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Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ

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Chris Sicks
September 22, 2024

Sermon Manuscript

Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ


Ephesians 4:1-16
Pastor Chris Sicks
September 22, 2024

The leaders of our church feel the Holy Spirit leading us to focus on discipleship right now.
To think about how we can grow deeper in our relationships with God, and with each other.
The book of Ephesians is a perfect letter to explore the idea of growing as the disciples of Jesus.
Let’s look together at the text now, and then I’ll pray.

Ephesians 4:1–16
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 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.
14 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.
15 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.
16 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.

Together we read Isaiah 40:8:
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Father, thank you for sending your Son to earth to save us.
Jesus, thank you that you do not choose followers from only one nation or culture.
You do not discriminate, but you save people from every culture, language, and tribe.
Holy Spirit, please teach us today from the Word, so we can know and follow Jesus all our days, amen.

Here’s how I would like to unpack this text for us today:
We will consider:
Point 1–The Gift Giver
Point 2–The Gifts we are Given
Point 3–Gifted for Growth & Maturity

Point 1–The Gift Giver


As you just heard, the apostle Paul makes seven statements about the things that unite us, as one people in one spiritual family.
Listen again to Ephesians 4:3-5.
3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

As members of Christ’s body, we are united by one hope, one faith, and one baptism.
Together, we pray to the one true God, calling him “our Father.”
We could spend an entire sermon unpacking these 7 amazing gifts that unite us.
But I want to follow Paul’s line of thought in Chapter 4.
In verse 7, Paul turns the focus from the ways we are the same, to the ways that each person is different:
7 “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.”
What Paul is saying that in the church we will experience both unity, and diversity.
As we walk together in life, using our many different gifts, we grow up into one mature Body of Christ.

Look with me now at verses 8-10.
8 “This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)”

Paul wrote this letter to young Christians in Ephesus, who were learning how to discover Jesus in the Old Testament.
In verse 8 Paul quotes Psalm 68, and then explains that “he” was Jesus the Messiah.
Jesus Christ, who is God Himself, descended to earth and took on a humble human body.
He did this so he could live the perfect life that none of us ever will.
Jesus had to become human to die in our place, suffering the punishment we deserve.
After Jesus died, he was buried in a tomb, and our sin was buried with him.
But then He rose in victory from the grave, and ascended into heaven.
Now in Heaven, Jesus intercedes for us every day.
He prays for his followers, asking the Father and Holy Spirit to give us all we need.
Verse 8 says that when Christ ascended, “he took many captives.”
This describes a victorious king marching home from battle.
This king would have followers have wagons full of plunder and treasure taken from the defeated army.
There would also be captives, prisoners of war, following behind the victorious army.
Battle scenes like these may seem like ancient history, but they have theological significance in your Bible.
Think about the story of David and Goliath.
In church, we often teach children this story.
We encourage children to:
“Be like David!
If you use the three stones of faith, obedience, and courage, you can defeat the giants in your life!”
There is a deeper lesson in this story, however.
You see, David was fighting as a champion, a representative of the nation of Israel.
His victory or defeat will be imputed to the people.
If David loses, the Israelites will become the slaves of the Philistines.
In other words, David’s victory or defeat becomes Israel’s victory or defeat.
The results were binding upon everyone, even though they didn’t fight.
David won the battle with Goliath, of course.
But David is not the true hero of this story.
The true hero came hundreds of years later, as a descendant of David.
Jesus was called “the son of David” and he also went into a battle.
As our representative, Jesus fought against Satan, and sin, and death and evil.
And Jesus won that battle.
Jesus defeated the giant we could never defeat.
And His victory was imputed to us.
Through his victory we get life, and peace, and forgiveness.
We need someone stronger than us to fight for us.
Because sometimes the sin in my heart feels huge, like a giant named Goliath.
Have you ever tried to stop doing something that you know you shouldn’t do?
Have you ever tried to break a bad habit?
Does it work when you say to yourself:
“I must be strong, brave, and full of faith–like David!”
Trying harder to stop sinning will never work if we do it alone.
Because our sin, like David’s sin, is much bigger than the man named Goliath.
Our sin problem is too big for us to defeat alone.

When you read the story of David and Goliath, don’t imagine yourself as David in that story.
Jesus is the true David.
Jesus is one who won the battle.
But then, where are we in the story of David and Goliath?
I’ll tell you.
We are the crowd who stood helplessly and watched, as David fought the battle on their behalf.
We are the crowd outside Jerusalem, watching as our sins were nailed to cross with Jesus.
Our King Jesus won our battle single-handedly.
And we are in the crowd celebrating His resurrection and victory!
Yet he shares the benefit of His victory.
Victorious leaders, in Rome and later in the British Army, often shared gifts with their soldiers and sailors.
The winning army received a share of the wealth that was taken from enemy lands and ships.
That’s the kind of thing Paul has in mind in verse 8:
“and gave gifts to his people.”
We are the people who receive gifts from our victorious king–the Gift Giver.
So that leads to:

Point 2–The Gifts we are Given


Ephesians 4:11–12
11 “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”

The apostles and prophets formed the foundation of the church.
God spoke through them, and their written words became our Bibles.
Then, to help people understand their Bibles, God gave evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
Jesus gave the church pastors and teachers who study the Word of God, and teach others follow Jesus well.
The main job of a pastor is not to DO ministry.
Pastor Clement and I are here to equip YOU for ministry.
God calls us to help you grow as followers of Jesus, so that you can serve Him and His Body.

