The Design of God’s Church
Griffith Baptist Church – 9/28/08
A.M. Service
Text: Ephesians 4:11-16
Key verse: Ephesians 4:11-12 - 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Premise: God gives godly leaders to train His people to become godly people for a God-honoring outcome.
The Introduction
A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch. The little boy was curious and asked, "Why do you have that palm branch, dad?" "You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved Palm Branches to honor him, and so we got Palm Branches today." The little boy replied, "Oh, no! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!"
What should happen when Jesus shows up at church?
We know that the church should operate as one.
We know that the people of the church all have gifts.
Now we come to the point where we put it all together.
We often shop for churches based on what we would feel most comfortable in.
This is not a good criterion for finding a church.
Rather, we should be looking for a church based upon the biblical model and how we can contribute to it.
We often think that the church should be here for us, but really, shouldn’t we be here for the church?
Here in this passage is the biblical model we are discussing.
What I want you to consider is this: Are you as a member helping to contribute to making this church the church it needs to be according to God’s Word?
Transition Statement: We are going to take a look at the man of God, the people of God and the objective of God. First, what does this say about the man of God?
Body
1. The Man of God – 4:11-12
A. The calling of the man of God – 11
i. God is the one who gives men for the work of the ministry
a. This is God’s appointment
b. God calls and gifts men specifically for the work they are to do
ii. He has given a variety of offices, two of which are foundational:
a. Apostles (foundational) – “one who is sent with a commission”
• The qualifications for that apostleship were having been chosen directly by Christ and having witnessed the resurrected Christ (Mark 3:13; Acts 1:22-24; 1 Cor. 9:1-2; Eph.2:20). (MacArthur)
• This function ceased with the first century church and there is no indication that it continued or was to continue.
b. Prophets (foundational)
• The common function of the prophet was not so much prediction of future events as it was in proclaiming the Word of God (Acts 11:28; Eph. 3:5)
• This function ceased with the completion of the New Testament (in reference to receiving direct revelation from God)
c. Evangelists – bearers of the good news
• At times we probably feel it would be so much easier if we could be like Lucy in the old Peanuts cartoon: Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "I would have made a great evangelist." Charlie Brown answers, "Is that so?" She says, "Yes, I convinced that boy in front of me in school that my religion is better than his religion." Charlie Brown asked, "Well, how did you do that?" And Lucy answers, "I hit him over the head with my lunch box."
• These men were in the local church (i.e. Phillip)
• They are soul winners and their gift is leading others to Christ
• This does not mean that every believer does not have responsibility for witnessing
• In the early church, these were not itinerant preachers who did a week of meetings and moved on, they were permanent fixtures.
d. Pastors and Teachers
• These are one and the same office – but two different functions
• Pastors – shepherds – to lead and feed the flock
• Teachers – to impart the knowledge of God’s Word to the church
• 1 Timothy 5:17 - Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.
• They are to lead, be an example, care for and oversee the flock given to them
• They are under the Chief Shepherd as their greatest authority
B. The work of the man of God – 12
Warren Weirsbe tells a story of a free-lance missionary that visited a pastor friend asking for financial support. “What group are you associated with?” his friend asked.
The man replied, “I belong to the invisible church.”
His friend then asked, “Well, what church are you a member of?”
Again he got the answer, “I belong to the invisible church!”
Getting a bit suspicious, his friend asked, “When does this invisible church meet? Who pastors it?”
The missionary then became incensed and said, “Well, your church here isn’t the true church. I belong to the invisible church!”
His friend replied, “Well, here’s some invisible money to help you in your invisible church!” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Rich, p. 103)
i. Equip the saints (For the perfecting [equipping] of the saints,)
a. The people of the church are to be given the right tools
b. There are four basic tools for every Christian:
• The Word of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
• Prayer – Acts 6:4; ex. in Col. 4:12-13
• Testing – by learning to trust and be drawn closer to God – James 1:2-4 - 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
• Suffering – Philippians 3:10 – That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
1 Peter 5:10 - But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
It is through suffering for Christ and in this life that we should be drawn toward a closer relationship and understanding of Christ
We should not seek suffering, but in the course of our living for Christ, suffering will come and we need to be prepared for it and be prepared through it.
ii. Encourage for service (for the work of the ministry,)
a. The ministry is for people and it includes the people of God
b. God equips the pastor who in turn equips the people
c. The body functions improperly when some of its parts do not work
iii. Edify the body (for the edifying of the body of Christ :)
a. To edify is to build up - the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness
b. Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
c. This is done through several avenues:
• Evangelism – winning people to Christ and bringing them into the church
• Preaching – with the intent that the Holy Spirit will take the Word preached and change the heart of the people to draw them closer to Christ.
