Equipped For Work

Would you stand for the reading of God’s word? Ephesians 4:7-16

Ephesians 4:7–16 CSB

Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people. But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 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. 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. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 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.

Pray with me. pray and slide

I grew up in a baseball family. Our family didn’t get into sports much beyond that - but when it came to Chicago Cubs Baseball - we were in it. Baseball has been called America’s past time, but there was a season for many decades where it’s popularity was declining radically, at least compared to other sports such as football.

There are a lot of reasons for this - the pacing of the game, the length of the games, the sometimes peculiar rules of force outs. Not everyone loves watching baseball, at least not on a screen. Even though many athletes and experts consider major league batting - or hitting a fastball going 100+ mph to be one of the most difficult feats across all sports. Regardless - it was a past time, a napping sport. They literally make people get up and stretch to stay engaged!

But recently baseball has had a major resurgence! the resurgence has come in the form of a peculiar team - the Savannah Bananas.

The Savannah Bananas are so much fun - selling out fields across the country with a new rule set that they call Banana Ball.

Their whole purpose to make baseball fun - with the players regularly breaking out into dances, with the pacing mandated to be under 2 hours, but a huge part of it - the fans play the game.

If a batter hits a ball into the stands - if a fan catches the ball - the batter is out. All the fans are thus players impacting the game.

Banana ball isn’t a spectator sport, everyone is taking part in the game, and the result is a ton of fun, everyone is a part of the spectacle - and the game is still highly competitive. It’s become an engaging activity, not a passive pastime.

Friends - Biblically speaking, its the engagement of all of the believers that is a hallmark of an effective and faithful congregation.

Over the last 5 weeks we’ve begun our study on the Church a Peculiar People, and we’ve been focusing on the identity of the Church, or who we are. We’ve looked at different images and metaphors the Bible uses to instruct us on the Church - that the Church is a peculiar people chosen by God, that the Church is the Bride of Christ deeply loved, to be made pure and cherished, that the Church is the body of Christ in which we are all a part with unique gifts but one in Jesus, and that the Church is the family of God - a new human race adopted by grace.

This morning we want to engage the Church, for Scripture declares that "The Church is a priesthood — equipped by the Lord through gifted leaders to do the work of ministry."

You could say it this way - the whole Church is to be on field, not sitting in the stands while someone else plays the game.

There is a great trap that plays out in our world amongst believers - where we read and hear about our identity in Christ, and we listen and hear it, but we are never mobilized to actually go get stuff done - and what ends up happening is cynicism, fruitlessness, and deception.

We can’t just hear what God says - we gotta respond in obedience. This is James 1:22

James 1:22 CSB

But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

The Church is not a spectator sport! All of us have different giftings and different roles - but all of us get to play - scratch that, all of us NEED to play if we want to be effective with Christ.

However, Churches are quite bad at this. I’ve said this before, but one of my least favorite things that someone can call me as a pastor is the minister. As if ministry is MY job. Friends - that’s unbiblical, as we will see in this text, ministry is OUR job.

There is blame all around this issue. There is a temptation for those who work in the pastoral field to hoard authority and do the job themselves, partly because it’s easier to do it yourself then to teach someone else. There is a temptation for those who are believers but who aren’t in church leadership to not want to do the ministry - because isn’t that why we are paying the Pastor? Or didn’t they go to school?

We get gifting and offices so wrong in the church and what ends up happening is we have pastors, who are called to be lead and shepherd who have no capacity to do their role, and so many others who are called to step into the work, who would rather sit in the stands and yell and try and coach from the bleachers!

Is there any wonder why both church attendance is shrinking and those going into pastoral leadership is dwindling?

Good news, however - it’s not supposed to be this way. The normal way Churches function in America may be familiar, but it doesn’t make it right.

So, Let’s work through what Paul writes in Ephesians 4, a theology of spiritual gifts, but also of authority and delegation. First, look at Ephesians 4:7-10

Ephesians 4:7–10 CSB

Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people. But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things.

Paul begins this section with an important reminder - IT’s all about Christ. grace, a free gift, is given to each believer all from the volition and authority and discretion of King Jesus. IT’s a manifestation of the Spirit, whom Christ sends.

Paul sees spiritual gifts as a fulfillment of the Old Testament - specifically here Psalm 68, which is a picture of a victorious king, who descends to defeat the the enemy, but then ascends to distribute the spoils and blessings. The “battle” has been won. Sin is defeated, death has been struck with a terminal blow, and now, Jesus ascends and gifts each of us gifts.

It’s good Paul starts here, and not with a list of gifts - why? Because we need to remember the point of the church and this passage ultimately needs to be about Christ and his present activity.

There is a temptation to bring our preferences, agenda, and talents into the church. What Paul is saying is that it’s all about Christ. What’s his agenda? what’s his preference? What gifts does he give to bring it about? We need to submit to Christ, and to one another, as we work with him to see his Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. He is the victorious king, and he is so merciful to not only save us but to empower us, and to give us what and who we need to be effective.

