Why Health Matters | Ephesians 4:1–16

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus said, "I will build my church."

Paul urged them to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called."

There's an old saying that goes, "There is not I in team." This axiom states that for a team to be successful, then everyone on the team must put aside the "I" for the health of the "we".

Paul is saying the same thing to these believers. We have to sacrifice the I to the needs of the we, or the many must become the one.

The Roman Legion was the greatest fighting force in the ancient world. For centuries the Roman Empire expanded, taking nation after nation in behind the strength of the Roman fighting forces. One reason for this was because of the superior tactics and discipline of the professional Roman soldier. While most armies of the time were made up of farmers, and day workers who would answer the call of a leader through conscription, the Romans were professionals who spent their lives honing their fighting prowess.

One of the most impressive formations was the testudo or Tortoise formation. This formation was made up for men who would align their shields in front, on the side, behind and on top to form an impenetrable shell that could protect the Romans for enemy archers. The soldiers, following the direction of drummers who would drum out the beat and leaders who would direct their movements could use the formation to deflect arrows, rocks thrown from enemy walls and other projectiles. The formation worked because of the discipline and oneness of the Roman Legion: Because they marched, turned and fought as one they were almost unstoppable.

In the same way, we are called to be one. In this text Paul encourages them to remember this call. We are THE church, and as such we must be pulling, marching, turning and fighting in the same direction. It's our ability to do this that can spell the success or failure of the body.

Churches fail when we lack oneness.

Unity is so important that Jesus prayed for unity on his last night on earth before his crucifixion. He didn't pray for numbers, he didn't pray for powerful speakers. He didn't pray for flashy services, he prayed for unity:

John 17:21 ESV

that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

So why does church health matter? Because we are called to unity in Christ.

Healthy Churches Have ONE Calling - the Unity of our Walk

True church health begins when a church realizes that we have one calling. That calling is summarized in this passage, specifically v. 1-6:

Ephesians 4:1–6 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Notice the calling, to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Our calling is in Christ. We are called by Christ to be his disciples and that calling should shape ALL that we do as a church. Everything from the things we teach, to the songs we sing, to the games we play should be wrapped up in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are called to know God and to make him know.

Colossians 1:10 ESV

so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV

we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

According to scripture, we are to grow up into Christ, to walk in a manner worthy. This is what it means to follow Christ.

What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I've been called? What does that look like? I'm called in Christ to obey him and follow him. I am called to walk in holiness, walk in faithfulness. What does that look like?

Colossians says to walk worthy in a manner worthy of the Lord: Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthen with all the power of God's glorious might to endure and be patient with joy.

So it includes bearing fruit; Increasing in knowledge; Being patient and enduring with joy; Giving thanks

Col 2:6 further says that we are to be rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.

Colossians 2:6 ESV

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

So walking worthy means that we strive for sanctification - becoming more like Christ. We must be striving to bear fruit, increase in knowledge through studying the word, enduring hardship with patient joy, being thankful, rooted and built up in him. In short, we should be disciples. That's the walk - walking after him.

Like a child following their father across a stream, we are to put our feet where he puts his, paying attention to how he walks.

In gardening terms, we are to seek to be rooted in him. We can tie this into the two gardens, we are to root ourselves into Christ - to grow DEEPER into Christ TOGETHER.

We can never underestimate the importance of Christian unity and community. Without community we cease to be the church.

Healthy Churches are following ONE Ministry - The Unity of Our Maturity (v. 7-13)

Not only are we to be one in our walk, we are also to be one in ministry.

Ephesians 4:7–13 ESV

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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,

Christ has given us leaders, pastors, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers, etc and they are to be about one ministry: know Christ more fully.

Hebrews 5:14 ESV

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Our ministry is to focused on loving others and one of the ways that we do this is by giving them Jesus.

We Give them Jesus by actively SERVING others. (v. 12)

We Give them Jesus by lovingly SPEAKING TRUTH (v. 13)

We Give them Jesus by faithfully HOLDING OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE (v. 13)

Healthy Churches are committed to ONE Purpose - The Unity of Making Disciples (v. 14-16)

Finally, healthy churches are committed to making disciples.

OUR PURPOSE IS TO BE A CHURCH OF DISCIPLES WHO MAKE DISCIPLES. We must be committed to being reproducing disciples of Christ.