Equipped for the Work
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon 6: Equipped for the Work
Sermon 6: Equipped for the Work
Series: Sent & Rooted: Living the Gospel Together
Primary Text: Ephesians 4:11–16
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.
Big Idea
Big Idea
God grows His church by equipping every believer to actively participate in His mission. The church is healthiest when everyone is engaged in the work of ministry.
Introduction
Introduction
Many Christians assume ministry is what pastors and church leaders do—while everyone else watches, supports, or consumes.
But Paul presents a radically different vision:
The church does not grow because a few people work harder—but because everyone is equipped to serve.
Ephesians 4 pulls back the curtain on how God intends His church to function.
I. Christ Gives Leaders to the Church.
I. Christ Gives Leaders to the Church.
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,
Key Observations
Key Observations
Leadership is a gift, not a power structure
Leaders are given by Christ and for the church
Different roles serve a unified purpose
Important Clarification
Important Clarification
Leaders are not called to do all the ministry—but to prepare others for it.
Cross References
Cross References
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 “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.”
Different gifts, same Spirit
Jeremiah 3:15 “15 “ ‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
Shepherds after God’s heart
1 Peter 5:2–3 “2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
Shepherding with humility
Illustration
Illustration
Leaders are not the engine of the church—they are the mechanics who help everyone else run well.
II. Their Roll Is to Equip The Church.
II. Their Roll Is to Equip The Church.
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Key Truth
Key Truth
Every believer is a minister.
The word equip means:
To prepare
To restore
To make ready for use
This implies intentional training, encouragement, and empowerment.
Cross References
Cross References
2 Timothy 2:2 “2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
Entrusting truth to faithful people
Romans 12:6–8 “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.”
– Using gifts faithfully
1 Corinthians 12:12–27 “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.”
– One body, many parts
Illustration
Illustration
A coach doesn’t play the whole game—they prepare the team to play well.
III. Doing Ministry Builds a Maturity.
III. Doing Ministry Builds a Maturity.
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,
Key Insight
Key Insight
Ministry is how disciples mature—not merely something mature disciples do.
Paul identifies the goal:
Unity in faith
Knowledge of the Son of God
Spiritual maturity
Cross References
Cross References
Colossians 1:28 “28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”
– Presenting everyone mature in Christ
Hebrews 6:1 “1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,”
– Moving toward maturity
James 1:22 “22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
– Doers of the word
Illustration
Illustration
Muscles grow by being used, not by being admired.
IV. Maturity Protects the Church.
IV. Maturity Protects the Church.
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.
Key Truth
Key Truth
Immature believers are vulnerable believers.
Maturity provides:
Doctrinal stability
Discernment
Resilience under pressure
Cross References
Cross References
Colossians 2:8 “8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
– Guarding against deception
Hebrews 5:14 “14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
– Trained by practice
Proverbs 14:15 “15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
– The prudent consider their steps
Illustration
Illustration
Strong foundations aren’t noticed in calm weather—but they matter deeply in storms.
V. Growth Happens Through Truth and Love.
V. Growth Happens Through Truth and Love.
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.
Key Observations
Key Observations
Truth without love wounds
Love without truth misleads
Growth requires both
Paul emphasizes:
Connection to Christ (the head)
Interdependence among believers
Every part doing its share
Cross References
Cross References
John 15:5 “5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
– Apart from Christ we can do nothing
Romans 15:1–2 “1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
– Building others up
1 Corinthians 13:1–7 “1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
– Love as the governing motive
Illustration
Illustration
A body grows strongest when every part is healthy, connected, and active.
VI. What This Means for Us.
VI. What This Means for Us.
Personal Application
Personal Application
Do you see yourself as a minister—or a spectator?
Where has God gifted you to serve and build others up?
Are you being equipped—and are you using that equipping?
Corporate Application
Corporate Application
Are we measuring success by attendance or engagement?
Are leaders empowering people—or replacing them?
Is our church culture built on participation, not consumption?
Series Tie-In
Series Tie-In
This sermon accelerates the movement:
Weeks 1–2: Mission and identity
Weeks 3–5: Formation and community
Week 6: Equipping for ministry
Week 7: Bearing lasting fruit
Week 8: A unified call to commit
A church that equips its people multiplies its impact.
Closing Invitation
Closing Invitation
God never intended His church to be built on a few strong shoulders.
He designed it to grow through every willing heart and hand.
You are not just called to attend.
You are called to serve.
You are called to build.
The only question is whether you will step into the work God has already prepared for you.
Group Questions
When you hear the word “ministry,” what do you instinctively think of? How does Ephesians 4:11–12 challenge or reshape that understanding?
Paul says leaders exist to “equip the saints for the work of ministry.” What does that suggest about the role of every believer in the church?
Why do you think many Christians slip into a spectator mindset rather than an engaged one? What factors—personal or cultural—contribute to that?
Verse 13 connects ministry with spiritual maturity. How have you personally grown through doing ministry rather than just learning about it?
Paul warns against being “tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.” What are some modern “winds” that can distract or destabilize believers today?
The sermon emphasized that maturity brings protection. In what ways does active participation in the body help strengthen discernment and resilience?
Ephesians 4:15 calls us to speak the truth in love. Why is it tempting to emphasize one without the other, and what happens when we do?
Paul uses the image of a body where every part must work properly. What happens to a church when certain members disengage—or when a few do everything?
Where do you see God gifting you to serve others right now? What might it look like to take one intentional step toward using that gift?
This sermon calls us to move from attendance to participation. What is one concrete way you can engage more fully in the life and mission of the church this season?
📖 Ephesians 4:11–16
Many people think ministry is what pastors do—while everyone else watches.
But Scripture paints a very different picture.
God grows His church by equipping every believer to participate in the work of ministry.
Maturity doesn’t come from sitting and listening—it comes from serving, growing, and building together.
The church is strongest when every part is connected, active, and working in love.
🕥 Sunday at 10:30am
📍 412 Sherman St, Allegan, MI
💻 Watch live: https://alleganbiblechurch.com/watch-live
You are not just called to attend.
You are called to serve.
You are called to build.
#SentAndRooted #EquippedForTheWork #Ephesians4 #ChurchTogether #EveryMemberAMinister
