Introduction

Good morning, dear friends and faithful followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so glad to see each one of you here today, taking time out of your busy lives to gather together, to fellowship, and to immerse ourselves in the life-giving words of our Heavenly Father.

Today, we gather under the guiding light of Ephesians 4:11-16, a passage filled with divine wisdom and profound insight. It's a passage that speaks directly to our hearts about the vital importance of unity within the church, the power of faith harnessed through God's Word, and the transformative effect of deepening our knowledge of God's Word.

Let me read the passage for you:

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Harmonizing Unity in the Church

In the heart of Ephesians 4, we find a profound call to unity. This unity is not merely a superficial or surface-level agreement. It's a deep, harmonious unity that permeates every aspect of our church community. It's a unity that reflects the very nature of God Himself, who exists in perfect unity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This unity is not something we can achieve on our own: It's a divine gift, given to us by Christ Himself. As the passage tells us, Christ gave us the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers. Why? To equip us for works of service, to build up the body of Christ, and to foster unity within the church.

The role of these spiritual leaders in fostering unity: The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are not just leaders or authority figures. They are servants, called and equipped by Christ to serve His church. They are given to us to equip us for works of service. Their role is not to do all the work, but to equip us to do the work. They are there to guide us, teach us, and help us grow in our faith and knowledge of God. In this way, every member of the church is involved in the work of ministry. Every member has a role to play in building up the body of Christ. The church is not a building, an organization, or a social club. The church is a living, breathing body, made up of many parts, each with its own function and purpose.

Growing and building up in love: When each part of the body is functioning properly, the whole body grows and builds itself up in love. This is a beautiful picture of unity in action. It's not a static or passive state, but a dynamic, active process of growth and building. It's a process that involves every member of the body, working together in love and harmony.

This unity is not just for our benefit: It's for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom. When we are united in faith and knowledge of the Son of God, we become a powerful witness to the world. We become a living testimony to the power of the gospel and the transforming work of Christ.

This unity is not an end in itself: It's a means to a greater end: that we may become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. This is the ultimate goal of our Christian life: to become like Christ in every way. Unity is a vital part of this process. It's through unity that we grow and mature in our faith.

Harnessing Faith through God's Word

As we move forward, we find ourselves standing on the shores of a vast ocean, the ocean of faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO