“Bodybuilding”
(Ephesians 4:11-13)
Series: Disciples Who Make Disciples (2 of 7)
Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD
Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson
Amen! God bless you. Always enjoy our welcome time, passing the peace to one another. As you find your seat, I’d share with you that today is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. We’ve got a brief video clip from Paul Chitwood, the executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Conventions. Check this out.
VIDEO: Paul Chitwood, Sanctity of Human Life
Amen, much to celebrate today. Remember too that you can volunteer to serve through our local pregnancy resource center Marsha’s Place, located right down the street from us.
Let me invite you to join me this morning in the Book of Ephesians, chapter 4 (page 788; YouVersion).
We are in a brief 7-week series of messages on discipleship, a series entitled, “Disciples Who Make Disciples.” That phrase is embedded in our church’s vision statement. And while you’er finding Ephesians chapter 4, let’s just look at our vision statement here on the wall:
Our Vision:
“We exist to develop generations of God-glorifying Disciples Who Make Disciples from the community to the continents.”
Each of us is a disciple who is to make disciples of others. Last week we looked at what is arguably the principal text on this truth, the Great Commission text of Matthew 28:18-20. This is where Jesus, speaking to His followers, speaking to His disciples, says:
18 “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
So we’re each of us to be a follower of Jesus, a learner and follower of Jesus, a disciple of Jesus, inviting others to follow us as we follow Him.
Remember that the word “Christian” occurs only three times in the Bible; just 3 times. But the Greek word that’s translated disciple, the word that means learner, is used 261 times! Jesus speaks to every learner, every follower. He tells each and every one of us that it is our responsibility to make disciples.
We say to others, “Come follow me as I follow Him.” Like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Discipleship is not just information, but imitation.
This means that discipleship is not merely some scheduled activity conducted as a program in a church. Discipleship is not about being a people who merely schedule events and host weekend worship experiences for consumers. Rather, discipleship is a process of life transformation. We invite others to follow us on the journey, a journey of becoming more and more like Jesus through the daily ups and downs of living in and through this world, growing not as a consumer, but as a contributor, giving glory to God.
This morning’s passage in the second message of our series, comes from the practical portion of Scripture in Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. He has written three great chapters of theology and now, beginning in chapter 4, he tells Christians how to “live out” that theology in and through the local church. That’s why verse 1 begins with the phrase, “therefore.” Paul says, “I therefore,” or in light of what I wrote in chapters 1-3, am now telling you how to apply all of this teaching.”
And chapter 4 begins with a call for unity in the church. You see that in the first few verses there, especially verse 3, “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the body o peace,” and Paul goes on to talk about the unity of our faith—One Lord, and one faith, and one baptism, and so forth.
Then, in verses 7 and following, Paul writes about how each Christian is gifted by the Holy Spirit with at least one spiritual gift to use in and through the church. We all are gifted with talents and abilities and spiritual gifts to use them to be a blessing to others, singing, teaching, serving, encouraging, helping, and so on.
So I want to enter into this context of the Lord’s granting to each Christian—and consequently each church member—the Lord’s gracious giving of spiritual gifts to every Christian, and His calling folks into the church fellowship to use those gifts through the body of Christ in order to build the body of Christ. Listen for that truth as I read the text.
Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
11 And He Himself [the Lord] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 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;
Now the text goes on there in flow of thought at least as far as verse 17 where Paul seems to take another breath—and this morning we’ll circumscribe his thoughts to these three verses, primarily verses 11-13, in an effort to bring a sharp, laser-like focus to his teaching.
Pray.
Introduction:
Wouldn’t it be great if you could just go to sleep one evening and wake up the next day and have like this perfect body?! No diet. No exercise. Just eat whatever you want. Go to bed. Wake up the next day. Stomach flat as a washboard. I asked Michele, I said, “I don’t get it. How come I can’t lose this belly stuff?! Surely it’s not because I snack after dinner, or climb into bed in the evening with my iPad and eat bowls of chips or snack on dry cereals like Frosted Flakes or Lucky Charms and then go right to sleep. Surely that’s not it, is it?!
But wouldn’t it be great if you could just go to bed one night and wake up the next day, stomach flat, muscles ripped, all trim and toned. What do you think: “Reality or fantasy?” Let’s vote. All who say, “reality” raise your hand. How about “fantasy?” Yeah, fantasy. Crazy talk. Gotta have a plan. Follow instructions. Work it. And it takes time.
