Saturated in God's Family

Discipleship=Saturation

Last week we began by pondering the question: What is discipleship?

To which I made the case that discipleship is

A followship, a path of learning about Jesus, following His words and His ways.

Embracing the things that Jesus showed us were the most important things in life.

Being shaped by His life, His values, and His mission.

Also, discipleship happens as we are “Saturated” in the things that God uses to shape us:

His Word (what we talked about last week)

His Family (what we are talking about today)

His Mission (what we will talk about next week)

So today I want to talk about the importance of the Church, God’s Family, to us as believers, and even those who do not yet believe.

We are going to dive in Ephesians 4:1-16 this morning.

Ephesians 4:1–16 CSB

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people. 9 But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 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. 14 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. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 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.

What is the Church?

In Acts 2:42-47 we get a snapshot of what this family looked like in it very early stages.

Acts 2:42–47 CSB

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Just listen to this description:

They were devoted to the Word of God, to eating together, praying together, and being in one anothers’ homes.

They took care of one another as needs would come about, selling their stuff in order to serve the needs of their brothers and sisters.

They were joyful and sincere and were favored in the community, even to the point that new people were joining in most everyday.

This was no event, building, or social club. It was a family, living out a new identity as the Ekklesia, the word we translate as Church, which literally means “Called out ones”.

That is who we are as well, 2000 years later, we are the called out ones of God, the Family of God.

There is an interconnectedness, an interdependence that binds those of us who are believers in Jesus together.

In some kind of super natural way, we become brother and sisters in Christ.

What we read about in Acts 2 isn’t necessarily our aspiration. The time, place, and culture play into the way the early church functioned, but

But there was a culture and a rhythm to the life of the early church that I do believe ought to be our goal.

Paul calls it a “calling” when he teaches the Ephesian believers about the church.

Ephesians 4:1 CSB

1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received,

Last week we read from 2 Peter, which Peter wrote from a jail cell. And here Paul is also writing from a jail cell.

He has spent the first 3 chapters teaching and reminding the church of the gospel, who Jesus was, what He has done, and how they have been transformed.

Now he is calling them to live in response to all he has taught.

This “calling” the church is to live up to is a communal calling, not individualistic.

There is an end goal in mind for how we are to live out this calling as the Family of God

Ephesians 4:16 CSB

16 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.

The goal is to grow into a unified body that shines Jesus to the world.

Let’s go to Ephesians and reflect on 4 Questions we all need to ask ourselves.

1) Are we being SHAPED by our shared VALUES?

Ephesians 4:2–3 CSB

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Paul lists 4 values we must strive to for and one commitment that undergirds the values.

1) HUMILITY

Christ-centered humility/lowliness is a disposition to think lowly of ourselves and highly of Christ.

It is a putting of Christ in His rightful place, at the center of our lives.

Not putting our comfort, success, safety, or reputation at the center.

It is putting the good of others before ourselves.

“it is better to give than to receive”

“The first shall be last and the last shall be first.”

Humility is not a lack of confidence, it is a confidence rooted in Christ

It is not a lack of strength, it is a strength empowered by the Spirit in us.

2) GENTLENESS/Meekness

The disposition of someone who finds their value in Christ and their strength in the Lord.

Gentleness/Meekness is the outworking of humility.

I do not need to tear someone down to feel good about myself

My words can hurt. My actions can hurt. And often my intentions are to make others feel lower than me and me to feel higher than them.

Our words and actions come from our hearts.

If we count others more important than ourselves, then our words and actions will reflect that heart.

Speak and act with meekness.

Meekness is not weakness.

3) PATIENCE

People will hurt us, disappoint us, and/or take advantage of us.

Our tendency is to give up, turn our backs, and get back at them.

Patience requires us to show others the same patient endurance that Christ has shown us.

I do not need to defend myself and vindicate myself if someone hurts me or slanders me.

I will forgive and restore relationship just as Christ does with me.

4) FORBEARANCE

“It involves bearing with one another’s weaknesses, not ceasing to love one’s neighbours or friends because of those faults in them which perhaps offend or displease us”

The idea is that we must endure one another.

There are different personalities, parenting styles, levels of cleanliness, styles of listening, willingness levels for talking and sharing...

Community requires that we endure one another in the same way Christ endures us, in all our mess and bad decisions.

5) Work hard at staying together.

There is a unity and bond of peace that is cultivated by the values that Paul lists.

When pride or impatience sneaks in, it will degrade and even destroy the unity we share.

We need each other, so we must do the hard work of staying together, being humble and patient with one another.

