The grown-up Church
The Church is made of unified individuals all selected by God and uniquely gifted to work together under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. To become this, it must be equipped by the authoritative writings of the Apostles and Prophets, the evangelists and it’s pastors, and then every one of it’s members must shoulder the responsibility of doing the work of ministry. It’s our responsibility to grow-up as individuals and grow-out as the unified body of Christ. The key to this growth is truth and love.
Scripture
Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV 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.
Bible Study Questions
The necessity of spiritual maturity
Christ’s appointed leaders are to equip the saints (all Christians) to do the work of ministry. There will be others who oppose this work and Christ’s leaders. Who is it that is at risk of being mislead by these opponents of Jesus Christ?
Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV 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.
2 Peter 2:1-3 ESV But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Jeremiah 17:9 ESV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Matthew 6:11-13 ESV Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Rather not, rather
Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ
We as members of Jesus’ Church are urged to rather “grow up in every way”. What is the alternative state to growing up which we are urged to avoid?
Hebrews 13:9 ESV Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.
James 1:6 ESV But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Jude 1:3-4 ESV Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
What is a grown-up?
Each individual member is expected to mature in their own personal faith under the guidance of the Scriptures, The Holy Spirit and the appointed leaders of the Church. What or who does a mature Christian most resemble?
Ephesians 4:15 ESV Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Romans 8:28-29 ESV And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
What do grown-ups do?
What are the individual members of the Church who are maturing individually, expected to do together?
Ephesians 4:16 ESV 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.
What’s the key to growing up and growing together?
Growing up spiritually will protect us from being thrown around by false teachers. What is the key to attaining this maturity?
Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ
1 John 3:18 ESV Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
John 17:17 ESV Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
1 John 4:7 ESV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Speaking in Truth
Speaking the truth is consistently commanded in Scripture and encompasses many different applications. What is the context of speaking the truth in this passage?
Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ
Mark 1:14-15 ESV Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 2:36-38 ESV Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In Love
Trying to show love without speaking the truth is hypocrisy. Speaking the truth without love is brutal and destructive, what is love in the context of this Scripture?
Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 ESV If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.