Well just as you build up your body, so when we work together to build up the body of Christ, to strengthen it, to mature it, to see it grow in both depth and breadth, we’ve got to follow a plan and work it. And growth takes time. Look, here it is. Here’s a plan for Bodybuilding, okay? Building the body of Christ. Right here in Ephesians 4.
So let’s check it out. Three clear truths from this text for every Christian. First truth, number one:
Each of us serves in Ministry (11-12)
This passage teaches that every Christian is a minister. We each are to use our gifts and talents in the body of Christ. Every Christian is to do “the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” Every one of us is to do that work, building up the body of Christ.
The Bible says in verse 12 that it is “the saints” who are to do “the work of the ministry, for the edifying (or building up) of the body of Christ.”
The saints. If you’re a Christian, the New Testament calls you a saint. You may not always feel like one, nor act like one, but you are one. Saint is not a word the church invented and applied to a select number of Christians. No. The New Testament teaches that every Christian is a saint. So every Christian is to do “the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
So every member is a minister. “Every member a minister.” That’s a great church motto: Every member a minister. I am a minister and you are a minister. I’ve said many times before, “Not every Christian is a pastor, but every Christian is a minister.”
Say that with me, “I am a minister.” Let’s say that together, “I am a minister.” You are! And each of us serves in ministry. Look again at this passage, picking up in verse 11:
11 And He Himself [the Lord] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
At that time, these were the discernible offices of the church, a list not meant to be exhaustive but certainly descriptive of the offices of the church 2000 years ago. These were the ministers in the local church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers. In today’s context we would usually see these folks as the full-time vocational ministers of the church.
Having said that, I do think it’s important to note that the office of apostle is no longer in existence; apostles as an official office in the church. You’ll remember from Scripture that one of the qualifications of an apostle was that he had to have seen the resurrected Christ with his own eyes. And so, you have the 12 and Paul, and maybe one or two others, Barnabas, Silas, for example, maybe a few more. But that was it.
In New Testament times, the office of prophet in the church referred to someone who had the gift of prophecy and used that gift in an official capacity as a ministry leader in the church. This was a leader whose primary mission was ministry of the Word of God to God’s people. So others would have the gift of prophecy too, but not all those who had the gift of prophecy were prophets as officers in the church.
And the same is true for an evangelist as an officer of the church. Many folks would have had evangelistic gifts in Ephesus, but not all were called to serve the local church as a minister whose primary mission was to minister the Word of God to the people of God.
And then pastors and teachers (or pastor-teachers) were those persons whose primary mission was to minister the Word in and through a local body of fellowship.
By the way, Danny Akin, differentiating the evangelist from the pastor-teacher, said that if the evangelist is the “spiritual obstetrician,” bringing new spiritual babies into the world, then pastor-teachers are “spiritual pediatricians” who provide for the people, leading and feeding the body. He says, pastors “minister to us and with us but not for us.” They don’t do all the work that the body of Christ is to do.
And I think that’s especially important given the thrust of this text insofar as we all are ministers in the church and each of us serves in ministry.
The main takeaway here is that while the offices of the church may vary throughout time, every church had at least one or more ministers whose primary mission it was to minister the Word of God. They were not to do all the work of the church; they were to minister the Word through their office, but the church itself did the ministry of the church.
Church leaders and ministers lead with various gifts—verse 11—to equip the saints (all Christians)—verse 12—so that they can do the work of ministry. Each and every Christian has a spiritual gift and a number of talents and abilities to be used in and through the local body.
Listen to John Stott apply this teaching to pastors and ministerial staff today. This is from Stott’s commentary on Ephesians:
The New Testament concept of the pastor is not of a person who jealously guards all ministry in his own hands…but one who helps and encourages all of God’s people to discover, develop, and exercise their gifts. His teaching and training are directed to this end, to enable the people of God to be a servant people…Thus instead of monopolizing all ministry himself, [the pastor] actually multiples ministries.”
Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck have put together this very helpful book called Designed to Lead (2016). It really is a call for ministers to lead according to God’s way in the Bible. Listen to a section where the authors explain how many churches fail to apply Ephesians 4 rightly, thus failing to equip the congregation the way the Bible teaches (pp. 39-40):
Typically pastors or other staff persons are hired to minister to people. [So, for example] The number of children in the church increases, so the solution is [hire] another staff person. The number of sick people is on the rise; therefore, someone is hired to visit the hospitals. The number of counseling appointments increases, so another part-time staff member is added…so church members, if a church is not careful, can subtly be taught that they are paying people to do ministry. And pastors and staff can place on themselves a burden to earn their pay by performing ministry well.
