Simple PowerEphesians 4:11-16

How did they survive?Ephesians 4:2-3 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

THE RETURN OF THE KING His Ambitious Plan

Christ descended to our lowly world…so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. 4:9-10

His Opening Move: “When he ascended to the heights, he

led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” 4:8

His Eternal Plan: So that the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 3:10

Peter Jennings, ABC News: When Jesus died on the cross, he left behind a small and frightened group of followers struggling to make sense of his humiliating end. Most Jews either rejected his message or ignored it.

"The idea of a crucified god really did not make sense in the first century," says Ben Witherington, a scholar of the New Testament, in Jennings' report. "It's not a message you make up if you're going to start a religion in the first century A.D."

“Yet within a few decades, against all odds, the tiny Jesus movement began to spread, and in spite of ridicule, suspicion and persecution it would ultimately displace the Caesars and remains the dominant religion of the West over 2000 years later…”

THE RETURN OF THE KING His Ambitious Plan

Christ descended to our lowly world…so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. 4:9-10

His Opening Move: “When he ascended to the heights, he

led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.” 4:8

His Eternal Plan: So that the manifold wisdom of God

might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 3:10

Everywhere Christianity Spreads:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor . He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives , And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.“

Luke 4:18-19

HOW CAN GOD USE US?

4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love…the unity of the Spirit

4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…

The Body

The Action

Home Base

• Members

• Support

Growth• Gifts• Ministry

HOW CAN GOD USE US?

4:2-3 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love…the unity of the Spirit

4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…

Not an instituti

on

Not for ‘the elite’

The Body

The Action

Simple:

HOW CAN GOD USE US?

4:12 And He gave some as apostles / prophets / evangelists / pastors-teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry…

Initiators /

Builders

Equip Saints

For the work

of ministr

y(you &

I)

HOW CAN GOD USE US?

4:12 And He gave some as apostles / prophets / evangelists / pastors-teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the building up of the Body until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Initiators /

Builders

Equip Saints

Work of ministr

y

Building the Body

Mature (like

Christ & with

JC)“we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ…” v.15

HOW CAN GOD USE US?Brings Us Into Maturity

Not weak childrenNot FlakeyNOT ManipulatedNOT Easily HurtNOT WoundedNOT Unstable

Ephesians 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

HOW CAN GOD USE US?Bringing Us Into Maturity

Not weak children Rather: be Like Christ

Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

HOW CAN GOD USE US?Bringing Us Into Maturity

Not weak children Rather: be Like Christ Rather: With Christ

Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:16 from

whom the whole body…

HOW CAN GOD USE US?Bringing Us Into Maturity

Not weak children Rather: be Like Christ Rather: With ChristABLE TO LOVE!

Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:16 from

whom the whole body… causes growth…in love.

The power of Love

HOW CAN GOD USE US?Bringing Us Into Maturity

Not weak children Rather: be Like Christ Rather: With ChristABLE TO LOVE!

Ephesians 4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:16 from

whom the whole body… causes growth…in love.

The power of Love

All our problems arise from

our immature ability to

love…

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth In Love

Truth changes lives! (So do lies!)When combined with love.

Love changes lives!When combined with truth!

Don’t be afraid!Don’t be mushy!

Take risks!Don’t over-

protect!

TRUTH IS

StrongCaringDirectiv

e

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in Love“Love never fails” 1 Cor. 13:8

Nurture With Sacrificial

Love!Not a drill seargent

“Cuddle & Paddle”Motivate /

strengthen / reassure /

compensate

DADS!HUSBANDS!

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in LoveGrowing the Body of ChristQualitative

4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

It Means:Maturity

Love AbilityTrust

/honesty

NOT:InstabilityME-FOCUS

Fakey-Sweet

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in LoveGrowing the Body of ChristQualitativeQuantitative

4:15 …we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Hebrews 13:1-2 Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,

NOT:“Tribal Fear” OLD FARTS

It Means:

Loving ‘Strangers’ CONVERTS

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in LoveGrowing the Body of Christ“Fitting Together Perfectly”4:16 the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in LoveGrowing the Body of Christ“Fitting Together Perfectly”With each other: every part!

4:16 the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Discipleship:Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in LoveGrowing the Body of Christ“Fitting Together Perfectly”With each other: every part!

4:16 the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Discipleship AIN’T EASY:

Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in LoveGrowing the Body of Christ“Fitting Together Perfectly”With each other: every part!With Christ: every part!

4:16 …CHRIST, FROM WHOM the whole body, being fitted and held together…. causes the growth of the body

Discipleship :Colossians 1:28-29 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching…so that we may present every man complete in Christ….

WHAT DO WE DO?Speaking the Truth in LoveGrowing the Body of Christ“Fitting Together Perfectly”With each other: every part!With Christ: every part!NOT

:‘My

kingdom’

Bossing-Around

Helicopter Care

It’s So Simple!

Initiators /

Builders

Equip Saints

Work of ministr

y

Building the Body

Mature (like

Christ & with

JC)

It’s So Simple!

Initiators /

Builders

Equip Saints

Work of ministr

y

Building the Body

Mature (like

Christ & with

JC)

ABLETO

LOVEWHY KILL

CHRISTIANS?Nietzsche Explains:

What is good?--Whatever augments the feeling of power, the will to power, power itself, in man.

What is evil?--Whatever springs from weakness.

What is more harmful than any vice?--Practical sympathy for the botched and the weak--Christianity.

It’s So COOL!

Initiators /

Builders

Equip Saints

Work of ministr

y

Building the Body

Mature (like

Christ & with

JC)

ABLETO

LOVE