Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

The first half of the book of Ephesians very much emphasizes our unity with Christ while the 2nd half emphasizes our unity with one another.

Being who we are in Christ, the natural outcome is being ONE with one another as well.

Chapter four is very clear on this.

We began last week with looking at the first six verses.

They called us to live as who we are in Christ.

They called us to “live into unity” … so we might corporately experience who we are in Christ.

This sets a basis of unity while today’s passage focuses on the preservation of that unity.

How can we each contribute to the unity of NCC / to the unity of the Church of Vanderhoof / to the universal Church?

Please with me to Ephesians chapter 4.

We will be reading two passages, which may feel long but together provide a solid biblical basis for our message.

We will first read (which is our main text today) … read .

As a parallel passage, I would like for us to also read (the parable of the talents) … read .

May God bless the reading and proclamation of His word today!

The Giving of Gifts (7-11)

Each of us have something to offer / a way to contribute.

We may doubt our ability but God is confident in it.

We each have time, talents, and resources entrusted to us.

We do not need what anyone else has, we need only what God has given us.

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- Family Fun Night

Barb, Larry, Marijka, Jennifer - each came with their unique strengths.

The variety of the contributions brought success.

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- services … sound, musicians, song leaders, preaching … all parts and gifts needed to make this work.

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- church function … finance, facility, missions, youth and child discipleship … all are needed.

How has God gifted you to contribute to the health and unity of NCC?

Different Gifts (7b)

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- Network is a spiritual gift testing curriculum that was popular in the 1990’s; it is in our library.

As I was finishing my pastoral training, Network was significant for me to identify my specific spiritual gifts, helping me be confident in how God seeks to work through me.

I am not so concerned with whether each of us can name our specific spiritual gifts; it is most effective for our body to identify one another’s gifts.

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- in any work-place, a non-contributor is not kept around; each person plays a part to meet the purposes of that business.

The emphasis in scripture is that each one contributes as a part of the whole.

It does not matter which gift we each have; it is the use of the gifts and the collection of gifts that strengthen the body.

One gift is not elevated over another; in the Parable of the Talents, the master did not differentiate between the servants by how many talents they had but by what they did with those talents.

We often wish for another person’s gift because it seems more glamorous.

As we saw in the first verses of the chapter, we are to live as we are / to be who we are.

Take the talents / gifts given us and use them to serve our Master.

We are to use what we have been given to further the Kingdom of God.

What do you have to give?

Are you always looking for the opportunities God is giving you?

What do others affirm in you?

What resonates with your heart?

* The needs around us do not always match what is comfortable for us; willingness is required to serve beyond what we feel gifted for.

Given Graciously (7a)

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- in the parable of the talents, each servant was given talents purely by the master’s choice; it was not a reward or test.

It was not that they necessarily deserved it in some way; they were simply being entrusted with the business of the master.

In the same way, we are given opportunity to share the heart and “business” of our Master!

Nothing we have from the Lord is deserved but it is still given.

Our resources and homes; our health and time; our talents and abilities; our salvation.

Our serving is to match what we have been given.

In the way our part in the body is given graciously to us, we return it graciously.

Each believer receives grace or enablement as Christ sees fit.

Consider these verses ...

- “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.”

(, ESV)

- “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

(, ESV)

As the Head of the body, Christ determines how we each will contribute.

For some of us, gifts are consistent over time.

For others, there are seasons where our gifts shift … where the Spirit enables us to minister to a particular need in a particular time.

He gifts us in whatever situation we are in as we avail ourselves to His service.

Like our salvation, spiritual gifts are not earned.

They are grace driven.

They are meant to be offered as they are received.

In what mindset do we serve?

Are we serving others or keeping to ourselves?

Are we integrating our lives, hearts, and futures with one another?

Are we using what we have to further the Kingdom of God in our families, NCC, Vanderhoof, and beyond?

Given by Our Ascended Christ (8-10)

Paul quotes here to emphasize this reality.

Anytime we can directly tie the NT to the OT like this strengthens the concept and meaning of what we are meditating on.

This psalm celebrates God’s care, protection, and provision … with the process of moving from the wilderness to the promised land in mind.

God always upholds His people.

The picture is specific here … picturing a victorious army dividing the spoils … as Christ spreads gifts among us for the benefit of the group.

The picture of ascending to reign points to Christ’s resurrection and ascension / His exaltation … picturing a King who strengthens and enables His people.

I value ...

… politicians who serve local constituents.

… others who take interest in my family.

… managers who care for the people and not only the task.

… our sovereign and almighty God who reaches down to me and to us.

Let us always remember the life made real to us.

Not just our physical reality.

It is an eternal reality … on a spiritual level.

… in our spirits more so than our bodies.

As Christ is risen, so are we!

Let us serve accordingly ...

… in life and in blessing.

Specific Gifts (11)

Now, in v.11, Paul gets very specific.

I have kept this verse tied to the verses above because it speaks to the gifts that have been given.

It identifies key gifts that build up the local and universal church bodies.

When we read the various passages on spiritual gifts, each list is somewhat different … showing they are not meant as complete lists.

There are specific gifts given, each significant but different.

Each church will have its own set of strengths … the more charismatic are gifted in faith and prophecy, churches more conservative like ours are gifted in teaching and administration, while others are strongly gifted in evangelism and outreach.

Each denomination also has its strengths … just like each congregation and each family and each person.