Ephesians 4

Truth & Love

Popular Misconceptions

1. Christianity is a rigorous moral exercise.

2. Christianity requires a blind leap of faith.

3. The church is a building / institution.

4. Ministry is performed by an elite.

Who Does Ministry?

Ephes. 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Who Does Ministry?

Ephes. 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Ephes. 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles…For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ… (KJV - 1611 ad)

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Who Does Ministry?

Ephes. 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Apostles& etc.

FOREquipping

Saints

Works of Service

FOR

Ephes. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus…

The Saints All Do the Ministry!

1. What are the Saints equipped for?

2. Ephes. 4:7-8 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. [8] Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, And He gave gifts to men.’”

3. Ephes. 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which 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.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

The Saints All Do the Ministry!

1. What are the Saints equipped for?

2. Ephes. 4:7-8 “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. [8] Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, And He gave gifts to men.’”

3. Ephes. 4:16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which 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.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Apostles FOREquipping Saints

Works of Service

FOR

Who Does Ministry?

Ephes. 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

[12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Apostles& etc.

FOREquipping

Saints

Works of Service

FOR

What Is Ministry?

Ephes. 4:15

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ

John 8:12 …he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Implications

1. Ministry is not a profession, not complicated.

2. You don’t have to “find” your gift before you can minister.

Ephes. 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is

the head, even Christ

Ephes. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Implications

1. Ministry is not a profession, not complicated.

2. You don’t have to “find” your gift before you can minister.

3. It involves some degree of risk.Ephes. 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is

the head, even Christ

Our “Motto”

Ephes. 4:14-15 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;

[15] but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;