Ephesians 4 Study Page 3

l. 13 What is the “whole measure of the fullness of Christ” and how do we get it?

l. 16 How does “speaking the truth in love” relate to growing up into Christ? l. 18 Does that mean being a ligament is a calling, too?

Evangelist (2099) “a messenger of good”; can’t stop telling people about God’s goodness, always want to bring Christ’s hope Pastor (4166) “shepherd”; ensure the wellbeing of the flock, keep everyone together Teacher (1320) expound on the truth and train others to do the same; when you learn something new from God, you have to share it with everyone • Original shalom: completion, perfection, fullness. Unity in the body, partnership and reconciliation, working together to spread the news of the gospel and raise up new leaders. To begin to grasp how wide, deep and great God’s love is for us. • Speaking the truth in love holds the body accountable to itself and others. It encourages openness, cooperation and reconciliation. • Yes, a communal calling: we are all ligaments when we each do our work.

l. 18 How does each part doing its work help grow and build up the body of Christ into His • It doesn’t mean working alone, but working side-by-side at your calling: involving others, image? training others, sharing your gifts with those

2 minutes: Leader summarizes In Ephesians, Paul encourages the whole church to remember why they started following Christ in the first place and what that will mean to their lives if they live out the calling. He reminds them that it is not an easy path, but it is rewarding. In chapter four, Paul reminds the church what an honor it is to be a part of God’s great work in the world, and how that calling unifies us as one body in Christ. Paul also reminds us that the way a body grows and matures is by functioning properly: each part doing its work together, intricately binding them together into one cohesive identity. 10 minutes: Respond and Pray. • What gifts has God given you to use within the body to further the kingdom? Are you an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher? We are all called to perform all of these functions, but not at the same level. Which one speaks most to your desires and experiences?