Sermons

S.R. Ephesians 4:1-16

Introduction

1. God has brought us together as His family.
   1. We come with wounds and scars and crippling injuries to be made well.
2. Luke 4:16-19 Reading in synagogue in Nazareth
3. Do we want the truth?
   1. Do we want an accurate diagnosis of our condition?
   2. Truth is often painful
   3. Give me the truth – Bill Crews

Outline

1. Your Concept of Church: a Hospital or a Resort Hotel?
   1. Hospital:
      1. Sick people coming for healing and help who are in various stages of illness, but seeking healing from brokenness and loss.
   2. Resort: Go there to escape pressure and responsibility.
   3. How we see the church makes a difference in how we respond.
2. Hospital View of the Church
   1. A place where really sick people can recover.
      1. Very serious illnesses (Luke 5:30; 1 Timothy 1:15)
   2. Amnesia about our past (Ephesians 2:1-5) “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…”
   3. Who is it that you want to be with as family?
3. Transformed and Changed People
   1. Romans 12:1-8
      1. Whatever we have was “given to us.”
      2. “Use them”
      3. Most of what we do in Christ is not done as the function of a local church.
      4. If any desires to be great - servant, slave
         1. (Mark 10:43-45) “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
   2. Ephesians 4:1-16
      1. Ephesians 4:1 Called as a prisoner of Christ Jesus, to live and die for Him.
      2. Review of what God has done for us: (Ephesians 1:7-8; 2:6-7, 19; 3:10-12)
      3. Ephesians 4:1-3 “¹As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ²Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
      4. Truth is absolutely vital in the Lord’s hospital. (Ephesians 4:20-21; 1:22-23)
      5. Ephesians 4:4-6 There are fundamental truths that must be agreed upon.
         1. One body-not many.
         2. One Spirit – God’s Holy Spirit (cf. 1 John 4:1-2)
         3. One hope – called to that hope by the gospel (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:14).
         4. One Lord – He is both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36; Romans 10:9)
         5. One faith – not many.
         6. One baptism – baptism into Christ “for the remission of sins”
         7. One God – not many deities or idols.
      6. Ephesians 4:7-11 Christ, the victor over the enemy, has given “gifts” to men.
         1. Grace was given to each one in Christ.
         2. When Christ ascended He “gave gifts to men.” (cf. Psalms 68:18)
         3. Those gifts included some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. (v. 11)
      7. Ephesians 4:12-13 These “gifts” are given to equip the saints for the work of ministry (service).
         1. Are you one of God’s saved, holy, sanctified ones? “saints”
         2. Scriptures do not use the term minister to refer to one or two but to every disciple of Christ.
         3. We are all called to serve Christ by serving one another.
         4. An evangelist may be a “minister” or servant of the word but he is not “the minister.” (2 Timothy 4:5)
         5. The “ministry” belongs to all of us. Works of service.
      8. Ephesians 4:14-16
4. Conclusion: Will you live for Christ, having died to self?
   1. We are all here because the church is a Hospital for Sinners
   2. Through the cross and the resurrection we have confidence that Christ will receive us.
   3. Death to self and sin results in a new life. (Romans 6:17-18)