Spirituality is not declining, but church affiliation is.
In this study, we will explore Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and we will see how God’s encouragement of the first-century Christians still encourages our twenty-first century lives today.
During our time together, we'll discuss the following 6 lessons:
- We are joined together.
- We pray for one another.
- We support one another.
- We encourage one another.
- We strengthen one another.
- We stand together in spiritual battle.
Let’s dive in and see why we need the church – and why the church needs us with lesson 3 in our series.
THE
BIBLE MEETS LIFE
The English poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself.” An interconnectedness exists between us all. No one survives and thrives without assistance from others, not even in the church. However, when we examine the behaviors and attitudes of most Americans, it looks like a sea of islands.
Western culture in the 21st century surely stands out as the most radically individualistic culture in human history. It seems like every person makes every decision with one thing and one thing alone in mind: “What’s best for me (or for my family)?” Too often we give little consideration to how our lives and choices impact other people.
When
we come to Christ, we don’t come to Him alone; we are joined with other believers
in His church. Our individual lives and relationship with Christ are not just
about “me”; they are about “we.” We must leave individualism at the door when
joining Christ’s church. Why? Because God saves us not only for our own benefit,
but also to bless and support others—especially fellow Christians.
WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Ephesians 4:1-7
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.
Many
Americans think about church almost exclusively in terms of their spiritual
needs and what services the church might provide them. These expectations lead
them to search for a church with the most palatable preaching, most enjoyable
music, and most relevant programs. They basically approach church like shopping
for a car: surf the web, visit the dealerships, go on a test drive, and sign on
the dotted line.
God
saves us in a very personal way, but though He saves us personally to Himself, He
also joins us collectively to His church. In contrast to our culture’s
individualism, the Bible teaches that believers share a great responsibility
for one another. So rather than approaching church for my spiritual needs alone,
the gospel expands my value system to include how I might support others too.
Question
2:
Why is unity so important for a church?
Paul
began in verse 1 by urging us “to live worthy of the calling you have
received.” Then in verses 2-6 he explained what that life looks like. Paul’s
explanation addresses our responsibility toward others. We cannot separate
living a life worthy of the gospel from our connection with other believers.
But our sinful human nature is drawn to selfishness, so how can we break from
an individualist mindset and think of others?
The
answer is found in God’s grace. “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ
apportioned it” (v. 7). At salvation, Jesus saved us by His grace to unite us
with God, and He continues to give us grace to unite us with His people. As we
depend on God, His Holy Spirit works through us to support other believers. And
the Holy Spirit works through other believers to help and support us. God equips
us to accomplish His work!
We see at least two different ways to do this:
- God empowers us to pursue relational unity.
Verse
2 describes the mindset that fosters unity among people. In humility, we should
consider others in addition to ourselves. With gentleness, we should give
others the benefit of the doubt. Through patience, we should show others the
mercy we’ve been shown from Jesus. And in love, we should forgive the faults of
others, knowing we have plenty of our own failings that need to be forgiven.
- God empowers us to profess doctrinal unity.
Paul
summed up some of the most unifying major doctrines of the Christian faith.
There is one God in three Persons. There is one Savior of our faith. There is one
spiritual baptism by which we’re saved. There is one spiritual body of
Christ—the church. Christians may disagree on minor doctrines and issues, but
Paul’s words remind us that believers have far more to unite us doctrinally
than divide us. The very core of our faith unites us.
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.
At conversion, God gives each believer grace to be used for the
benefit of His church. God has given various gifts to church members, but He
has especially gifted some people to lead and equip the church for ministry.
The leaders God has given the church are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Some of these leaders hold more authority than others—especially the apostles and prophets. The apostles included Paul and the Twelve who walked closely with Jesus—all of whom Jesus personally called and sent out. These men led the early church and authored much of the New Testament. Through their writings, they are still building us up two thousand years later!
Evangelists, pastors, and teachers also build up the body of Christ through their varying gifts. They proclaim the Word of God to us and explain what it means to live for Christ. They teach us how to obey God’s commands. They give spiritual care for our souls. And they model boldness in sharing the gospel. Without these gifted leaders to Christ’s church, none of us would be able to grow and become spiritually mature.
No one comes out of the womb a ready-made worker in God’s kingdom. No one is fully equipped to serve at the moment he trusts in Jesus. But when we come to faith in Christ, God gifts us in a specific way, and He uses the spiritual leaders He’s placed in our lives to equip us to use those gifts. The heart of the church’s ministry is done by each one of us—not just those with official leadership titles. Each one of us has a responsibility to serve in the church’s ministry.