The Body of Christ is built up as everyone does works of service, using the gifts Christ has given to us.
You will find five different lists of spiritual gifts as you read the New Testament.
You can learn a lot by studying them and praying.
Do you know what gifts God has given you?
Verse 7 says “to each one of us grace has been given.”
Christ has given something to everyone.
To help you understand what gifts Jesus has given to you, you can take a “Spiritual Gifts Inventory.”
We have copies in the back for you to take home with you.
If you fill this out, ask a trusted friend or church leader to discuss the results with you.
We want to help you think and pray about how God may be calling you to deploy your gifts.
Every one of us must use our gifts, if we want to grow as individuals and as a church.
Imagine if you gave a friend who plays tennis a really good racket.
A month later you visit her home, and the racket is hanging on the wall, like a decoration.
She explains:
“Oh, that racket is too valuable to actually play with it.”
You would say:
“But, I gave you that racket to play tennis…I wanted you to use it!”
That’s how Jesus feels about the gifts he gave you.
Jesus gives good gifts, useful gifts, and expects us to use them.
He won’t be happy if we are to afraid or selfish or busy to use his gifts.
Notice the purposes for these gifts in verses 12-13:
12 “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
13 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.”

God gives us gifts that are meant for the entire Body.
We won’t grow, and the Body won’t grow, unless we use our gifts.

That brings us to Point 3– Gifted for Growth and Maturity


Part of becoming mature as verse 13 says, is using our gifts to “reach unity” and “attain fullness.”
Our differences make us stronger together.
In a mature Body of Christ, you won’t see one part of the body acting like it’s more important than other parts.
Watch our band play in a few minutes.
I’m amazed by what they do, and the beauty that their voices and hands create.
But if Sooyeon is missing one bone, or one ligament, in her arms, her talented hands cannot play the piano.
Bodies have many unseen joints and ligaments that hold us together.
And every part is important and needed, as verse 16 says:
16 “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.”

A mature community of believers sees the differences among our community as a blessing.
Do you try to draw attention to your gifts, so people will admire and respect you?
Do you cut down other people, to make yourself look better?
Friends, there will always be someone around you who is smarter, prettier, stronger, or more talented.
Can you rejoice in the gifts God has given to your brothers and sisters, and not be resentful?
That’s how we are built up in love, and how we do the things Paul mentions in verse 15:
15 “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.”

This verse is often quoted about how to confront someone living a sinful life.
Maybe you’ve seen someone doing something wrong.
And you think it’s your job to hit him with a truth hammer!
But of course, you will try to hit him “in love” (smiley face, smiley face, heart emoji.)
Friends, this verse is not an excuse to be rude, offensive, or critical.
In fact, “speak” is not the Greek verb in that sentence.
The verb is “truthing.”
A better way to read verse 15 might be:
“by truthing in love, we will grow to become mature…”

Truth is not just something we use as a tool to correct others.
A mature community of believers will use their gifts in truth and love.
Your gifts do not define you.
What you are is a child of God, a dearly loved son or daughter.
If you want to grow into a mature son or daughter, you need to use your Father’s gifts.
A child’s body won’t grow if he never moves, crawls, walks, and plays.
Muscles grow stronger with use.
So please don’t wait to start serving the Lord and your church.
Your gifts were given for the benefit and blessing of the entire Body.
That’s why verse 16 said that the body:
“grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

The second page of your worship program has a tear-off form.
There you can write a note, a question, a prayer request, or indicate what ministry you want to serve with.
Please don’t write on it now, because I’m about to pray.
Here are my closing thoughts for tonight:
Your church family needs you my friends, all of you.
And the benefits of serving in the church go both ways.
As you bless those around you with your time and talents, you will become more mature.
I hope you’ll think about these things this week.
Use the Questions for Meditation and Discussion that are printed below the sermon text.
Pray as you go through those, and ask the Lord to grow you inside and outside.
We tend to focus on external things, but God’s primary focus in our lives is always gospel maturity.
He wants to transform us inside first in our hearts.
And then our changing hearts will pour out love and mercy and kindness to people around us.
Can we pray together now, asking the Holy Spirit to do these things in our lives?

Jesus, we rejoice over your victory.
We are humbled and thrilled to be a part of your church.
That is the most precious gift of all, that we might be called the children of God, for that is what we are.
We look forward to the day when we will stand before you, see the love and affirmation in your face.
And we desire to hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
This week, helps us each meditate, pray, about the gifts and opportunities you’ve given us.
Give us the courage to use these gifts and the humility to not use them for our own glory.
Help us see the good work You have ready for us and embrace that work with willingness and joy.
In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions for Meditation and Discussion:


1. Read: Psalm 37:3-6; Proverbs 3:5-6.
2. One reason we struggle to follow God is we think we will be happier if we are in charge of our lives. We think that we know best what we should do, and how to do it. Pray about this. What areas of control do you need to release to God?
3. Read: Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–27.
4. Take the Spiritual Gifts Inventory.
(Email sooyeon@onevoicefellowship.org if you need one.)
After you finish, meet with a mature friend to discuss.
And pray about three things:
1) Ask the Father to show you where He has uniquely gifted you.
2) Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in using your gifts for His glory.
3) Ask Jesus to give you faith to use your gifts generously, as he is generous.



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