Ephesians 4:11-16 Part III: Jesus Followers Equip One Another To Walk In His Likeness

May 5, 2024
Series: Ephesians
Teacher: Paul Mermilliod

---

Ephesians 4:11-16
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] 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.

BIG TRUTH:
JESUS FOLLOWERS EQUIP ONE ANOTHER TO WALK IN HIS LIKENESS

Ephesians 4:12-13
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Big Ideas:

• Jesus Is The Head Of The Church And The Means Of Her Unity, Gifting, And Growth (4:15-16)
• Jesus’ Body Is Graciously Gifted (4:7-8, 16)
• Jesus’ Body Has Been Gifted With Leaders (4:11)
• Jesus’ Leaders Equip The Saints (4:12)
• Jesus’ Saints Do The Work Of Ministry (4:12)
• The Work Of Ministry Is The Building Up Of Jesus’ Body (4:12)
• Maturity Is The Goal Of Building Up Jesus’ Body. (4:13, 15)
• Immaturity Leads To Devastation Within Jesus’ Body. (4:14-15)

Big Idea:
Maturing Jesus Followers Speak the Truth

• We must know the truth in order to speak the truth.
• We must obey the truth as we speak the truth.
• We must acknowledge the lies that keep us from speaking the truth.

Lies that Keep Us from Speaking the Truth…

• Lie of Reception: (They must desire it before I share it)
• Lie of Affirmation: (They must feel loved, otherwise I’m unloving)
• Lie of Responsibility: (I’m not responsible for others’ spiritual growth)
• Lie of Experience: (I’m not qualified to help others)
• Lie of Effort: (Building up should be easy, not hard)

Big Idea:
Maturing Jesus Followers Speak the Truth in Love

• Love is our motive for speaking the truth. (1 Tim 1:5)
• Love builds up. (1 Cor 8:1)
• Love is a measure of our maturing. (Eph 4:16)

1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Corinthians 8:1b
…“knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:4–5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved

Ephesians 4:16
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.

Big Idea:
Maturing Jesus Followers Build Up

• The body grows and matures together.
• We are always discipling one another toward maturity or immaturity.
• We build one another up in all of life.

Big Idea:
Maturing Jesus Followers Grow Up

• Maturing is possible because Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith.
• Jesus is the standard and goal of spiritual maturity.
• Our love for others is dependent upon our abiding pursuit of Jesus.

Revelation 2:2–5
“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”

---