These truths should transform our expectations of our churches and our leaders. We should expect church leadership to work hard, but they should not have to work alone. They have a biblical responsibility to faithfully walk with Jesus and diligently use their gifts to train the body. The body, then, should follow their example and join them in the work of the ministry. When we all join together in the work of ministry, the entire body grows in maturity and looks more like Jesus.
Question 3:
How have you seen church leaders equip the
saints in a way that
brought or maintained unity in the church?
Ephesians 4:14-16
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.
The church is a body with Jesus as the head. God gives every believer His grace in the form of spiritual gifts. These gifts include abilities and qualities empowered by the Holy Spirit. Both Paul and Peter recorded lists of various gifts that are manifested in God’s people (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11,27-31; and 1 Pet. 4:11). Some believers are gifted to serve in leadership roles, for example. Others are gifted to demonstrate greater acts of mercy, service, and generosity, while others have a greater inner sense of faith, wisdom, and discernment.
Regardless of the specific gift(s) we possess, God has given all spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ.
Question 4:
What do you appreciate about the way
our church is fitted and knit
together?
In a
human body, some parts are more visible while others are not seen. But every
part is necessary and comes together to form a complete, healthy body. I don’t
always think about it, but I’m very thankful for my liver.
And
though most people don’t give regular thought to their big toes, they would
have trouble staying balanced without one of them! Here’s the point: every
believer’s spiritual gift in every local church is important to the growth,
unity, and maturity of the body of Christ—including yours!
As we
serve the body with our gifts, we are to speak “the truth in love.” God’s Word
is the source of truth, so speaking the truth to one another in love means that
all our gifts, all our serving, and all our ministry activity is to be united
around Scripture. All ministry service must be united around the Word of God.
On our own, we might believe anything; with the Word, we’re grounded in the
truth. On our own, divisions fester; with the Word, unity grows. Under the
direction of His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit, we in the body of Christ
work together to accomplish His work.
Question 5:
What steps can we take as a group to
promote the growth of the
body and build it up in love?
MY SPIRITUAL GIFT
Put a check beside the spiritual gifts mentioned in Scripture that
you recognize in your life. Then answer the questions.
____
Prophecy (Sharing God’s truth)
____
Serving (Meeting practical needs)
____
Teaching (Helping people know Scripture)
____
Giving (Finding joy in giving to others)
____
Mercy (Showing compassion to others)
____
Ruling (Providing leadership)
____
Exhortation (Encouraging others’ faith)
Share
how you are already using one of these gifts in your church:
Describe
some other ways you could serve Christ’s body:
“As
God’s children, we are not to be observers;
we’re
to participate actively in the Lord’s work.
Spectators
sit and watch, but we are called to
use
our spiritual gifts and serve continually.”
CHARLES
STANLEY
LIVE
IT OUT
How
will you use the spiritual gifts God has given you for His service? Choose one
of the following applications:
- Reflect.
Consider
the contrast between some of the cultural expectations of church with the
biblical expectations studied in this session. Confess and turn from any
misconceptions about life in the church. Ask God to unite your heart with His
regarding His church.
- Discover.
If
you’re not sure what your spiritual gift is or how you can be of service in the
church, ask other believers to help you. Many times, people see our strengths
before we do. Discuss with a church leader your desire to serve.
- Serve.
If
you’ve identified your spiritual gifts, look for opportunities to exercise them
in your life and in your church. Invest your time, passions, and strengths in building
up others in the church.
Many
people approach church for how it benefits them alone, but the biblical
approach is to consider how we might benefit one another. Let’s use our
spiritual gifts to grow, unify, and love Christ’s church.
Looking forward to seeing all of your smiling faces this Sunday!
God Bless,
David & Susan
Teacher Notes:
Did
your Sunday alarm go off this morning?
· I felt
the earth move under my feet…God’s nudge this morning to get up and worship –
it’s Sunday!
Our
lesson this morning is on Paul’s teaching that as a member of God’s family, we
are to support one another!
WE SUPPORT
ONE ANOTHER
Devotion: Social Distancing from God
It’s
amazing how quickly our natural reactions to common social situations have been
reprogrammed since the beginning of the pandemic.
It
used to be, when I ran into somebody, our greeting would immediately entail a
handshake or hug. Now it is an awkward wave from 6 feet away. When a person has
the audacity to reach out their hand to greet me, I freeze like a deer in
headlights. Before I would feel my personal space being invaded when a
close-talker entered within a 2-feet buffer zone around me. Now if a person
stands within 4 feet of me, I feel myself pulling away.
Few of
us will deny the positive effects social distancing has had on the spread of
the coronavirus. Many today do wonder, though, about the effects it will have
on us economically, socially and emotionally from here out.
Time
will tell the long-term effects of extreme social distancing.
