His Will for Maturity - Week 6
Lesson Six Eph. 4:1-16
Understanding the Truth with one another
Verse by Verse ~ Topic by Topic ~ Argument by Argument
CONTEXT – In this pericope (thematic section), Paul opens again with identifying himself as a prisoner of the Lord and again in the context of teaching about calling and gifts and ministry. But note how he now shifts from his individual calling, gifts, and ministry to teaching on the calling, gifts, and ministry of the whole body and the diverse members within it, including you.
Read with Grace Bible Church on your mind and heart. What is the synergistic relationship between the maturing of our local church and the maturing of each individual person in our body, including you?
Read Ephesians 4:1-16.
1. Verses 1-6
Paul’s concluding words in the last pericope -- 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 3:30-21; 4:1-6 NASB 95
a. Consider what the “Therefore” in verse 1 is there for. Then discuss a few scenarios in the church or in a Christian home where the opposite of each of those graces is visibly displayed before the cosmos.
b. How is it possible in the church or in a Christian home to be diligent to preserve unity in the bond of peace in an artificial or forced manner (that is without the Spirit)? What does that result in?
c. God did not call us because our walk was worthy; our walk is worthy because He called us. Note the color coding of each Person in the Trinity with their agents and how Paul is reviewing the work of each Person in completing our salvation. What is our responsibility as a body if their work is to be made visible?
Read Ephesians 4:7-16.
2. Verses 7-10
CONTEXT -- In chapter one we read how God raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at the Father’s right hand. And what was the reward for this victorious warrior? God put all other powers under his feet and gave him as Head over all things to the church, His body, the fullness of Him who fill all in all. (Ephesians 1:20-23). Consider this as you answer the next questions.
a. Why did Jesus need to descend in order to “lead a host [army] of captives”? Abraham Kuruvilla states that Jesus “took captivity captive.”[1] Remember: “I, Paul, a captive for the Lord....”
b. Note the “But” in verse 7. Paul is shifting from the corporate one to the contribution of “each one.”
o Who gets to give the gifts? ___________Why?
o Who receives a gift? ____________How many gifts does each receive? __________
o What word reveals the gift giving is not random but strategic? _________________
3. Verses 11-13
Notice verse 11 states that Christ gifts people, and then He gives these gifted people to the church. Note also that the gifts Paul chooses to include in this passage are “word” gifts or speaking gifts.
a. So we have Christ, those with “word” gifts, and the saints. Summarize in one sentence the main responsibility of each in this synergistic relationship.
b. Given that relationship, why would you want to be in a local church where these particularly gifted people are diligent in correctly handling the Word of Truth (Bible)?
c. Discuss the goals of these works. Note the word measure is used again to describe the ultimate result.
4. Verses 14-16
a. What happens to individuals in the church and to the body itself if ALL are not diligent? Think widely about the many types of people this affects and think deeply about how the whole body is affected.
We combat or, even better, forestall the crafty lies (words) and schemes (deeds) of God’s enemies by “truthing love” with both words and deeds. Christ spoke truth and lived it in love.
b. Share a story of how a person loved you in word and deed with the gift Christ gave him or her. How did this contribute to you growing more like Christ?
Living the Truth as we are sent out
As you have seen, there is a synergistic relationship between the maturing of Grace Bible Church and the maturing of each individual person in our body, including you
5. Take a few silent minutes for each person to complete this short self-evaluation.
a. Yes No I know the spiritual gift(s) Christ has given me. (See page 4).
b. Yes No I use my spiritual gift(s) in my home.
c. Yes No I use my spiritual gift(s) for the body (on Sundays, in my community group, during the week).
d. Yes No My words & deeds show I am growing in love (humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance).
6. How has using your gift(s) worked to conform both you and others to the fullness of Christ?
Praying Through the Truth for one another
7. Share your thoughts on any of these points in the form of a prayer request. Then, leaders, close by praying for “each one.”
o Where would you like to grow more in using your gift(s)?
o What, perhaps, might be keeping you from growing?
o What steps could you take to grow in using your gift(s) to build the body of Christ?
Worship ALL Week At Grace we trust Christ to transform us as we abide in Him daily.
READ & MEDITATE
Homework – Read Ephesians 4:17-32. As you read, evaluate your walk.
ACT
o Take a growth step in using your gift(s) for the body. Prepare to share with your group.
o Have you been baptized since you became a believer? Baptismal Sunday is Dec. 11th. Let Hilda know if you are interested in taking that step of obedience hgomez@gracelaredo.org.
God’s joy & strength to you,
[1] Kuruvilla, Abraham. Ephesians: A Theological Commentary for Preachers. Eugene: Cascade Book, 2015.
Spiritual Gifts
The same Spirit distributes various gifts to believers and empowers their use; the same Lord gives gifted believers to the church; the same Father achieves His will to mature the Church; the Godhead are diverse in their roles, but unified in their purpose (1 Cor 12:4-6: Eph 4:7-12), and the Spirit helps us to imitate them in this (Phil 2:1-2). The same Spirit does not give everyone the same gift, nor does He give anyone all the gifts; He knows the Father’s calling on each believer and distributes gifts accordingly (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:11; Eph 2:10).
This makes us limited as individuals but unlimited as an interdependent body if we will persist in relying on the Spirit’s power, love, and discipline and courageously employ His gifts (1 Cor 12:28 -13:3; 2 Tim 1:6-7; 1 Peter 4:10). We are utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit to bring glory to God -- He gives us His gifts, He supports them with His fruit, and He builds us into one dwelling where Christ’s glory will rest (Galatians 5:22-23; Eph 2:22).
Certain manifestations of certain gifts have ceased. For example, Scripture ascribes apostleship as given only to the original twelve apostles and to those who saw the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22; 1 Cor 9:1). Also no one with the gift of prophecy today speaks Scripture, the very words of God (2 Peter 1:21; Jude 3). This seems in keeping with the Church being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20a).
(excerpt from a paper I wrote for a class kpaulson@gracelaredo.org)