SERMON NOTES
EPHESIANS 4:11-16 (NLT)
“(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.”
PRIORITIZE YOUR LOCAL CHURCH
- The local church isn’t just a place we attend or a box we check. It’s a community of people who keep showing up, learning to follow Jesus together, building one another up, and bringing glory to God.
- The leaders of the church are called to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the Body of Christ.
JOIN A SMALL GROUP
- You can’t discover what you can contribute if you never allow yourself to be known.
- Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)
- The people we consistently allow into our lives influence how we think, what we value, and the kind of people we become.
FIND A MENTOR
- Pay attention to the people who help you become more like Jesus. And don’t be afraid to initiate the relationship.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
- Seeing Potential in Others: Think about a time when someone believed in you, encouraged you, or saw something in you that you couldn’t see in yourself. How did that person help shape you? How might God want to use you to encourage someone else?
- Growing Together: Ephesians 4 describes the church as a body that grows as each part does its work. Why do you think it can be difficult to let ourselves be known by others? What helps a small group become a place where people can be honest, supported, and challenged to grow in Jesus?
- Taking a Next Step: We grow in wisdom by walking with wise people and inviting others to speak into our lives. Which of these areas could use more attention in your life right now: prioritizing your local church, connecting with a small group, or finding a mentor? What is one practical step you could take this week?
SERMON AUDIO
