Lesson 11 - The Community of the Church, Ephesians 4:1-16

(To help you answer the questions see the Notes below. See also the Chart: Oneness of All Believers.

The church is made up of all who call on the name of the Lord. We are one in Jesus Christ.

But the practice of Christian unity is difficult for the church. I went to a Christian college that broke off from a denomination in the 1960s, which broke off from another denomination in the 1950s, which broke away from another denomination in the 1930s, which was part of a denomination that split in the 1860s.

Many things divide Christians from other Christians-gifts, doctrine, church government, mode of baptism and so on. Whether we like it or not, divisions have occurred, and we must live with them. But we can be inspired and guided by Scriptures to do better.

1. How does the existence of so many denominations affect your attitude toward the church?

2. Read Ephesians 4:1-16. Why are the qualities mentioned in Ephesians 4:1-3 essential for unity in the church?

3. Christian unity must be built on a foundation of shared beliefs and experiences. What shared beliefs and experiences does Paul mention (Ephesians 4:4-6)?

   How do these "ones" provide the foundation for unity?

4. What steps might you take to strengthen your own relationships within your church or fellowship?

5. Triumphant conquerors often gave gifts to their citizens. What "gifts" did Christ give the church when he ascended to heaven (Ephesians 4:7-11)?

6. What is the overall purpose of the gifts mentioned here?

7. One purpose of gifted church leaders is to equip God's people for service; that is, ministry. How does that compare with the way we often think about Christian ministers?

8. In what areas do you feel equipped for service within your church or Christian community? Explain.

9. What dangers threaten an immature church (Ephesians 4:14-16)?

10. The Christian church in every generation must confront false "winds of teaching." What false teachings are we facing in our generation?

11. For the church to mature in Christ, members must "speak the truth in love." What can happen when truth is not spoken in love?

    What happens when love is spoken without truth?

12. Paul uses the image of the body to describe the way the church should work together. What part of the body are you?

    How can you do your part to build up the body in truth and love?

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4:1-2 God has chosen us to be Christ's representatives on earth. In light of this truth, Paul challenges us to live lives worthy of the calling we have received-the awesome privilege of being called Christ's very own. This includes being humble, gentle, patient, understanding, and peaceful. People are watching your life. Can they see Christ in you? How well are you doing as his representative?

4:1-6 "There is one body," says Paul. Unity does not just happen; we have to work at it. Often differences among people can lead to division, but this should not be true in the church. Instead of concentrating on what divides us, we should remember what unites us: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God! Have you learned to appreciate people who are different from you? Can you see how their differing gifts and viewpoints can help the church as it does God's work? Learn to enjoy the way we members of Christ's body complement one another. (See 1 Cor. 12:12-13 for more on this thought.)

4:2 No one is ever going to be perfect here on earth, so we must accept and love other Christians in spite of their faults. When we see faults in fellow believers, we should be patient and gentle. Is there someone whose actions or personality really annoys you? Rather than dwelling on that person's weaknesses or looking for faults, pray for him or her. Then do even more-spend time together and see if you can learn to like him or her.

4:3 To build unity is one of the Holy Spirit's important roles. He leads, but we have to be willing to be led and to do our part to keep the peace. We do that by focusing on God, not on ourselves. For more about who the Holy Spirit is and what he does, see the notes on § John 3:6; § Acts 1:5; and § Ephesians 1:13-14.

4:4-7 All believers in Christ belong to one body; all are united under one head, Christ himself (see 1 Cor. 12:12-26). Each believer has God-given abilities that can strengthen the whole body. Your special ability may seem small or large, but it is yours to use in God's service. Ask God to use your unique gifts to contribute to the strength and health of the body of believers.

4:6 God is over all-this shows his overruling care (transcendence). He is through all and in all-this shows his active presence in the world and in the lives of believers (immanence). Any view of God that violates either his transcendence or his immanence does not paint a true picture of God.

See Chart: The Oneness of All Believers below.

Ephesians 4:8

4:8 In Psalm 68:18, God is pictured as a conqueror marching to the gates and taking tribute from the fallen city. Paul uses that picture to teach that Christ, in his crucifixion and resurrection, was victorious over Satan. When Christ ascended to heaven, he gave gifts to the church, some of which Paul discusses in Ephesians 4:11-13.

Ephesians 4:9

4:9 The "lower, earthly regions" may be (1) the earth itself (lowly by comparison to heaven), (2) the grave, or (3) Hades (many believe Hades is the resting place of souls between death and resurrection). However we understand it, Christ is Lord of the whole universe, past, present, and future. Nothing or no one is hidden from him. The Lord of all came to earth and faced death to rescue all people. No one is beyond his reach.

Ephesians 4:11-13

4:11-12 Our oneness in Christ does not destroy our individuality. The Holy Spirit has given each Christian special gifts for building up the church. Now that we have these gifts, it is crucial to use them. Are you spiritually mature, exercising the gifts God has given you? If you know what your gifts are, look for opportunities to serve. If you don't know, ask God to show you, perhaps with the help of your minister or Christian friends. Then, as you begin to recognize your special area of service, use your gifts to strengthen and encourage the church.

4:12-13 God has given his church an enormous responsibility-to make disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20). This involves preaching, teaching, healing, nurturing, giving, administering, building, and many other tasks. If we had to fulfill this command as individuals, we might as well give up without trying-it would be impossible. But God calls us as members of his body. Some of us can do one task; some can do another. Together we can obey God more fully than any of us could alone. It is a human tendency to overestimate what we can do by ourselves and to underestimate what we can do as a group. But as the body of Christ, we can accomplish more together than we would dream possible working by ourselves. Working together, the church can express the fullness of Christ (see the note on § Ephesians 3:19).

Ephesians 4:14-16

4:14-16 Christ is the truth (John 14:6), and the Holy Spirit who guides the church is the Spirit of truth (John 16:13). Satan, by contrast, is the father of lies (John 8:44). As followers of Christ, we must be committed to the truth. This means both that our words should be honest and that our actions should reflect Christ's integrity. Speaking the truth in love is not always easy, convenient, or pleasant, but it is necessary if the church is going to do Christ's work in the world.

4:15-16 Some Christians fear that any mistake will destroy their witness for the Lord. They see their own weaknesses, and they know that many non-Christians seem to have stronger character than they do. How can we grow up into Christ? The answer is that Christ forms us into a body-into a group of individuals who are united in their purpose and in their love for one another and for the Lord. If an individual stumbles, the rest of the group is there to pick him or her up and help him or her walk with God again. If an individual sins, he or she can find restoration through the church (Galatians 6:1) even as the rest of the body continues to witness to God's truth. As part of Christ's body, do you reflect part of Christ's character and carry out your special role in his work?

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Too often believers are separated because of minor differences in doctrine. But Paul here shows those areas where Christians must agree to attain true unity. When believers have this unity of spirit, petty differences should never be allowed to dissolve that unity.

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