When Each Part Does Their Part | Ephesians: Your Life In The Family Of God, Part 8

Ephesians, pt 8 – “When Each Part does Their Part”

God wants EVERYONE to grow to maturity.
While Jesus invites us to come as we are,
He doesn’t want us to stay as we are.
Ephesians 4:7-16
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry…

The people are the ministers
The pastors are the administers
The strength of the Church is unified diversity.

4 questions to consider:

1. What are spiritual gifts?
“grace was given to each one of us…to equip the saints”
Grace given to us,
that we are to extend to others.

2. How do I figure out what my gifts are?

• Read 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12
• Think about what comes natural to you, is recognized by others, and brings you joy.
• Ask someone who is mature in their faith what they think your spiritual gifts are.
• Start serving (trial and error)

3. Why did God give us these gifts?
Ephesians 4:11-13
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,
“to equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ,”
Christians are equipped so that the church would be built up.

Ephesians 4:16
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.

BIG IDEA:
We need each part to do their part.

4. Why is it important to exercise our gifts in the church?Ephesians 4:14-16
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.
“children…waves…wind”

Immaturity = Instability
“speaking the truth in love”
considers not only what needs to be said,
but how it needs to be shared.

Summary:
We have been given grace to extend grace to others.
We have been given gifts to equip the Body of believers.
When each part does their part, we all grow to maturity.

What part do you have to play?
Are you using the tool that God has placed in your hand?