1. Simple Power Ephesians 4:11-16 How did they survive? Ephesians 4:2-3 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

2.  Peter Jennings, ABC News: When Jesus died on the cross, he left behind a small and frightened group of followers struggling to make sense of his humiliating end. Most Jews either rejected his message or ignored it. "The idea of a crucified god really did not make sense in the first century," says Ben Witherington, a scholar of the New Testament, in Jennings' report. "It's not a message you make up if you're going to start a religion in the first century A.D." “Yet within a few decades, against all odds, the tiny Jesus movement began to spread, and in spite of ridicule, suspicion and persecution it would ultimately displace the Caesars and remains the dominant religion of the West over 2000 years later…”

4. 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love…the unity of the Spirit 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry… The Body The Action Home Base Members Support Growth Gifts Ministry

5. 4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love…the unity of the Spirit 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry… Not an institution Not for ‘the elite’ The Body The Action

6. 4:12 And He gave some as apostles / prophets / evangelists / pastors-teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…

7. 4:12 And He gave some as apostles / prophets / evangelists / pastors- teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the building up of the Body until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. “we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ…” v.15

8.  Brings Us Into Maturity  Not weak children  Not Flakey  NOT Manipulated  NOT Easily Hurt  NOT Wounded  NOT Unstable Ephesians 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

9.  Bringing Us Into Maturity  Not weak children  Rather: be Like Christ Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

10.  Bringing Us Into Maturity  Not weak children  Rather: be Like Christ  Rather: With Christ Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body…

11.  Bringing Us Into Maturity  Not weak children  Rather: be Like Christ  Rather: With Christ  ABLE TO LOVE! Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body… causes growth…in love.

12.  Bringing Us Into Maturity  Not weak children  Rather: be Like Christ  Rather: With Christ  ABLE TO LOVE! Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:16 from whom the whole body… causes growth…in love.

13.  Speaking the Truth In Love  Truth changes lives! (So do lies!)  When combined with love.  Love changes lives!  When combined with truth! Don’t be afraid! Don’t be mushy!Take risks! Don’t over-protect! TRUTH IS StrongCaringDirective

14.  Speaking the Truth in Love  “Love never fails” 1 Cor. 13:8 Nurture With Sacrificial Love! Not a drill seargent “Cuddle & Paddle” Motivate / strengthen / reassure / compensate

15.  Speaking the Truth in Love  Growing the Body of Christ  Qualitative 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, It Means: MaturityLove AbilityTrust /honesty NOT: InstabilityME-FOCUSFakey-Sweet

16.  Speaking the Truth in Love  Growing the Body of Christ  Qualitative  Quantitative 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Hebrews 13:1-2 Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, NOT: “Tribal Fear”OLD FARTS It Means: Loving ‘Strangers’CONVERTS

17.  Speaking the Truth in Love  Growing the Body of Christ  “Fitting Together Perfectly” 4:16 the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

18.  Speaking the Truth in Love  Growing the Body of Christ  “Fitting Together Perfectly”  With each other: every part! 4:16 the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Discipleship: Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. Discipleship: Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

19.  Speaking the Truth in Love  Growing the Body of Christ  “Fitting Together Perfectly”  With each other: every part! 4:16 the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Discipleship AIN’T EASY: Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. Discipleship AIN’T EASY: Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

20.  Speaking the Truth in Love  Growing the Body of Christ  “Fitting Together Perfectly”  With each other: every part!  With Christ: every part! 4:16 …CHRIST, FROM WHOM the whole body, being fitted and held together…. causes the growth of the body Discipleship : Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching…so that we may present every man complete in Christ…. Discipleship : Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching…so that we may present every man complete in Christ….

21.  Speaking the Truth in Love  Growing the Body of Christ  “Fitting Together Perfectly”  With each other: every part!  With Christ: every part! NOT: ‘My kingdom’ Bossing- Around Helicopter Care

22. It’s So Simple!

23. ABLE TO LOVE WHY KILL CHRISTIANS? Nietzsche Explains: What is good?-- Whatever augments the feeling of power, the will to power, power itself, in man. What is evil?-- Whatever springs from weakness. What is more harmful than any vice?-- Practical sympathy for the botched and the weak--Christianity.

24. It’s So COOL! ABLE TO LOVE