Wednesday Study Material
Jan 18, 2012
Walk in Unity
"Out of Control and Loving It"
Ephesians 4:1-16
I. The believer is to walk worthy of his calling. (vs. 1-6)
1. The way to walk worthy:
with lowliness, meekness, longsuffering and with love. (vs.1-2)
2. The purpose of walking worthy: to keep unity, to keep peace. (v. 3)
3. The basic reasons we walk worthy is believers are one in: (vs. 4-6)
Body: the fellowship of believers; The Church.
Spirit: the Holy Spirit, who activates the fellowship.
Hope: that glorious future to which we are called.
Lord: Christ, to whom we all belong.
Faith: our singular commitment to Christ.
Baptism: the outward sign of an inward commitment. The
sign of identifying with the Church.
God: God, who is our Father who keeps us for eternity.
Many times believers are separated because of minor differences in doctrine.
But Paul here shows those areas where Christians must agree to attain true
unity. When believers have this unity of spirit, petty differences should never
be allowed to dissolve that unity.
II. The believer is to walk by using his gifts. (vs. 7-16)
1. Every believer is gifted. (v. 7)
2. Every believer's gift has cost the greatest possible price. (vs. 8-10)
a. The great cost: the death of Christ and His descending into
the lower parts of the earth.
b. The great results: that Christ might fill all things heaven,
earth, universe with His presence; even us.
3. Every believer's gift is Christ-centered. "and He gave":
Christ gave us our gifts. (v. 11)
4. Every believer's gift should be used for Christ and has a threefold purpose. (vs. 12-16)
a. An immediate purpose: to equip others.
b. An eternal purpose: to become a perfect man like Christ.
c. A personal purpose:
* to no longer be children; immature.
* to grow in all things; mature.
* to do my part in building up the church.