TO BE THE BODY
Ephesians 4:11-16
“For no other foundation can any man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11
OBJECTIVE: A church flourishes, grows and edifies itself when individual members
endeavor together in a biblical theology and purpose to furthering Jesus Christ.
OPENING: Ephesians 4:1-7
On March 4th, 1966, the cover of Time Magazine read, “Is God Dead?” The magazine
published the views of late Beatle, John Lennon. In the article he said, “Christianity will
go. It will vanish and shrink [away]. I needn’t [even] argue with that. I’m right, and I’ll
be proven right. [After all], we’re more popular than Jesus now.”
John Lennon was wrong. Christianity will always survive even though it has been in the
crosshairs of many down through history. Beginning with Nero there were ten attempts
to eradicate it in the Roman Empire alone. Enlightenment philosopher, Voltaire hated
Christianity. He said, “It took twelve men to establish Christianity. I will show the
world that it will take but one man to destroy it. [I will] crush the infamous thing!” Karl
Marx said, “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed, heartless creatures. It is the opium of
the people.” Marx tried to kill God with Communism. And in spite of all the attempts
from secularists to remove God, still today, 95% of all Americans believe in God.
The death of God is not what threatens the Church today. It’s the death of good theology.
It’s easier to believe in nothing, and to stand up for a certain creed increasingly disliked.
A survey of Christian publishers showed that the top selling Christian books today focus
on self-esteem, self-fulfillment and self-analysis. The least favorite category is theology.
Chuck Colson writes, “Christians are less interested in what the church stands for and
more interested in what it can deliver. People today seek support and not salvation; help
rather than holiness. They want a circle of spiritual equals rather than an authoritative
voice that speaks for God. They want a group to affirm and encourage them rather than
hold them accountable. And this is why some of the least demanding churches are now
in the greatest demand.” The World Council of Churches has tried to spawn a movement
to unify all faiths. Unfortunately many “Christian” groups have joined the movement.
Their unity is built on a belief in nothing. Theology may be dead in some, but not in you!
V.3-4: Paul mentions our unity is based on one hope, one Lord, one faith… One Way.
THE GREAT CAUSE AND CALL: Ephesians 4:1-7
In Ephesians 2, Paul expresses the great cause of Jesus Christ in the metaphor of a
building- V.21-22. We are “fitted together and grow” [THEME]. In Chapter 3, Paul
focuses on his call and gifting that was both unique and significant. Now in Chapter 4
draws attention to our call and gifting. A “walk that is worthy” involves both a right
attitude and creed. In lowliness, gentleness and longsuffering we bear with one another’s
differences, but we are unified in a common belief system involving one truth and one
God who represents Himself through people that He calls, “the Church”, called out ones.
What Unifies Us?
V.5-6: We are unified by a common theology. There is one true God, High and Holy in
the heaven. All men are sinful by nature and reject God. But God so loves the world, He
came to earth in all His Deity and walked among us: Thus we believe in Jesus Christ- His
virgin birth; His sinless life; His unique death and Atonement on the Cross; His
Resurrection and His sovereign authority and His Second Coming. Secondly, we believe
in the authority of the Scripture. We believe that God is actively involved in the affairs
of men through the Holy Spirit, and we believe in the Church, His body and His voice to
reveal sin, righteousness, judgment, and even to angels, the manifold wisdom of God.
The Key to Revival?
Every generation thinks they have discovered the key to revival and attempt to
incorporate the latest fad in a church setting. Inevitably, the goal is to draw a crowd, but
without sound theology, people may come, not for repentance. They come for the best
show in town. Revival is built on the revelation of God and the revealing of sin. Without
this sound theology, revival is impossible. True Christians are unified by good theology.
Unity among Diversity
V.2-3: In America, 85 different denominations exist among 225 independent groups of
Christians, all of whom are diverse in how they “do church”. Paul points out our
approach to one another’s differences must be with attitude of respect, and know that
God leaves room for variety in worship, presentation and teaching style. If you attended
a Bolivian church or a church in Inner Mongolia, you might find dance, storytelling and
music as vehicles to bring the Gospel, whereas in a Scottish Presbyterian Church on the
campus of Harvard, you find one hymn followed by a lengthy exposition of Scripture.
We are to respect Christian differences with an attitude of lowliness, gentleness and
longsuffering, even in how we do funerals, communion, weddings and baby dedications.
Not every Christian has to look, act, talk, and think the same, but we “endeavor to keep
the unity” through a common theology, even though we might disagree on eschatology,
predestination, or speaking in tongues. The glue that binds us is our common creed.
BEING THE BODY: Ephesians 4:11-16
If anyone in the world is worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, it’s the foot soldier in the
United States Armed Forces. The American soldier is greatest deterrent to evil. The
Church is really no different than an army. They begin with a bunch of men and women
of all sizes and shapes who sign up to serve. At the beginning they’re one big
disorganized mass of humanity. But as they are trained, organized and assigned to corps,
divisions, brigades, battalions, companies, platoons, squads and teams, they learn specific
skills and disciplines that together make them an effective fighting force.
This is Paul’s deception of an effective fighting force. The community church, the Bride
of Christ; the Called Out Ones; the Household of God, the Great Cloud of Witnesses; the
Royal Priesthood; the Flock of God; the Body of Christ are all names for the most sacred,
most important, most influential and powerful institution on the planet. To this
institution, Jesus gave the Great Commission: “Go make disciples of all nations.” The
local church is God’s army, His voice, God’s hands and God’s feet on the earth.
The Importance of Church
With that said, how casually and carelessly some Americans treat their church. In our
consumer-oriented culture, people choose churches based on convenient parking, length
of sermon, condition of the facilities, or whether the service is entertaining. Choosing a
church should be based on their Statement of Faith, the integrity of it leaders and the
faithfulness its people. Understanding the importance of church and investing in it is the
beginning of a walk worthy of your calling.
Equipping the Saints
V.11-12: I am called to be a “pastor teacher.” I shepherd and teach the people of our
great church, but honestly, I do a very small percentage of the overall work of ministry.
Looking through our church calendar, I counted 405 different meetings hosted by our
church, and that doesn’t include all the individual wedding and baby showers; birthday,
graduation and anniversary celebrations. Folks, you do the work of the ministry!
Teaching the Word of God
V.13-14: Teaching stabilizes a church. Without teaching good theology and “the
manifold wisdom of God” (3:10), any church will die. Hosea prophesied, “My people
are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” God speaks to us, but so does your flesh and so
does the devil. They are tricky, cunning, crafty and deceitful. My role is to be God’s
confirming voice to you. However, the task of teaching may begin with me; it permeates
into every area of the church and family. Teaching is a continuous activity in casual
conversation, Sunday school, public prayer and around the dinner table.
Growth in Fellowship
V.15-16: “Every joint supplies” to the overall welfare of the church and its mission.
With our attendance, tithe, time and talents “every part does its share,” and the fruit,
especially in our children, is growth, edification and love.
CONCLUSION: The Richness of Life
Last week I received an e-mail from a young man who attended a Bible study in my
home in 1991. He wanted to thank me for having the Bible study. He wrote, “It was the
Bible study that helped me realize how much I needed Christ in my life. And beyond
that, I met my wife Linda in your front room. Today, I have three children, and my son
will be graduating from high school this June.” He went on to thank me, and I got the
opportunity to thank him. The truth is, he enriched my life equally as much as I may
have enriched his. Life is rich because of Jesus, the church, of which we are all apart,
and the fellowship we all share. Thank God for His exceedingly great and precious
promises.