TEXT: Ephesians 4:11-16
MESSAGE: “To Know Christ”
Why does Grace City exist?
“This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” – Psalm 118:23
Grace City exists for the glory of God.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
– Matthew 5:14-16
“Many commentators consider these verses the heart of the book (of Ephesians), for they tell how the church of Jesus Christ is to function. They talk about gifts, and they begin by telling us that these gifts have come from Christ. They are Christ’s gifts to his church, and he has not overlooked anyone in the distribution.” — James Boice
What can we learn about what our conviction should be as a church? (1. He Gave 2. To Equip 3. To Mature)
(1) He gave… (v. 11)
“…he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers…”
(2) To equip…(v. 12-13)
“…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God…”
“NOTHING IS MORE SACRED OR MORE STRATEGIC IN GOD’S KINGDOM THAN THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO EQUIP OTHERS TO SERVE IN MINISTRY. GOD DID NOT INTEND FOR HIS CHURCH TO BE A COMMUNITY WITH A GIFTED PASTOR AND STAFF MEMBERS BUT TO BE A COMMUNITY OF GIFTED PEOPLE.” – TODD ADKINS
(3) To mature…(v.13-16)
“…to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Charles Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong; it is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”
TAKEAWAYS: What are our goals for 2019? To…
(1) Know Jesus
“Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” – John Bunyan (handwritten note in the cover of his Bible)
(2) Prioritize Togetherness
“Independence is not a Christian value, interdependence is.” – Chris Hornbrook
(3) Trust God
Grace City 2019 Goals: “30/20/10”
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” – Philippians 3:7-11