Gifts for Building Up the Church
In this passage Paul addresses both the growth of the body as well as the growth of the individual.
Ephesians 4:7-16 NLT
7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. 10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 4:7-16 NLT
Gifts for Building Up the Church
7 However,
Previously in this chapter, Paul discussed the unity in the church.
We were reminded that all believers have a lot in common:
One Spirit, one Lord, one God, one body, one hope, one faith, and one baptism.
Now Paul discusses the diversity of gifts in the church.
he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.
God gives each believer a special gift to be used for building up the church.
God does not give each believer the same gift.
1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
Romans 12:6 NLT
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. …
1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT
11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
- God gives each believer a special gift to be used for building up the church.
We do not choose our spiritual gifts.
8 That is why the Scriptures say, (Psalm 68 NLT)
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
Similar to:
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NLT
14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.
The imagery is that of a Roman triumph in which the victorious general would lead his soldiers and the captives they had taken in procession through the streets of Rome, while the people watched and applauded and the air was filled with the sweet smell released by the burning of spices in the streets.
A military victor has the right to give gifts to those who are identified with him.
Christ, the Victor, having captivated sinful people by redeeming them, has the right to give them to the church as gifts.
9 Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world.
John 1:14 NLT
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Philippians 2:6-8 NLT
6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (and was buried)
10 And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Acts 1:9-11 NLT
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
Acts 2:33 NLT
33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.
After completing His work on earth, Christ is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand.
- Jesus Christ has both the authority and ability to give gifts to His church.
- With the gifts given to us by God and with the power of the Holy Spirit we are equipped to do the work God planned for us to do.
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church:
In his letters, Paul has different lists of God’s gifts. None of these lists are comprehensive.
- Here the focus of gifts is on the gifts of leadership most needed for the growth of the church.
the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Apostles were the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to be with him and whom he commissioned and sent out to preach. (Proclaim the gospel, establish churches, and teach sound doctrine.)
Prophets communicate God’s will to His people.
Evangelists proclaim the Good News.
Pastors (shepherds) care for God’s people.
Teachers expound Scripture and God’s truth.
12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers do not do all the work themselves. They train the people to do the work of the church. They equip the people to communicate God’s will to others, proclaim the good news, care for God’s people, and expound Scripture and God’s truth to others.
We are being equipped to equip others.
- Our responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church.
A challenge from Romans 12:6-8:
Romans 12:6-8 NLT
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
- Unity in our faith and maturity in the Lord are two essential goals for the body of Christ.
This is an ongoing ministry which will continue until Christ returns and takes us home.
When we are properly equipped:
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
- Mature Christians are able to discern and resist false teaching.
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love,
- We are being equipped to speak the truth in love.
We dare not depart from or compromise the truth.
Communication is most effective when the truth is proclaimed in love.
growing in every way more and more like Christ,
Sanctification.
who is the head of his body, the church.
16 He (Christ) makes the whole body fit together perfectly.
- Christ, the head of the body, makes the whole body fit together perfectly.
Colossians 2:19 NLT
19 …. For he (Christ, the head of the body) holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
As each part does its own special work,
- Each part of the body has an important role.
it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
- When each part of the body does its own special work, the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
1 Peter 4:10 NLT
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
