Ephesians 4:11-16 Growing Up Together
September 23, 2020

Ephesians 4:11-16 Growing Up Together

[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. (ESV)

Big Idea: Christ gives us what we need to
Reveal Answer
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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,

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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,

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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.

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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.

Applications/Uses: What does this passage have to do with living for God through Christ?
1. Recognize that the Christian needs the church and vice versa

  1. Interpret lack of unity as opportunity to grow rather than an excuse to go

  2. Understand that it is not ok to not grow

  3. Value the church and Christ’s work in it

  4. Love the church

  5. Desire to grow in love together with the church

  6. Follow Christ with the Church instead of apart from it

  7. Speak the truth in love

  8. Commit to be a part that works properly

Discussion Questions:

  1. What was the big idea of the sermon? Is it faithful to what the text actually says?

  2. What struck you most about the passage as you listened?

  3. How does this passage help or motivate us to live for God through Christ?

  4. How might this passage motivate unbelievers to come to Christ for forgiveness and new life in him? What are some benefits this passage implies believers have that unbelievers don’t?

  5. What is your relationship to the local church like? How does that compare with what this passage describes and what do you need to do about it?

  6. Why do christians need the church and the church needs christians?

  7. How much do you value the church and how does that compare with how much Christ values her?

  8. How does the way you tend to talk compare to the command to speak the truth in love?

  9. What are some ways you or we could work more properly together to make the body grow?