Community & Discipleship
Growing into the Fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:6-17)
God calls us out of the world into one body with Christ as its head, and we grow into Christ's likeness as each member uses God's gifts, knows what they believe, and speaks the truth in love.
God calls us out of the world into one body
The Greek word ecclesia means a calling out, so the church is a group of people called out of the world, from the body of Adam into the body of Christ. We do not pick and choose a church for ourselves, because it is God who calls us to it. Christ is the head, and we are the body, so no one grows into Christ's likeness alone. The sermon quotes Max Lucado: 'He loves you too much to leave you just the way you are.' When Jesus enters our lives, He encourages and empowers us to become more like Christ, and He does this together with the body.
Each member is gifted to build up the body (7-16절)
Verse 7 says that each of us has received grace according to the measure of Christ's gift, and verse 16 says the whole body grows as each part does its share. God gives every member of the body gifts through the Spirit, not only pastors and leaders. The sermon notes that the offices of apostle and prophet belong to the early church, while pastors, evangelists, and teachers are gifts that exist today. Being a pastor is only one of many gifts. We need to recognize one another's gifts, encourage those who feel they are not needed, and train one another in growing up in Christ.
Believing must go together with knowing Christ
Faith is not separate from knowledge. If someone says they believe with all their heart but cannot say what they believe, the content of their faith is missing. Knowing Christ means experiencing Him through studying God's Word and seeing His power at work, not simply attending church. The sermon adds that knowing Christ is not only for ourselves, but for the whole church. When someone beside us does not know Christ, we must teach them and share what Christ has done in our lives.
Speak the truth in love, as Christ did (15절)
John 1:14 says that the Word who became flesh was full of grace and truth, and Christ never let His love and truth fight each other. He welcomed Zacchaeus, a sinner, with love and went to his home, and he spoke hard truth to the rich young ruler in Luke 18 about giving his wealth to the poor. Love without truth covers up sin, while truth without love wounds the body. The church is often split between a love camp and a truth camp. We must practice speaking the truth earnestly and in love so that the body grows into Christ's likeness.
Stay connected and do not remain observers
The sermon warns that a person who remains only an observer will never grow in Christ. We must connect with one another and relate to each other deeply. The sermon points to a Native American greeting, Mitakuya Oyasin, which means we are all connected, and notes that this tribe has no orphans. Growth in Christ happens as we are meaningfully connected to one another in the body. This requires us to ask one another in love and to keep serving with all our ability.
Apply to Life
- Let us recognize and encourage the gifts God has given to each member of the body, including those who feel they are not needed.
- Let us learn what we believe about Christ so that we can share the content of our faith with others.
- Let us speak the truth in love to one another so that the church grows into the likeness of Christ.
- Let us not remain mere observers but connect deeply with one another and serve with all our ability.
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