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This is part of the "Strength of the Church" series which was presented during a gospel meeting in Peytona, WV.This lesson deals with Ephesians 4.
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The Strength ofthe Church
The Benefitsof “in”
How Do I Get “in”
The Mystery of “in”
The Strength of “in”
Strength “in” Walking
Strength “in” Marriage
Strength “in” Battle
The Benefits of Being “in” Christ
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places...”
(Ephesians 1:3, ESV)
What Being “in” Christ Means
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God...”
(Ephesians 2:19, ESV; emphasis mine)
The Mystery of Christ
“This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
(Ephesians 3:6, ESV; emphasis mine)
Top Ten Signs You
Might be “Doing
Church” Instead of
“Being Church”
#10 –If you showed up today
so no one will call you
tomorrow.
“What do you think? If a man
has a hundred sheep, and one
of them has gone astray, does
he not leave the ninety-nine on
the mountains and go in search
of the one that went astray?”
(Mathew 18:12; ESV)
#9 -If your Bible has more
dust than your television
screen.
“Do your best to present
yourself to God as one
approved, a worker who has no
need to be ashamed, rightly
handling the word of truth.”
(2 Timothy 2:15; ESV)
#8 –If you have not changed
seats in five years.
“And the word of God continued
to increase, and the number of
the disciples multiplied greatly in
Jerusalem, and a great many of
the priests became obedient to
the faith.” (Acts 6:7; ESV)
#7 –If you have not studied
with someone in the past
year. “…and what you have heard
from me in the presence of
many witnesses entrust to
faithful men who will be able to
teach others also.”
(2 Timothy 2:2; ESV)
#6 –If you do not know the
words to “Jesus Loves Me.”
“Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly, teaching and
admonishing one another in all
wisdom, singing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, with
thankfulness in your hearts to
God.”
(Colossians 3:16; ESV)
#5 –If you only worship one
hour a week.
“But the hour is coming, and is
now here, when the true
worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth, for the
Father is seeking such people to
worship him.”
(John 4:23; ESV)
#4 –If you introduce yourself
to a member thinking they
are a visitor?
“Now the full number of those
who believed were of one heart
and soul, and no one said that
any of the things that belonged
to him was his own, but they
had everything in common.”
(Acts 4:32; ESV)
#3 –If the only time you see
brethren is once a week.
“And every day, in the temple
and from house to house, they
did not cease teaching and
preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
(Acts 5:42; ESV)
#2 –If your friend of a year is
surprised you are a
Christian.
“Do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that by
testing you may discern what is
the will of God, what is good
and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 12:2; ESV)
#1 –If you blame everyone
but yourself for the church
not growing
“Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit…”
(Matthew 28:19; ESV)
Top Ten Signs You
Might be “Doing
Church” Instead of
“Being Church”
The Strength of “in”
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 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.”
(Ephesians 4.15-16; ESV)
The Strength of “in”
What are Christians “in”?
• One Body• One Spirit• One Hope• One Lord
• One Faith • One Baptism• One God and Father
“…who is over all and through all and in all.”
The Strength of “in”
“…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.”
(Ephesians 4.16; ESV)
The Strength of “in”
• Different abilities (Ephesians 4.7-11)
• Equipping the saints (Ephesians 4.12-13)
• Maturing in Christ (Ephesians 4.13-14)
The Strength of “in”
• Mind renewal (Ephesians 4.23)
• The new self (Ephesians 4.24)
• Character change (Ephesians 4.25-32)
The Strength ofthe Church