at salvation; cannot be improved.

B. Ultimate Perfection

Future glory (Heb 12:23; Phil 3:12–14).

Happens at death / resurrection.

C. Experiential (Practical) Perfection

Daily spiritual growth and maturity.

The focus of Ephesians 4:11–16.

II. God’s Means of Experiential Perfection

A. The Holy Spirit (Gal 3:3; 2 Cor 3:18)

Begins the Christian life and perfects it.

No human can mature others apart from the Spirit’s work.

B. Trials and Suffering (James 1:2–4; 1 Pet 5:10)

Tests faith; produces endurance; leads to maturity.

God arranges trials; we don’t manufacture them.

C. The Word of God (1 Pet 2:2; 2 Tim 3:16–17)

Primary tool of the Spirit.

Given especially through evangelists and pastor-teachers.

Main sphere of pastoral responsibility.

III. The Progression to Perfection (Ephesians 4:11–12)

A. Gifted Men Equip the Saints

Christ gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor-teachers.

Purpose: “for the equipping of the saints”.

Two aspects:

Individual maturity.

Corporate unity (1 Cor 1:10).

B. The Saints Do the Work of Ministry

Ministry is not clergy-only.

Every believer has gifts (Rom 12; 1 Pet 4:10–11).

Pastors equip; saints serve.

C. The Body Is Built Up

Growth in maturity and effectiveness.

The church becomes a healthy, functioning body.

IV. The Purposes and Fruits of Perfection (Ephesians 4:13–15)

A. Unity of the Faith (v. 13a)

Doctrinal and practical unity as a result of maturity.

B. Deep Knowledge of the Son of God (v. 13b)

Experiential, intimate knowledge of Christ.

C. Christlikeness – “Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ” (v. 13c)

Both individual and corporate likeness to Christ.

D. Doctrinal Stability (v. 14)

No longer children, unstable and gullible.

Protected from false teachers and winds of doctrine.

E. Evangelistic Witness – “Speaking the Truth in Love” (v. 15)

Truth and love combined.

Evangelism as an overflow of maturity.

V. The Power of Perfection: Christ the Head (Ephesians 4:15–16)

A. Growth “into Him” (v. 15)

Christ is the goal of our growth.

B. Growth “from whom” (v. 16)

Christ is the source of all true growth.

The body is fitly joined together by His design.

C. Every Part Working, the Body Building Itself in Love

Each member supplies what Christ has given.

The result: a loving, growing, Christlike church.

Conclusion

Return to Matthew 5:48 and Ephesians 4:12.

The true measure of a church is not attendance but the maturity of its people.

Call believers to:

Submit to the Spirit’s work.

Embrace the Word.

Use their gifts.

Seek unity, stability, and Christlikeness.

Speak the truth in love as Christ’s body in the world.

VII. Discussion Guide (For Groups or Personal Reflection)

1. Warm-Up

When you hear the word “perfect”, what do you instinctively think of? How does that differ from what Ephesians 4 describes?

Have you ever been in a church that was busy with programs but weak in maturity? What did that feel like?

2. Exploring the Text (Ephesians 4:11–16)

Read Ephesians 4:11–12.

What four kinds of gifted men are mentioned?

According to the text, what are they given for?

Who is supposed to do “the work of service”?

Read verse 13.

What three outcomes does Paul list (unity, knowledge, maturity)?

How do these connect to each other?

Read verses 14–15.

How does Paul describe spiritual immaturity?

What dangers do immature believers face?

What does it mean, practically, to “speak the truth in love”?

Read verse 16.

How does Paul describe the body’s growth?

What is each individual believer’s role in this growth?

3. Doctrinal and Theological Reflection

Three kinds of perfection

How would you explain positional, ultimate, and experiential perfection to a new believer?

Why is it important not to confuse them?

Means of sanctification

Which of God’s tools (Spirit, trials, Word) do you welcome most?

Which do you resist most, and why?

The role of the Word

Do you see the link between the Word and maturity in your own life?

How does your church practically prioritize Scripture?

The church and evangelism

How might evangelism look different if it were primarily the overflow of a mature body, rather than a program?

4. Personal Application

Where am I on the maturity spectrum?

In what areas of your life do you see evidence of growth?

Where do you still feel “tossed to and fro”?

My ministry in the body

What do you believe your spiritual gifts are (even roughly)?

How are you using them now?

What is one concrete step you could take this month to serve more intentionally?

Speaking the truth in love

Think of someone who needs truth spoken to them.

How could you approach them in a way that is both faithful to truth and rich in love?

Responding to trials

What trial are you facing right now?

How might God be using it to perfect you rather than crush you?

5. Prayer Suggestions

Thank God for positional perfection in Christ and the promise of ultimate perfection in glory.

Ask the Spirit to use His Word and your present circumstances to bring about experiential maturity.

Pray for your pastors and teachers to be faithful equipers of the saints.

Pray that your local church would:

Grow in unity of the faith,

Deepen in the knowledge of the Son of God,

Become more Christlike,

Stand firm in sound doctrine,

And speak the truth in love to a lost world.

Reference

John MacArthur. https://www.gty.org/sermons/1927/building-the-body-of-christ-part-2