The Purpose of the Church

The Purpose of the Church

Ephesians 4

Pastor Scott Campbell

Part of Wed Night

February 21, 2024

What is the purpose of the church?
Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1. Ephesians Chapters 1-3 are all about what Christ did for

!
2. Chapter 4 begins by

to what we can and should do for God.
3. The word

here is the Greek word parakaleō which means to call near.
4. The word worthy means

.
5. So it is accurate to say that verse 1 is a

to appropriate actions.
Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
6. First and foremost a church must have

.
7. Paul then defines unity by using Christian

that we are unified by.
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Eph 4:9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
8.Secondly he wants us to understand that we need

.
9. Although we all are one body we each have different

. These functions are called gifts.
10. Paul is quoting Psalm 68:18 and explaining how we

our gifts.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
11. Paul begins with unity and diversity so that we can understand our

.
12. A church must contain gifted

.
13. When a church is equipped with gifted leaders we will see

Christians.
14. As Christians mature they develop a strong

to serve.
15. As we serve one another the body of Christ is

.
16. As the body of Christ is edified we learn more about

.
17. As we learn biblical truth we will

it with love.
18. As we speak the truth in love we grow up

Christ.
19. As we all grow together into Christ we accomplish unity, maturity and the

.