Back to the Basics: Training People to Serve 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, 13until 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, 16from 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)

Application Questions:

1. Write down one observation or application you found helpful from this week’s sermon.
2. Read Ephesians 4:11-12 and Matthew 28:19-20. How are you doing at training for the work of ministry and building up the body of Christ?
3. Where do you need to step it up in your training and participation to more effectively partner with your church family to make disciples?
4. Read Ephesians 4:12-14 and Ephesians 6:10-18. According to these verses what is at stake if you lack or neglect training for spiritual maturity?
5. On the other hand, how can you envision yourself advancing and persevering in your faith through ongoing training in your spiritual life?
6. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Timothy 4:7-10 and Philippians 1:6. How does understanding the synergistic relationship between you and the Holy Spirit empower you to train hard for progressive Christlikeness?
7. Read 2 Timothy 2:2 and Acts 9:31. God expects his church to grow and multiply. How are you partnering with your church to grow and multiply the ministry of Christ?
8. Our 8th distinctive is, “We are always working to plant new churches.” Multiplying leaders is essential to this mission. Where are you currently serving, and how can you take your next step in leadership, so we can equip someone to replace you, as you replace those we prepare to plant new churches?