Eph. 4:11-16

Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself 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;14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Results of the Body Functioning as God has Designed

I. Called Individuals

Eph. 4:11-13 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some [to] [be] apostles, some prophets,

Eph. 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner[stone],

some evangelists,

Preaching -

2099 euaggelisthV - one who preaches the gospel

2098 euaggelion - the message, the gospel

2097 eujaggelivzw - the act of preaching the gospel

· 11 Gospels, 15 Acts, 26 Epistles

and some pastors and teachers, (Body Leadership)

Pastor (4166) - One who shepherds the flock

poimhvn 4166 a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks (not merely one who feeds them), is used metaphorically of Christian "pastors," Eph. 4:11. Pastors guide as well as feed the flock; cp. Acts 20:28, which, with ver. 17, indicates that this was the service committed to elders (overseers or bishops); so also in 1Pet. 5:1, 2, "tend the flock … exercising the oversight," R.V.; this involves tender care and vigilant superintendence.

Teacher (1320) - One who teaches the flock

1 Tim.3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach (1317);

2 Tim. 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach (1317) patient,

1 Tim. 4:6 If you instruct (5294) the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister (1249) of Jesus Christ, nourished (1789) in the words of faith and of the good doctrine (1319) which you have carefully followed.

1 Tim. 4:13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine (1319).

1 Tim. 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine (1319) Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

1 Tim. 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word (3056 'logos') and doctrine (1319).

2 Tim. 3:10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine (1319), manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

2 Tim. 3:16 All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine (1319),for reproof, for correction, for instruction (3809 paideia) in righteousness,

2 Tim.. 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (1319), but according to their own desires, [because] they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers (1320);

Titus 1:9 holding fast the faithful word (3056) as he has been taught (1322), that he may be able, by sound (5198) doctrine (1319), both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

II. Purpose of Leadership

12 for the equipping of the saints

1 Cor. 1:10 But I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Gal. 6:1 Brothers, if a man is overtaken in a fault, you the spiritual ones restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly for me to see your face and to perfect the things lacking in your faith?

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, He calling us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, He will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

III. Purpose of Saints

for the work (2041 ergon ) of ministry (diakoniva ) ,

IV. Definition of the work of ministry

for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Eph. 1:22 And He put all [things] under His feet, and gave Him [to be] head over all [things] to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness (1:22, 3:19, 4:13) of Him who fills all in all.

V. Ultimate Goal

13 till we all come

· to the unity of the faith and

· of the knowledge (1922) of the Son of God,

· to a perfect (5046) man,

· to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (1:22, 3:19, 4:13)

Eph. 3:16-19 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height -- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (1:22, 3:19, 4:13)

VI. Results of the Body not Functioning as God has Designed

Eph. 4:14 (NKJV) that we should no longer be children

(Contrast with 'mature man. V.13)

· tossed to and fro and

· carried about with every wind of doctrine,

· by the trickery of men,

· in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

VII. The Interdependence of the Body

Eph. 4:15-16 (NKJV) but, speaking the truth in love,

may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--

· 16 from whom the whole body,

· joined

· and knit together

Col. 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and [attaining] to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

Col. 2:19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows (837) with the increase (838) [that is] from God.

· by what every joint supplies,

· according to the effective working by which every part does its share,

· causes growth (838 - Col. 2:19) of the body

for the edifying of itself in love.

Love

1 John 5:2-4 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith.

Eph. 1:4-5 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

Eph. 1:15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,

Eph. 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

Eph. 3:17-19 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what [is] the width and length and depth and height -- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph. 4:2-3 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph. 4:15-16 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ -- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Eph. 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

Eph. 5:28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

Eph. 5:33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife [see] that she respects [her] husband.

Eph. 6:23-24 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace [be] with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Whole body

Paul made reference to not only the church at Ephesus, but to Christendom on a global scale

Joined and knit together

Paul emphasized the interconnectedness of the body,

By what every joint supplies Every member of the body is responsible to supply for the needs of the other members of the body

According to the effective working by which every part does its share

Every member of the is designed by God to contribute to the body, whether it be focused on material or spiritual resources

Causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love

The result of the each member of the body supplying its share for the body is growth of the body and a building up of the church