What did he give? the next verse tells us - look at Verse Ephesians 4:11

Ephesians 4:11 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

As we look at this verse I need to make you aware of the interpretive challenges that come with it. There are many competing views in how best to understand this verse. There is agreement that it is a gift form Christ, but the main debate is whether this list is a list of specific offices, general gifts, all encompassing gifts, or perhaps that these people are themselves gifts.

We know from other lists of gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 that there are indeed other Spiritual gifts. In fact, I believe that none of the lists included in scripture are conclusive - meaning that there are likely other ways in which the Spirit gifts people beyond what is specifically listed in the Bible.

This list is a bit unique as it only lists 5 (some would argue it’s only 4, we can unpack that). And this has caused some debate.

There is one school of thought that each of these is like a category and every believer falls into one of these buckets. I do not find this compelling, and this largely become a sort of Christian personality test, and I think doesn’t take seriously the Biblical weight behind things like apostle and prophets.

Another school of thought is that these aren’t actually gifts in the same way we’d read Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, but that these are specific offices. The office of apostle, office of prophet, office of evangelist, office of pastor and teacher. While there is something too that - to me it doesn’t fit the context well, as Paul literally uses the term gift!

There is a mediating view: these are gifts that perhaps carry a certain responsibility that often goes with an office of authority when merged perhaps with the role of elder or deacon.

Because Paul says there is a specific purpose of these gifts listed: let’s add some context - 11-13

Ephesians 4:11–13 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 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.

This list has a specific function - to equip the saints for the work of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, so that we can be unified and growing into maturity.

We think about the prophet the evangelist the pastor teacher doing ministry - and in a sense, yes - but Paul here is saying that these people actually are supposed to be doing equipping so that the whole church can do the work of the ministry.

That’s different! That isn’t a put the apostle, prophet, evangelists on the field of mission and let the rest of us watch! If anything, it’s the opposite. All of us are called to get on the field and to get to work, they are the coaches and trainers who give us what we need to be successful!

Maybe we could say it this way:

Ministry isn't the pastor's job with your help. It's our job with the pastor’s help.

We’ve said it this way: The Spirit of God comes on the People of God and Empowers them to do the Work of God. Everyone gets the Spirit, and everyone get’s to play.

This is the Biblical idea of the Church, the people of God, we are his children at work with The Father in the family business. This isn’t a hidden truth - it is the plain reading throughout the new testament.

And yet, The reality is most Churches do not function this way, with all the believers mobilized to do the work of the ministry. But if we want to be effective on our assignment of working with God to increase the spiritual temperature of south eastern South Dakota we need all our people on the field and in the right positions!

Why the resistance to this? What keeps people from stepping up and into being on mission? I can think of 4 areas of resistance:

First, The word Ministry needs definition! Because of how languages develop through time, when we say the word ministry we code this as preaching, or maybe professional ministry services. However, the definition of ministry, the greek word for this diakonia or service.

Friends - we are called to do the work of Jesus, and what did he do? He tells us in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45

The Son of man came did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many.

So our jobs, our ministry is this: serve God serve others - living life for God and being ready to tell people why we are serving them.

Being ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us.

Ministry is service!

Now preaching is a part of this, the role of the preacher is to listen to the Spirit, study the scripture and offer the words to God and the Church as a means to give you what you need so you can be full of what you need to serve.

But then all of us have the duty to go do the stuff of service. Make no mistake - ministry is service. It’s the weeping with those who weep, rejoicing with those who rejoice. It’s the work of the foot washing savior. It’s the prayers of grandma and grandpa pleading before God for the salvation of their children and grandchildren.

If you are in Christ, you are called to be in the work of ministry. And that means serving God, and serving and loving other people. Just reframing the word to its proper definition is helpful - not everyone is called to be a preacher, but everyone is called to serve.

A Second reason , is because MANY of us don’t feel qualified. So many believers walk around still carrying the guilt and shame of their previous lives and sin that Christ already cleansed them from. But somehow guilt has become part of their identity rather than forgiveness.

Some of us therefore don’t feel like we can be God’s representatives and people who serve and do ministry. We’re not worthy.

And some of us are still walking around with habitual and hidden sin!

Friend the answer to this is the Gospel. When we come to Christ we are fogiven from sin past present and future - and we are given a new birth and regeneration from the Spirit. We are given God’s Spirit in us. We no longer are considered sinners before the throne, but saints. And we no longer have to continue to be slaves to sin.

We started our Peculiar People series with this point - the Gospel is so profound and so complete that Christ seeks out those who were rebels from His will (put 1 Peter 2:9-10 on the screen) and makes us into a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession (or a peculiar people) so that we can proclaim the praises of the one who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We are qualified because Christ has made us new. And a part of this new life is being a priest unto God. All of us. Not just pastor Brandon and Jimmy, or the elders, or the incredible worship team - every believer a priest and a child of God. Jesus’s blood qualifies us to be children of God and to serve boldly without shame or condemnation.

