Subject: We Support One Another

The Point: God gives the church spiritual gifts to accomplish His work. 

The Passage: Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-16

Study The Bible: Ephesians 4:1-7

1). My calling is to use my God-given spiritual gifts for the unity of the church.

1. Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received,
2. with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
3. making ever effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
4. There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope at your calling –
5. one Lord, on faith, one baptism,
6. one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
7. Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Lasting truths from Ephesians 4:1-7

• Church members work for the benefit of others in the body.
• The qualities that characterized Christ should characterize His body.
• The church should be united in Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13

2). Some people are gifted to equip the church for ministry.

11. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelist, some pastors and teachers,
12. equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
13. until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

Lasting truths from Ephesians 4:11-13

• God has gifted those who serve His church.
• Those who shepherd the church encourage its members to do ministry together.

Ephesians 4:14-16

3). All spiritual gifts are used to help believers grow in Christ, in unity, and in love.

14. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
15. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head – Christ.
16. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Lasting truths from Ephesians 4:14-16

• Gifts properly utilized promote unity and love.
• The body grows as people properly use their gifts.

Live It Out

As you reflect on this session, respond to the following questions:

1. How has others’ giftedness benefited your spiritual growth?
2. How has others’ giftedness brought unity to your church?
3. What would the church look like without unity and love?