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For the work of the ministry

Text: Ephesians 4
31 August 2008

(I) GOD’S PROVISION FOR THE MINISTRY

1. Ministers of the Gospel

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” Ephesians 4:11

2. Members of the Church

“From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16

a) Everyone in mind

“The whole body”

b) Every part is intricately woven together

“Joined and knit together by what every joint supplies”

i) Joined

ii) Knit together

iii) Every joint supplying one thing or another

c) Every part must do its share

i) Effective working of every part

ii) Every part contributing something special

iii) Every part contributing something significant

d) Results expected

i) Growth

ii) Edification

iii) Love

(II) GOD’S PICTURE OF HIS CHURCH

“For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” Ephesians 4:12-14

1. No longer children

Tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine

2. A perfect (mature) man

Stature of the fullness of Christ

3. A fully developed Church

a) Equipped for ministry

b) Edifying of the Body of Christ

c) Unity of the faith and knowledge of the Son of God

(III) A FITTING AND APPROPRIATE RESPONSE

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

1. To walk worthy of our calling

a) Lowliness of heart and mind

b) Gentleness

c) Longsuffering

d) Bearing with one another in love

2. To keep the unity of the Spirit

a) Every endeavour

b) In the bond of peace