Preacher: Jeremy Herbert
Text: Ephesians 4:1-15
Theme: We Are Better Together
Thesis: God has called us to experience spiritual health together in a local church family.
Notes:
- Loving Unity
- 4:2, Unity among believers isn’t just a future “in heaven” thing
- Unity is possible here on earth, in each local body, because of Christ’s sacrifice
- Christ died not for persons–but for a people
- Our local gathering of God’s people is a microcosmic visible picture of God’s universal, invisible church
- We meet on Sunday as a reflection of the early church meeting on Sunday to celebrate Christ’s resurrection
- Acts 16
- Acts 20
- Justin Martyr, 150 AD
- Required attitudes to create unity:
- Lowliness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, bearing with one another in love
- Grace-Empowered Ministry
- 4:7, Every believer is equipped with spiritual gifts by Christ’s victory over sin & death
- The purpose of each gift is service to and in the local church body
- Christ-Centered Maturity
- We all grow together
- Just as a body’s health is dependent on each part being healthy, so it is with a local church
Live It Out
- Commit yourself to the spiritual health of your church family through ministry and maturity
- Commit to building unity in your church family through faithfully gathering and fellowshipping with them
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