Introduction

Good morning, beloved congregation. It's a joy to be standing here with you today, in the house of our Lord, ready to unwrap the divine message that He has prepared for us. We are gathered here to open our hearts and minds to His word, to let it seep into our souls, and to let it guide us on the path of righteousness.

Our focus today will be on Ephesians 4:1-15, a passage that serves as a beacon of unity, a call to oneness, and a blueprint for building the body of believers. It is a passage that resonates with an urgency and a depth that is as relevant today as it was when the Apostle Paul first penned these words.

Let us hear the Word of the Lord [read text].

Isn't it powerful to hear the Apostle Paul's call for unity, his urging for us to live a life worthy of our calling, his emphasis on the importance of each one of us in building up the body of Christ? As we ponder this, let us remember the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "Unity without the truth is hazardous. Our Lord's prayer was not that His disciples should merely be one, but that they might be one in the truth."

As we delve into this scripture today, we will focus on three main points: Building the Body of Believers, Becoming One in Purpose, and Bridging Divisions through Unity.

Let us pray. Dear Lord, as we gather here today, we ask for Your guidance. Open our hearts and minds to Your Word. Help us to understand Your message and to apply it in our lives. Fill us with Your wisdom and grace. May we grow in unity and love, becoming mature and complete in You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Building the Body of Believers

The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a body to describe the church. This is not a new metaphor. We've heard it before. But let's take a moment to really think about what it means. A body is made up of many parts. Each part has a specific function. Each part is necessary for the body to function properly. If one part is missing or not working properly, the whole body suffers.

Similarly, the church is made up of many members. Each member has a specific role to play. Each member is necessary for the church to function properly. If one member is missing or not working properly, the whole church suffers. This is what Paul is getting at when he talks about building the body of believers.

Now, let's think about what it means to build something. When you build something, you start with a foundation. You lay down the first stone, and then you add another, and another, and another. You keep adding stones until you have a structure. But you don't just throw the stones together haphazardly. You place each stone carefully, making sure it fits perfectly with the others. You make sure each stone is secure, so it won't fall out of place.

This is how we should approach building the body of believers. We start with a foundation - the gospel of Jesus Christ. We add members to the church, one by one, carefully and deliberately. We make sure each member is secure in their faith, so they won't fall away.

But building the body of believers is also about strengthening the members we already have. It's about helping each other grow in our faith by encouraging, supporting, and holding each other accountable. It's about working together to fulfill the mission of the church - to make disciples of all nations. This is a big responsibility! It's not something we can do on our own. We need the help of the Holy Spirit. We need the grace of God. But with His help, we can do it.

Becoming One in Purpose

We are next drawn to the idea of unity not just in spirit, but also in purpose ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO