Nothing Compares 2U

Review- Love, Unity, Faith, Commitment, Freedom, Change Review- Love, Unity, Faith, Commitment, Freedom, Change Qualifications Qualifications no understanding no understanding no humility no humility no faith no faith

Unity- God’s people uniting for God’s purposes while respecting each other’s different plans Unity- God’s people uniting for God’s purposes while respecting each other’s different plans “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…”- Ephesians 4:3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace…”- Ephesians 4:3

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 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…

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 men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ…

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- Ephesians 4:7, 11-16

Context: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it- vs. 7 Context: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it- vs. 7 Grace= salvation AND giftedness Grace= salvation AND giftedness We have different gifts, according to the grace given us- Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us- Romans 12:6

What are spiritual gifts? What are spiritual gifts? Who has them? Who has them? Who decides which gifts go to which people? Who decides which gifts go to which people? How does that change how we view our abilities (or lack of abilities)? How does that change how we view our abilities (or lack of abilities)?

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers- vs. 11

Apostles- Qualifications: Walked with Jesus and witnessed the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-22) Apostles- Qualifications: Walked with Jesus and witnessed the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:21-22) Prophets- Foretellers and forthtellers. Spoke the Word of God as the Spirit of God gave voice- on par with scripture (1 Cor.13:8) Prophets- Foretellers and forthtellers. Spoke the Word of God as the Spirit of God gave voice- on par with scripture (1 Cor.13:8) Both offices were needed when scripture was still being written Both offices were needed when scripture was still being written

Evangelists- sharers of the good news of life in Christ Evangelists- sharers of the good news of life in Christ Pastors and teachers- one person, two functions Pastors and teachers- one person, two functions Shepherd- protect, guard, lead Shepherd- protect, guard, lead Teacher- disciple, guide, equip, biblically counsel- all based on God’s Word Teacher- disciple, guide, equip, biblically counsel- all based on God’s Word

What do most people think the job of a church leader (pastor) is? What do most people think the job of a church leader (pastor) is?

…to prepare God's people for works of service- vs. 12a Prepare- katartismon- “to put right” (setting a broken bone, mending a net)- helping the church become what it ought to be (through teaching and shepherding) Prepare- katartismon- “to put right” (setting a broken bone, mending a net)- helping the church become what it ought to be (through teaching and shepherding) Works of service- diakonia= ministry Works of service- diakonia= ministry

… until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature...- vs. 12b-13

As leaders equip and Christians do ministry together, the natural results are: unity and maturity As leaders equip and Christians do ministry together, the natural results are: unity and maturity How do being equipped and using our gifts in church ministry result in unity and maturity? How do being equipped and using our gifts in church ministry result in unity and maturity?

...attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ- vs. 12b-13 How do churches and individual believers experience Christ’s fullness? How do churches and individual believers experience Christ’s fullness?

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 men in their deceitful scheming- vs. 14 What’s Paul’s point? What’s Paul’s point?

Newborn and immature Christians are naïve and easily led astray Newborn and immature Christians are naïve and easily led astray

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ...

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

As we are “prepared,” we teach and guide one another in love. Together, we grow towards Jesus, each supplying what the other needs in Christ As we are “prepared,” we teach and guide one another in love. Together, we grow towards Jesus, each supplying what the other needs in Christ Big Idea: We need one another. We were formed for fellowship and mutual growth Big Idea: We need one another. We were formed for fellowship and mutual growth

What do most people think the point of church is? What do most people think the point of church is?

How should this change how we view church? How should this change how we view church?

Takeaways: God didn’t create the church to revolve around a pastor God’s ultimate design is that all believers would be involved in using their gifts for his glory and the benefit of the whole group As Christians minister, the natural result is unity and maturity, bringing the fullness of Christ into the fellowship