The authors describe this “typical approach” as “deeply detrimental.” They add:
The spiritual growth of the people in the body is hampered. People who are gifted by God and called to serve Him are put on the bench as they watch the “professional ministers” or the newest staff member make the ministry happen.
If you ever played sports in school or on some league you know that feeling. You’re wanting to “get in the game,” but the coach has benched you. Like you’re not good enough. And so you sit and you just watch others play. So Geiger and Peck write of members who are benched from ministry:
They miss the joy of serving. And instead of fostering a serving posture among believers, the typical approach to ministry helps develop consumers…rather than…contributors.
And further:
The typical approach to ministry also wrongly and and implicitly teaches that church is “spiritual” and led by ministers only, which means the work of the regular folks must be second-class and “secular.” So not only are people not developed for ministry which the church, they are also subtly taught to not even consider their “secular jobs” as places of Kingdom leadership.
What a shame! The Bible teaches that all Christians are gifted for ministry, not just the “professionals.” To quote John Stott again: ministers are not to monopolize all the ministry themselves, but are to actually multiply ministry.
Each of us serves in ministry. We each are to use our gifts and talents in the body of Christ. Second truth about bodybuilding, building up the body of Christ, not only does each of us serve in ministry, but secondly:
Each of us works for Unity (13a)
I have in mind mostly the greater context of the opening of chapter 4, Paul’s stress upon unity we noted in the introduction, especially verse 3: “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
And then Paul mentions unity in verse 13 that we are all to “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.”
So we are to be united in our faith and united in our knowledge about Jesus. And given the stress upon the various gifts, the diversities of gifts that God gives each and every Christian in the church, we may conclude that God’s people using their gifts—God’s people serving, doing ministry—brings about the unity of God’s people.
Look at a church that enjoys unity and you’ll see a church where everyone is involved and is using their gifts. When we’re all involved and everyone on the team is playing, there is a strong camaraderie and joy in serving together. If we’re not involved, we’re like the guy watching the football game on his TV in the living room, remote in hand. It’s easy to complain and sort of “quarterback from the couch,” you know.
But a church that enjoys unity is a church where everyone is involved. Everyone is using his or her gifts, serving in and through the church fellowship. Each of us works for unity.
Because each of us is uniquely gifted and not every person has the same gifts.
Someone (Geiger and Peck) said, “A church is a community of gifted people, not merely a community of people with a gifted pastor.”
A church is a a community of gifted people, using their gifts for God’s glory. And we want to serve!
We all have within us a yearning to be a part of something big. God has blessed us through the joy and wonder of the Gospel! He has accepted us not on the basis of our performance, but on the basis of Christ’s righteousness and we have a new identity and a wonderful future and we want to live for Jesus and serve Him!!
So we all use our gifts and talents and when we do, we become more united. It’s like rowing a boat and the important role of each and every person in that process. It takes all of us working together to make it happen.
Daniel James Brown wrote a book recently entitled,The Boys in the Boat (2013). The book celebrates the story of the 1936 US men’s boat race and how they won—this team, this Olympic team of 8 men. In the book Brown writes, “No other sport demands and rewards the complete abandonment of the self the way that rowing does.” Abandonment of the self. Listen to this excerpt from the chapter “The Parts That Really Matter (page 179).” Brown explains:
The team effort – the perfectly synchronized flow of muscle, oars, boat and water; the single, whole, unified, and beautiful symphony that a crew in motion becomes – is all that matters. Not the individual, not the self.
The psychology is complex. Even as rowers must subsume their often fierce sense of independence and self-reliance, at the same time they must hold true to their individuality, their unique capabilities as oarsmen or oarswomen or, for that matter, as human beings. Even if they could, few rowing coaches would simply clone their biggest, strongest, smartest, and most capable rowers. Crew races are not won by clones. They are won by crews, and great crews are carefully balanced blends of both physical abilities and personality types.
In physical terms, for instance, one rower’s arms might be longer than another’s, but the latter might have a stronger back than the former. Neither is necessarily a better or more valuable oarsman than the other; both are assets to the boat. But if they are to row well together, each of these oarsmen must adjust to the needs and capabilities of the other. Each must be prepared to compromise something in the way of optimizing his stoke for the overall benefit of the boat – the shorter-armed man reaching a little farther, the longer-armed man foreshortening his reach a bit- so that both men’s oars remain parallel and both blades enter and exit the water at precisely the same moment.
What a picture of unity! What a picture of the church! Each of us working for unity. Third and final truth from this passage, the third truth about bodybuilding, building up the body of Christ. Not only must each of us work for unity, but thirdly:
Each of us grows in Maturity (13b)
Discipleship is about growing, about becoming more and more like Jesus, looking more and more like the One we’re following! It’s a growth process. Maturity.