I
wonder though, about how social distancing affects us spiritually. I wonder if social
distancing has actually led some Christians to distance themselves from God. It’s
understandable if you see the worship services and Bible classes as the umbilical
cord that connects so many to God and His life-giving Word. The majority of
churches have sat empty for the last three months out of love for the most
susceptible in our society and respect for government regulations and
recommendations.
Churches
have endeavored to still connect people to God and His Word through smaller
groups and social media. Some Christians have made a concerted effort to make
the most of those opportunities. Others I worry, have figured they would just
get back to God’s Word and worship when this is all over. For over three
months, their faith has been on a starvation diet. They have gotten used to
going to bed late on Saturday night and sleeping in on Sunday morning. They
feel watching a five-minute video on Facebook or reading a blog post about God is
just as good.
The
writer to the Hebrews warns us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some
are the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as
you see the day approaching,” Hebrews 10:25.
We
need our fellow Christians. We need pastors and teachers. We need their
correction, encouragement and counsel. We need to physically join together to worship
as one body in one Spirit.
Let’s
not allow social distancing to distance us from God and His Word.
Paul speaks to social
distancing this morning and the church…
Paul has
already taught in earlier chapters that redemption had been made available to
all people through Christ. And that each believer becomes a new person. Now Paul
talks about how we are to apply this redemption and new person we are becoming to
our personal lives. He begins by telling us that this is not an individual thing
but one that should be shared to impact the church as a whole. If the church is
to be united in nature, purpose, and function, those who make up the church
need to support one another. We need to build on the “oneness” of God through
whom we have become one.
We
can’t do this with social distancing!
Ephesians 4:1-7
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.
What
is the calling we have received?
- God
has chosen us to be Christ’s representatives on earth.
- What
an awesome privilege to be called Christ’s very own.
- What
does this look like? It includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding,
and peaceful. People are watching our lives – do they see Christ in us? How
well are we doing as His representative?
Our
lesson said this:
Many Americans think
about church in terms of their spiritual needs and what services the church
might provide them. These expectations lead them to search for a church with
the most palatable preaching, most enjoyable music, and most relevant programs.
They basically approach church like shopping for a car: surf the web, visit the
dealerships, go on a test drive, and sign on the dotted line.
Is there some truth
here? What do you think? Isn’t something wrong about this? Is this how we are
to view the church?
- Consider the contrast between some of the
cultural expectations of church with the biblical expectations studied in this
session. Confess and turn from any misconceptions about life in the church. Ask
God to unite your heart with His regarding His church.
Paul’s first point this
morning is that:
1.
My calling is to use my God-given
spiritual gifts for the unity of the church.
Why is unity so important for a
church?
Social
Distancing is in our nature…
- Western
culture in the 21st century surely stands out as the most radically
individualistic culture in human history. It seems like every person makes
every decision with one thing and one thing alone in mind: “What’s best for me
(or for my family)?” Too often we give little consideration to how our lives
and choices impact other people.
- When
we come to Christ, we don’t come to Him alone; we are joined with other
believers in His church. Our individual lives and relationship with Christ are
not just about “me”; they are about “we.” We must leave individualism at the
door when joining Christ’s church. Why? Because God saves us not only for our
own benefit, but also to bless and support others—especially fellow Christians.
- Our sinful human nature is drawn to selfishness.
What
is Paul saying here?
- Quit Social
Distancing…Our Faith / Quit being an island entire of itself
- There
is one body. Unity does not just happen; we have to work at it. Differences
among people can lead to division, but this should not be true in the church.
Instead of concentrating on what divides us, we should remember what unites us:
one Spirit, one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, and one God!
Ephesians 4:11-13
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.
At
conversion, God gives each believer grace to be used for the benefit of His
church. God has given various gifts to church members, but He has especially
gifted some people to lead and equip the church for ministry.
2. Some
people are gifted to equip the church for ministry.
- The
Holy Spirit has given each Christian special gifts for building up the church.
Now that we have these gifts, it’s crucial that we use them.
- Your
gifts are to be used to strengthen and encourage the church.
Ephesians
4:14-16
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.
It is
a human tendency to overestimate what we can do by ourselves and to
underestimate what we can do as a group.
3. All
spiritual gifts are used to help believers grow in Christ, in unity, and in
love.
Every
believer’s spiritual gift in every local church is important to the growth,
unity, and maturity of the body of Christ—including yours!
“As
God’s children, we are not to be observers;
we’re
to participate actively in the Lord’s work.
Spectators
sit and watch, but we are called to
use
our spiritual gifts and serve continually.”
CHARLES
STANLEY
Conclusion:
Many people approach church for how it benefits them alone, but the biblical approach is to consider how we might benefit one another. Let’s use our spiritual gifts to grow, unify, and love Christ’s church.
