Building up the Body

1. Building up the Body Ephesians 4:1-16

2. Building the body • Why build it up? • What is building the body? • How do we do it?

3. A. Why build up the body?

4. For our own glory

5. A calling • 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

6. Our eternal destiny..back to Ephesians 1 • even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:4-6

7. For His glory • Predestined • Chosen • Called • Adopted • Sons

8. Together we labour to build

9. B. What is building up the body

10. Bodies, Budgets , Buildings

11. which is a better family?

12. Church of Laodicea • For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked Rev 3:17

13. Church of Philidelphia • “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name Rev 3:8b

14. Building is growing in maturity • 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturemanhood, 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.

16. Maturity -spiritual discernment • 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.

18. Toronto blessing Greg Beech Randwick Baptist Church Sydney

20. Volunteers instead of disciples

21. Maturing is reproducing the life of Christ in us • 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.

22. C. How do we build the body?

23. First instinct • "Technique is the totality of methods rationally arrived at and having absolute efficiency in every field of human activity" • Jacques Ellul, The technological society, NY Random house 1967 p 25

24. Cow not machine

25. Three-Fold Blessing (the blessing of the spirit, soul,) Ps David Yonggi Cho

26. rick warren “It is my deep conviction that anybody can be won to Christ if you discover the key to his or her heart. . . . It may take some time to identify it. But the most likely place to start is with the person’s felt needs.”1 (Rick Warren)

27. Key of David Pastor Joseph Prince

28. How • Maintaining unity • Using our gifts • Working in truth and love

29. Maintaining unity • 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

30. Grow into unity • "at a man full-grown • 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,

31. Unity Focussing on what we have in common Focussing on others

32. Focus on what we have in common • 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

33. one body • one Spirit • one hope • one Lord, • one faith, • one baptism, • one God and • Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

34. Mahatir Mohammad "Malaysian, be they Malays, Chinese, Indians or the native of Sabah and Sarawak must banish from their minds the idea of racial dominance. This country must be shared and shared fair by all the race"

35. South Australia OCF

36. Focus on division • Type of songs we sing • Whether we have Christmas party • Whether we have outreach point • Whether we build or not or next year • Vbs one session or two

37. Locktown Stone Church

38. b. Focussing on the others • 1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

39. Humility • Gentleness • Patience • Forbearance

40. humility • Self seeking • Boasting • Pride • Lowliness of mind • Seek others • medal

41. CS Lewis • Humility is not thinking less of your self ,its thinking of yourself less • strong self esteem..prioritize , focus on others

42. Barclay : dog who barks at enemies and nice to friends..never angry at wrong time and always angry at right time.. Gentleness

43. Patience

44. How to relate?

45. 2. Using our gifts

46. Leverage on diversity • 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says, • “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, • and he gave gifts to men.” • 9 ( In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

47. Essential qualities of healthy churches • 1. Empowering leadership • 2. Gift orientated ministry Christian A Schwarz

48. Leaders train members • And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

49. Eusebius bishop of Caesarea • Perfect life vs Permitted Life • Thomas Aquinas • Contemplative vs Active Life • Augustine of Hippo

50. Martin Luther • “but that all works are measured • before God by faith alone”