Paul goes on in verse 13 to say that we are all to “come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,”—so working for unity—and, continuing in verse 13, “to a perfect man, to the measure of the star of the fullness of Christ…” The NIV has, to “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
To become mature. To grow in maturity. If we had time we’d go on and study verse 14 where the theme of maturity continues. Paul says in verse 14, “that we should no longer be children,” you know, we’re growing, growing up so that we are not “tossed about” this way and that by false teaching, but growing up—verse 15—growing up “in all things in to Him who is the head—Christ…”
Each of us in the church grows in maturity. Discipleship is about becoming more and more like Jesus, looking more and more like the One we’re following and inviting others to follow.
We don’t grow merely by gathering together once a week to watch a performance. Jesus invited folks to follow Him, not merely to go to an assembly once a week.
We don’t grow by merely watching a performance. We don’t even grow as we should merely by participating in a weekly Bible study. Just as a baby is constantly growing by taking in physical nourishment all the time and beginning to use its muscles and just living—so Christians are constantly growing by taking in spiritual nourishment and flexing their spiritual muscles by serving others, using their gifts and talents in ministry, growing and living every day for God’s glory.
Someone (Geiger and Peck) said, “The longer that people attend a church that values equipping, the more they grow uncomfortable with only comfortably attending.”
We’re not satisfied with being sidelined, “put on the bench” to watch. We want to grow. We want to grow because we see ourselves not as consumers, but contributors.
Because we’re all ministers and we all work for unity and grow in maturity, we want to provide helpful resources to aid in the growth process. One of the things we want to give you is a copy of the Growth Guide.
Growth Guide
These guides are located this morning at the ends of the pews. If you are sitting at either end—and some of these guides are also located in the middle of the pews—if you will please take one of these and pass them along to the others seated near you. I want to be sure each and every person has a Growth Guide. There are also a couple stacks over here and our ushers can get you one. If you don’t have one would you raise your hand? Let’s be sure each and every person has a Growth Guide.
If you are using the YouVersion Bible app, there’s a link you can click that will take you to the Growth Guide and other resources on our website.
What is the Growth Guide?
The Growth Guide is designed to help guide you in your journey of faith. You can use it as a general map, showing you how you can get connected, grow in your faith, and personally fulfill the mission of the church.
Individually, you can use the Growth Guide by reviewing the opportunities within our church and challenging yourself to grow in under-developed areas.
You may also find the Growth Guide helpful as a discussion tool to disciple others as you walk beside them on their journey of faith!— (from the website)
On the left-hand panel are the three sections: Connect, Commit, and Continue.
Connect—every member needs three things: Big group, small group, a place to serve.
Commit—spiritual milestones: salvation through faith in Christ, baptism, complete First Steps Devotional, Join the church.
Continue—actively participate in each are of the church’s mission statement, grow in your faithfulness to spiritual disciples (see blue panel)—blue: reading Bible daily, prayer, giving.
Bottom of left side: Help someone along in their faith journey.
So here is a map or guide, for you personally and, a map for you to use with someone else. Like you’re wanting to disciple someone and you’re wanting to know where to begin. Just take one of these guides and sit down with them over coffee and walk through it together, checking boxes that apply and identifying opportunities to grow.
That’s how you use the Growth Guide!
It’s a map, a game plan, a guide, instructions. So we’re back to where we began. We finish where we started. A body isn’t built overnight. You’ve got to have a plan and you’ve got to work the plan. Growth takes time.
Are you growing? If you’re just existing, just coming to church, watching and looking around. You’re not growing. You’re like a little baby left alone in a big city, just sitting in a baby carrier, vulnerable to danger. Grow! Get involved. Get connected. Get into a small group Sunday school class. Start a new class. Serve in and through the body of Christ. Grow and help others grow, too.
Maybe your’e not growing because you’re in sin. You’ve been doing things you shouldn’t, living in a way that dishonors God. Repent this morning. Ask God for forgiveness and turn to Jesus.
And it may be you’re not growing because you’ve not yet been born. Spiritually. You haven’t received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I’m inviting you today to turn from your sin and receive Jesus Christ as Lord.
We’re going to pray and then sing our response to the Master, to Jesus, and we’ll say:
Master, You call and I gladly obey;
Only direct me, and I’ll find Your way.
Teach me the mission you’ve appointed for me,
I’m asking, “What is my labor and where shall it be?”
Let’s sing.
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.