A Third resistance - some churches don’t equip well, instead they overprogram! So many churches aren’t engaged with real discipleship and equipping, but are more in the content feeding game.

instead of a training regiment to get the sheep into shape, we turn church into a buffet for goats! All you can eat, come be fed come be fed! Without ever actually helping people get on mission.

Jesus literally speaks against this in Matthew 25, and it’s worth recalling. In matthew 25:31-46 Jesus is teaching about what it will look like when he comes again in glory. he says that he will gather all the nations before him and separate them with sheep on his right and goats on the left. And those who are sheep with be welcomed into the kingdom of the father: why? because they fed the hungry, provided water to the thirsty, housed the stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the infirm, and visited the imprisoned. Jesus says that when the sheep cared for the least of these, it was as if they were serving Him.

But to the goats on his left, he says to depart and be thrown into the fire with the devil! Why? because they weren’t engaged in serving the hungry, the thirsty, the estranged, the naked, and the imprisoned.

Now the goats get indignant - “Lord when did we see you hungry or in need? we would have helped you if you were there!”

And he tells them - whatever you did not do for the least of these you did not do for me.

Francis Chan said it this way - churches often are interested in making really fat goats, when Jesus is looking for lean sheep.

Yes - we need to hear the word, study the word, feast on Christ - but then we need to ACTUALLY follow him and do what he says. All of us.

The Fourth bit of resistance is on each individual and sin in our hearts. Some don’t want to be equipped, for that would mean they need to submit to the Bible and Church leaders, and they’d actually have to do the work.

Some of us would much rather relax and cruise through life, obeying when convenient and offering are criticism liberally. Because what Scripture is saying about this peculiar body called the Church is we need to actually die to our old self, are preferences, and follow Christ. We all need to do our part, and the work of the Church - ministry, service, it’s not a professionalized thing. It takes all of us.

If we want to mature into fullness like Christ’s all of us do it together - with the equipping of the leaders, fully engaged with Christ on mission.

What does it look like if we don’t have unity and if we aren’t on mission together? Ephesians 4:14

Ephesians 4:14 CSB

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.

Bickering like little kids! following whatever sounds good to us at the time. Instead - look at 15-16

Ephesians 4:15–16 CSB

But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 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.

We all have a part to play. We are fitted and knit together, we all need to promote the growth of the body - loving each other, and each individual working. This is what allows us to grow into the head - Christ.

The Church isn’t a spectator sport. It isn’t sport to fall asleep in while professionals do the stuff. No: "The Church is a priesthood — equipped by the Lord through gifted leaders to do the work of ministry."

Let’s step back and ask our question:

So What?

How can we come into alignment with what Christ is up to in the Church?

First - Get On The Field.

The Church doesn’t need more fans following celebrity preachers. Jesus didn’t die for our sins, and send his spirit to empower us to be good spectators - he came to lead us into new life, to give us the mission of reconciliation! The question isn’t whether you are gifted or not. The questions is are you using your gifts to serve! And not everyone needs to serve in our church - ministry, service, is for the body, AND for the world. How are you engaged with Christ on mission? Do you have a plan in place? I encourage you this week - serve somebody in the name of JEsus. And make a plan for regular service.

Second - Get Equipped.

What if Jesus actually was really wise in how he distributed gifts and authority and Church structure? What if the Bible is right in that we it isn’t good for us to be alone, and that we actually need the Church, and other believers, and yes pastors and elders to come under. Friends - What if we actually received what God has offered through the preaching of the Word and the community groups? Could you imagine if we, in fear and trembling, took the gifts he gave us, honed our mind in the word so that we could be more effective?

The fact of the matter is equipping is a two party act: one party gives the other what they need, teaching, training etc - but then the party needs to take it upon themselves to listen and to put it into practice. Receive the gifts that God has given and let’s act on them.

Third - Get the Right Perspective.

None of this is about you. None of this is about me. None of it is about your title, your platform, your spotlight. It’s not about our gifts. The whole point of equipping is that the body grows up into Christ. We mature together. Weep with those who weep. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Pray for the ones who can't pray for themselves. Forgive quickly. Serve quietly. Build the body. It’s all about Jesus and being on mission with Him to increase the spiritual temperature of southeastern South Dakota.

We need to allow our preferences and perspectives and fears and expectations and aspirations, all to come into submission to Scripture and to King Jesus.

We need to stop treating Church like Baseball - where we eat hot dogs while the players do their thing.

Heck - it’s beyond even Banana Ball - where the fans are engaged.

We need to get out of the stands and onto the field. In the Church, we are all priests. We all get the gifts through the Spirit. We all have a role to play! And it’s all about serving, not Glory.

The Church is a priesthood — equipped by the Lord through gifted leaders to do the work of ministry.

So get on the field. Get equipped. Build the body. The Bridegroom is coming — and he's looking for a Bride at work, not a Bride asleep in the stands.