• Teaching – informing the mind; to impart the knowledge of the Scriptures to the body
• Discipleship – one on one working with people to bring out their best in the gifts God has given them and helping them to grow by utilizing those gifts in the body of Christ.
Transition Statement: Second, the people of God are in focus here and have a responsibility.
2. The People of God – 4:13-14
A. Who does it include? – 13a – (Till we all come . . .)
i. It includes every last Christian within the local body of believers
ii. All are given the same ultimate goal of God
iii. Unity within the early church - Acts 4:32 – And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
iv. How the church ought to be today - Philippians 2:1-3 - 1If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
B. What does it involve? – 13b-14 (4 aspects)
i. Unity of the faith (in the unity of faith)
a. This is founded on the truth of the Word of God
b. It is the gospel
c. It cannot come if the requirements of verse 12 are not met
ii. Knowledge of Christ (of the knowledge of the Son of God)
a. This is not the knowledge that accompanies salvation (basic knowledge)
b. It is a deeper understanding and more intimate knowledge of Christ
c. How Christ knows us – John 10:27 – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
d. This is how we are to know Him and it is a lifelong process
iii. Spiritual maturity (unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ)
a. We should never want to be superficial Christians - YOU MAY BE A SUPERFICIAL CHRISTIAN OR RELIGIONIST IF... 10. You show up to church only for you to be blessed... 9. You only come to church on Sunday... 8. You only talk like a Christian on Sunday... 7. You only act like a Christian on Sunday... 6. You only come to Church on Special Days, (Christmas, Easter)... 5. You are last into Church and first out... 4. You figure your plenty good enough not to be in Church this week... 3. You figure whatever your walk may be, it has got to be better than _____... 2. You look at the offering plate and think of what you would rather be buying... 1. You seek after the greatest blessing and growth in God, yet you put forth little are no effort in growing in a relationship with HIM, then wonder why HE isn’t blessing you...
b. Put simply, to be spiritual mature is to become like Jesus
c. 1 John 2:6 – He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
d. This is how the world perceive Jesus and the message He has through us
iv. Sound doctrine – 14
a. We are given repeated warning about false doctrine and false teachers (Acts 20:30-31; Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 11:3-4; Gal. 1:6-7; 3:1; Col. 2:4-8; 1 Tim. 4:1, 6-7; 2 Tim. 2:15-18; 3:6-9; 4:3; Heb. 13:9; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 John 2:19, 26).
b. We are to mark and avoid those who teach falsehood because we can all be gullible and deceived - Romans 16:17-18 – 17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Hebrews 13:9)
c. Know your doctrine because false prophets are talented at deceit - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 - 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
d. Adhere to the teaching of Scripture alone, and everything else checks in with that.
Transition Statement: Third, what is the objective God has in all this?
3. The Objective of God – 4:15-16
A. Spiritual growth of the body (the church) - 15
i. Love and truth are essential to any Christian - Warren Wiersbe says – Truth without love is brutality and love without truth is hypocrisy. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Rich, p. 104)
ii. Our growth is Christ-centric – it grows towards Christ, in Christ, and not anything else.
B. Numerical growth of the Body (the church) - 16
i. This is what happens when the body cooperates
ii. There is:
a. Closeness (the whole body fitly joined together and compacted)
• Unity in our goal and service to Christ
• Promotion of each other within the body
• Care for one another and fellowship
b. Cooperation (by that which every joint supplieth)
• Not marked by infighting and struggles
• No place for political or power jockeying or who can be the most important
• No room for gossip and backbiting and finger pointing
• Recognition that every person has a place and working together happily
c. Compatibility (according to the effectual working in the measure of every part)
• Each part of the body fits and works wonderfully
• The evidence is seen in the results
• There is harmony in the structure, both on the surface and beneath the surface
d. Continuation (maketh increase of the body)
• This is reproduction, spiritually speaking
• The church does not grow by programs and entertainment
• The church does not grow by getting people from other churches
• The church does not grow by fancy gimmicks
• The church grows best by good, old-fashioned, blood, sweat and tears soul winning to the lost and dying of this world
Conclusion:
Again, as I asked at the beginning of the message, are you as a member helping to contribute to making this church the church it needs to be according to God’s Word?
God is calling each Christian to his or her duty, are you where you need to be?
Does your love for God move you to positive action or has your love waxed cold?
