“GROW UP INTO CHRIST” (Outline)
September 25, 2022 – Pentecost 16 – EPHESIANS 4:11-16
INTRO: Age does have benefits. We start our learning with the ABCs. Letters lead to words. Words to sentences to stories. During our lives we have many different experiences. We combine our learning with life experiences. Wisdom. Spiritual wisdom works the same way. We begin by learning Bible basics. We combine our spiritual learning with our life experiences. With age we uncover God’s divine wisdom for us and our lives. "The law
of the LORD is perfect. It revives the soul. The testimony of the LORD is trustworthy. It gives wisdom to the inexperienced" (PSALM 19:7). The Lord gives us spiritual wisdom to:
“GROW UP INTO CHRIST”. I. By God’s different gifts. II. Speaking the truth in love.
I. GOD’S DIFFERENT GIFTS
A. Verse 11. The Lord lists the special gift he gives to his church.
1. Apostles = those sent by the Lord. 12 Apostles. Lord still sends workers today.
2. Prophets = those who proclaim God’s Word in truth and purity.
3. Evangelists = Gospel announcers. “Evangel” is the Greek word for gospel.
4. Pastors = shepherds. Has the meaning to guard. Shepherds led and protected the sheep.
5. Teachers = instructors. Those who taught the basics and moving to more difficult.
B. Verse 12. These different gifts of people had one purpose from God for God’s people.
1. They were to train the believers for works of serving. Serving is word for minister.
2. By pointing to the Savior, Jesus Christ, the body of Christ, the church, was built up.
C. Verse 13. This purpose of knowing Jesus better and better was a continuing process.
1. Believers would grow in faith and knowledge of the Son of God by continual learning.
2. Would grow together reaching an understanding of the fullness of Christ. Know Christ better.
D. That is quite a list of different gifts that the Lord God gives to his church. We know that some are called to be those gifts. We also remember that scripture teaches the “universal priesthood of believers”. This means that believers also have these God-given gifts. In Luther’s time the church taught that only certain men could be priests. Luther, as scripture clearly stated, rightly taught that all believers belonged to the priesthood. Mothers and fathers could, would, and did teach their children about God. As believers today we are teachers. We are evangelists who tell others about the gospel of Jesus Christ. He lived, died, was buried, and rose again on the third day. We are sent (apostles) by God to proclaim (prophets) God’s word in all of its truth and purity. "In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us" (ROMANS 12:5, 6a). Consider God’s grace how you may use his gifts to build up the body of Christ.
E. We might feel that we are not qualified for such a high calling God gives us. We have excuses. We make excuses. Possessing the wisdom of God’s eternal salvation qualifies you to share the Good News of forgiveness through Christ. Eternity. It will take continual study of God’s Word. We strive to know the fullness of God. “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold of me” (PHILIPPIANS 3:12). Jesus has taken hold of us.
F. God has blessed us with a lifetime to grow in the knowledge of salvation. To know Christ Jesus better and better. God’s word contains two parts. Law = Shows us Our Sin. Gospel = Shows us Our Savior. "Make every effort to present yourself to God as one who is approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 TIMOTHY 2:15). People do need to know about sin. Only in that way will they see their desperate need for a Savior. We know the Savior. We can share Jesus.
“GROW UP INTO CHRIST”. We use God’s wisdom as God’s different gifts to train others.
II. SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
A. Verse 14. Purpose of training to continue to the goal. Goal = not tossed about by false teaching.
1. Children can be easily deceived. They are trusting. Learning leading to wisdom is needed.
2. The goal is to stand firm in the truth of the Bible. Requires constant training. Learning.
B. Verse 15. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we would in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head.”
1. Christ alone is the Head of the Church. This is the truth. A need to speak this truth in love.
2. Remember: Truth does divide. People will be on one side or the other concerning the Truth.
C. Verse 16. The Lord uses easily understood example in describing Christ in relation to the church.
1. Bodies held together by ligaments. Tendons. Muscles. So. Christ holds the church together.
2. “He causes growth of the body so that it builds itself up on love.” Only the Lord can grow his church.
D. It is very important to remember the words of our text in the last verse (16). Only the Lord “causes growth of the body so that it builds itself up on love.” Too many today take the credit upon themselves rather than give glory to God. There is fearmongering among climate change crowd. The earth is being destroyed. We can change that. False. The Lord is the One who provides for his people on this planet. The Lord created all things. Will care for them. Sadly, some church leaders like to point to themselves as the ones who bring success into God’s kingdom. Only the Lord causes growth. "So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but it is God who causes the growth" (1 CORINTHIANS 2:7). Did you ever notice the Lord does not use numbers to describe success. Not quantity but quality. Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Faith like a child is praised as faith that is needed.
E. We know our society today has been turned away from the truth. Lies abound. Satan knows how to use the wickedness in the world for his advantage. To mankind’s disadvantage. More than ever there are many opportunities for us to speak up. Speak out. Tell the truth. The only Truth. Way. Life. We are God’s gifts to speak the truth in love. This is a challenge for us today. Truth is taught as a relative term. People have their own truth (whether it is really true or not). Truth is relative to their own feeling. Emotions. Thinking. Too many feel that shouting the loudest is the way to win the battle about truth.
"But regard the Lord, the Christ, as holy in your hearts. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 PETER 3:15). Christ is in us. The Truth everyone needs.
F. Speaking the truth in love takes an effort. It is good work. God’s work. The Lord has blessed with divine wisdom. The Holy Spirit has opened our eyes to see. Ears to hear. Hearts to know and believe God’s Truth. Love. Our world dismisses any definitions concerning right and wrong. Moral and immoral. Truth and fiction. Child of God you do know the difference. You can speak the Truth in love. "But solid food is for mature people, who have their senses trained by practice to distinguish between good and evil" (HEBREWS 5:14). The Lord gives us divine wisdom to know good from evil. Right from wrong.
CONC.: Dearest followers of Christ you are God’s gifts to the church. To the world. Different gifts. Useful to one another. Jesus has taken hold of us to speak the truth in love. We can share with those in darkness the Light of the Lord’s love. His glory. Paul expresses the Lord’s thankfulness. "We are always obligated to thank God for you, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love that each and every one of you has for one another is increasing” (2 THESSALONIANS 1:3). Hear, read, and study God’s Word. Your faith is growing more and more. Your love is increasing for God. For one another. You are “GROWING UP INTO CHRIST!” Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENT. 16 rdgs.: PROVERBS 9:8-12; PHILEMON 1, 10-21; LUKE 14:25-33; (PSALM 19)
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