"Growing the Church God's Way"

“Growing the Church God’s Way”

Ephesians 4:11-16

Excerpts from a sermon preached on March 15, 2015 at Hebron Baptist Church by Pastor Joe Alain.

Yesterday, we concluded our Upward Basketball and Cheerleading season with an awards presentation and lunch. When I think about our Upward sports ministry, I’m reminded that it takes a small army to bring this ministry all together, including our Upward director, coaches and assistants, referees, concession workers, set-up and take-down staff, half-time devotional leaders, greeters, etc. What is amazing to me concerning our Upward ministry is that it just goes to show that we can do great “Kingdom” things when we work together. In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul shows how the church with all its glorious diversity, functions in a healthy way. And the truth is, when you do what God wants you to do, the church is healthy and growing. So how does God grow his church?

First, God provides spiritual leadership to His church, that is what verse 11 is all about. The church’s spiritual leaders provide direction for the church, they navigate the church in the right direction, under Christ. Spiritual leaders “equip” or “prepare” believers for “works of service” (v.12). The word to “equip” or to “prepare” is the biblical word which means “to put right.” It was used of a surgeon setting a broken bone, of the disciples “mending their nets” (Matt. 4:21), and of the work of restoring a believer who has fallen into sin (Gal. 6:1).

God’s word is a “healing” word (Ps. 107:20a), and God’s word is “truth” (Jn. 17:17), it “puts things right.” It corrects broken and false beliefs that bring only harm and not healing. God’s word shows us a holy vision of what our world could be, of what our lives could be, a world of beauty, of purity, of justice, of righteousness. God’s word taught and preached has the power to set things right. It always points us to the ideal and it is “always” a redemptive word, even when the word is painful.  

Sometimes the word is like a fire (Jer. 23:29). The word scorches and burns the chaff of our lives, and lays bare our heart, but it does this so that new growth can spring up. Sometimes the word is like a hammer (Jer. 23:29). The word crushes the cherished idols of our heart, sometimes a painful process, yet the word that crushes the idols of the heart makes clear the foundation of our heart for God alone to be honored and worshiped. Sometimes the word is like a sword (Heb. 4:12). It cuts deep but it never cuts indiscriminately, to damage, to hurt, but it penetrates with the precision of a skilled physician cutting out a cancerous tumor.

The word, the Gospel, the truth, sets things right. But, the truth must be applied. We can have a glorious vision of what could be in our lives, but if we don’t follow the Great Physician’s instructions after the benediction, it’s not going to be very helpful when we leave and our vision of greater things will begin to fade by the time we hit the church foyer. So what are these “works of service” that we are being prepared for? The word “service” (v.12) is the word “diakonia” which has the idea of practical service. Here is something vitally important to our Christian lives. Following Jesus is not theoretical, it’s practical, it makes a difference in your everyday life. Christianity is not merely a belief system, it’s a transformed way of life that impacts individuals, families, communities, and nations. Christian beliefs “applied” have the power to transform every aspect of your life and of our world. So the Christian prays and follows Jesus so that God’s kingdom on earth will be as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).

           

Each day, if we are listening and looking, God is pointing out opportunities for practical works of service. Think of “works of service” as any and every opportunity you have to live out the Christian faith so that the kingdom is being built up. D. L. Moody once said, “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.” And yet it’s the little things, the practical “works of service” that make the most difference for the building up of the kingdom of God!

Here are a few questions to help you identify what “works of service” God may want you to do. Ask, “Where does God have me in my life?” “What has he blessed me with?” “What can I do on a practical level to honor God?” “What is he telling me to do?” “How has he gifted me?” “What is right in front of me that I might be missing?” When you ask those types of questions, you will know what “works of service” God wants you to do. When the church is equipped and serving, positive church health and growth will occur (vv.12b-16). What will that health and growth look like? We will become more unified, more like Christ, and more loving. And this is how God grows the church.  

For His Glory, by His Grace!

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3