Building The Church Christ Intended Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

View this message at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/120438

Introduction

This morning we are returning to the fourth chapter of Ephesians. We are studying today one of my favorite passages that describe the incredible work of the Church. Before we get into it, I want to read you a poem called “The Choice.”

"I watched some men tearing a building down,

a group of men in my hometown.

With a heave and a ho and a mighty yell,

They swung the ball and a sidewall fell.

And I said to the foreman, "Are these men skilled,

the type you’d hire if you want to build?"

And he smiled, then laughed and said, "No indeed,

the common laborer is all I need.

For we can tear down in a day or two,

what it took a builder years to do."

As I turned, I shook my head,

I knew there was truth in what he said.

And I thought to myself as I walked away,

which of these roles am I going to play?

Am I a builder as I work with care,

measuring life by the rule and squares?

Am I shaping my deeds to a well-laid plan,

carefully doing the best I can?

Or am I a wrecker as I walk the town,

content with the labor of tearing down?

We are celebrating 1 year since we started our Wednesday night meetings and became a new church plant. It was during that time that the Lord really impressed upon us the importance of being a healthy, biblically sound church. We felt and still feel the urgency of the need for biblical literacy in the church. When God called us to be what would become Crossway Christian Fellowship, he was directing us to go beyond the standards of our day and be strong in His Word in all aspects of our existence.

This passage speaks to me about who we are and what we are about; who am I and what my role as a pastor is. So, as we study this, you should be challenged in your understanding of church leadership. May we let the Word of God take precedence over tradition and let us seek to uphold its teaching. This passage in particular is going to be definitive as to who we are and what we’re going to be about. If we can perfect the biblical model of church unity and leadership - despite what all the other secular models demand - we are going to continue growing in a God-honoring direction.

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. (Ephesians 4:11–16)

Now Jeff and Mark took us through the first part of this chapter the last couple of weeks. Paul is transitioning from unveiling the indescribable blessings of God in Christ to applying the richness of these blessings in our lives. What we are studying today is a continuation of the “therefore” in Ephesians 4:1:

1 I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, (Ephesians 4:1)

Paul is saying, “Because of the power of the mystery of the Gospel being revealed to both the Jews and Gentiles; because God has (Ephesians 1:3) “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” Therefore: 1.) Our walk as believers matters. 2.) We are to be unified under the banner of Christ. 3.) Some are called to special leadership in the church.

Unity is of the highest importance to our Lord in His church and to us. In John 17, Jesus prayed that we would be one; spiritually AND manifestly one because the love that we have for each other marked our relationships in this world. We are to be “diligent,” according to verse 3 to “preserve the unity.” ‘

?10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)