2) Are we DEFINED by our shared IDENTITY?

Ephesians 4:4–6 CSB

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

The unity of the church is not just some mystical idea with no real substance.

Paul list 7 shared points of identity we as the family of God all possess.

1) We are One Body

We are intrinsically connected just like our cardiac and pulmonary systems are interconnected.

Your heart cannot do its job if you lungs are not taking in oxygen. But your lungs are unable to bring oxygen throughout the body without the heart pumping blood through you veins.

You are not designed to function outside the body of Christ and the Body of Christ is not complete without you.

2) We have One Spirit

The Spirit of God is God’s presence and power in us to lead us and to empower us to live for Him and do the works He has called us to do.

Each true believer has received the Spirit when they believed in Jesus.

3) We have One Hope

Our hope should not be in what we can accomplish or accumulate on this earth, but in the promise and hope of heaven.

4) We have One Lord

Jesus is the Lord, the king and master, of all who are saved.

Our lives are governed and directed by Jesus.

We have a common allegiance to Jesus.

5) We have One Faith

We are united by common beliefs about who Jesus is, what He did, and what He will do.

We often think this is the only one that really united us, but it is only one aspect.

6) We have One Baptism

the outworking and symbol of our faith in Christ is baptism.

We express our faith in Christ and our connection to the body of Christ when we are baptized.

7) We have One God and Father

Ultimately we all share a creator and sustainer. We all come from our God and Father who is the source of ALL that exists.

3) How are we being EMPOWERED to SERVE?

Ephesians 4:7 CSB

7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Ephesians 4:11–13 CSB

11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 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.

Ephesians 4:3 CSB

3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Verses 8-10, are an aside that is related to the text, but is basically just stressing the point Paul is making in verse 7.

The gifts God give His church are given by Him, not by the efforts of men.

Though 5 specific gifts are mentioned, the clearest point we can pull from this verse is the reality that God expects and empowers all who are a part of His family to serve.

Each and every person is gifted and equipped to serve the family in order that we grow in knowledge and maturity in the faith.

Just like in a well organized family, everyone takes on responsibilities care for and maintain all that goes into running a household.

Cleaning, cooking, connecting, and all. Everyone is needed if order for the thing to function well.

That is Paul’s point here. No one just get to sit and watch.

Sure, everyone has the opportunity to sit a watch at first, but we can’t stay there.

This really is a key problem in the church today. Too many of us see the church as something to be consumed rather than a family to serve.

God has equipped each and everyone of us in ways that this family called EHBC needs.

We need to ask ourselves the question “How can I serve?”

This has been difficult in this world of COVID since so much of what we have done has been disrupted.

So we may have to think outside the box on some things.

But we all will need to get out of our comfort zones and be willing to be stretched.

4) Are we COMMITTED to INVESTING in one another?

Ephesians 4:14–15 CSB

14 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. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.

The maturity gained as we serve one another is the thing that keeps us grounded in truth and not tossed around by crazy ideas or really attractive heresies.

One of the saddest and most frustrating aspects of ministry is seeing a person you have walked with in the faith wander off into sin or confusion.

One of the most common markers of someone stumbling in the faith is becoming isolated from the family of God.

The encouragement, accountability, teaching, and care we get in the community of faith grounds us and stabilizes us in our walks with the Lord.

This is what the author of Hebrews is talking about in chapter 10

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The investment we make in one another is not the hour a week we spend in a church service.

It is investing in one another’s lives as we gather in groups throughout the month.

It the calls, texts, and acts of kindness we show one another when we are going through a tough season.

It is the cups of coffee and meals we share to grow deeper with one another.

It is the tough conversations we have when we disagree or offend one another in some way.

It is the times of confessing sin and being prayed over.

Or maybe the times we confront each other in sin out of love and with the desire for restoration.

There are somewhere around 54 one another statements in the NT.

This is what it means to live worthy of the calling.

To be saturated in this odd, often frustrating, but deeply beautiful family of faith.

Conclusion:

What does this look like in your life? Are you living worthy of the call?

I read the quote last week “Don’t say God isn’t speaking with your bible closed.”

I will say this week “We can’t know the true goodness and grace of God if we don’t know His family.”

Have you ever received this call, trusted Christ and began to walk with Him?

Here is an easy step to take in the right direction, go sign up for Chosen group, start to get connected to community, I dare you.

Embody Our Guiding VALUES

Ephesians 4:2 CSB

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

1) HUMILITY and MEEKNESS

2) PATIENCE and FORBEARANCE