Fellowshipmtz

Ephesians 4:15-16 - Truthing in Love & Growing Up!

Ephesians 4:15-16

The consistent theme through this entire (long!) sentence (verses 7-16) is Paul instructing the church to cultivate a Christ-honoring pursuit of diversity and unity — a diversity that builds and results in unity.

Guest Speaker: Jordan McFarland

Titus 1:5-9 - Qualifications of an Elder

Jordan McFarland (from Southern View Chapel in Springfield, IL) preaches a message that compliments where we currently have been in our regular series from Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:13-14 - Attaining Maturity & Avoiding Every Wind of Doctrine

Ephesians 4:13-14

Interpreter's Bible (1953): "The illusion that Christianity is a religion for children and not for grown men and women is disastrous.  It is widespread.  A few memories of Sunday School are not enough for the storms of later life.  Ignorance of Bible and creed and Christian doctrine — blameworthy ignorance, one may add — exposes thousands of men and women to every wind of doctrine.  ...Boil Christian doctrine down to a few ethical precepts and no great demand for study or understanding appears essential.  But the mature Christian needs much more than this."

Ephesians 4:12 - Equipping and the Work of Ministry

Ephesians 4:12 - Who does the work?

Depending on HOW verse 12 is punctuated, two vary different models of church ministry emerge.
The "fun" video shown at the end of the day can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-egY6t9BMGI&t=37s

Ephesians 4:11 - Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastor & Teachers

Ephesians 4:11
We enter a metaphorical minefield where good Christians (churches, denominations) can disagree.  Though there are important differences, it is also true there are larger truths that all Bible-believing Christians can agree upon.  In my experience & estimation the biggest obstacle to rightly understanding the intended (original) meaning of any given text is a lack of understanding the immediate and larger context.  So, let's go!

Ephesians 4:8-10 - The Significance & Magnificence of Christ’s Gift!

Ephesians 4:7-10

Consistent with both world and Biblical precedent (history), the Christ (the Victor) “ascended on high” with both captives and the spoils of conquest.

Ephesians 4:7 - Unity, NOT Uniformity (Intro to Spiritual Gifts)

Ephesians 4:7, "BUT grace was given to each one of us ..."

After a strong series of SEVEN ONES (verses 4-6), a person might well conclude that GOD's design for UNITY is uniformity (that God is intending to raise up an army of Christian "clones") — but in fact, Paul makes it clear, that is not the case at all!

Ephesians 4:4-6 - The Foundation and Parameters of Unity

Ephesians 4:4-6

Today's message considers what Paul meant by:

• one body
• one Spirit
• one hope
• one Lord
• one faith
• one baptism
• one God and Father

Ephesians 4:1-3 - Worthy! (part 2)

Ephesians 4:1-3  The Bible's use of the word "worthy" is positively fascinating!  Building on last week, today we consider its use and meaning in Ephesians 4, Revelation 4-5, and Luke 7, 15.

Ephesians 4:1-3 - WORTHY!

Ephesians 4:1-3

LAST SUNDAY, we noted that "maintaining" church unity was not necessarily going to be easy!  TODAY, we see that maintaining unity requires 4 Components (two pairings of two each): "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love".  EVEN MORE THAN THAT, we consider the powerful significance of Paul's admonition, "to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called"!