Back to the Basics: Training People to Be Like Christ | Ephesians 4:11-16

Main Text: Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Preaching Point: Christ expects each of us to take the corporate pursuit of spiritual growth seriously through training that equips us to use the giftings he provides, under the leaders he appoints, to build up his church.

Teaching Points:

1. Train for Your Spiritual Duties (vv. 11-12)
2. Honestly Evaluate Your Continued Need for Training (v. 13)
3. Train for Ongoing Protection (v. 14)
4. Train for Progressive Christlikeness (vv. 15-16a)
5. Train for Church Growth (v. 16b)