Asbury Church

This is a rich passage. The source of our unity is the grace of Jesus Christ which was given to us freely. We must always begin with Jesus. However, Jesus calls each of us to “orthodoxy” (right doctrine) and “orthopraxy” (right practice). To help us build up the body of Christ, His church, He has given us gifts. The gifts help the church, not as an end to itself, but as a means to reach the world for Christ. The church does not function like a bus, with a driver (the pastor) and passive passengers (church members), but like the human body where we all have a distinct function. Every Christian should be involved in the ministry of the church somewhere. The church becomes “ours” when we get involved. There is a place and need for everyone.

Maturity is stressed here. No church ever reaches maturity because the church should always be birthing spiritual infants. The church has a wide range from the mature “spiritual redwoods” to babies in Christ.

The five groups he lists (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) all have distinct functions and purposes but are unified with the same goal—to help others follow Jesus.

Paul uses the word “one” seven times in Ephesians 4:4-6. Thus, “oneness” is crucial to the Lord and His church. While the word “trinity” does not appear in the Bible, the concept is frequent (beginning in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’—using the plural rather than the singular pronoun). Jesus called God “Father,” but God is not a male with human-type anatomy. God is Spirit. God transcends gender. While God is not male, the Bible uses a masculine term to make God personal. As the hymn goes, “God in three persons, blessed trinity.” God the Son, and God the Spirit (the Greek word for Spirit is feminine) are all used in our text. Note the emphasis on the unity of the Godhead—three in one. What is known of the godhead is what the Spirit wants us to embody in Jesus’ church: unity. Certainly, one of the most important passages and a vital prayer in Judaism is the “Shema” from Deuteronomy 6:4 (shema is the Hebrew word for “hear”): “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Love prompts unity; unity promotes love, not division. God is love. God is three-in-one. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 goes on: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” The result of love is action: “You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

“Oneness” was critically important to Jesus in His prayer in John 17. Note the final verse (26) emphasizes love: “that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Love was essential to the maturity and mission of the church.

One of the biggest disappointments for Christians in the western world is the lack of mission and godly ambition. We naturally gravitate toward this secular worldview: “What’s in it for me? What do I get out of it?” This is how infants and children think. No wonder Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)

Salvation is both personal and missional. Salvation is from the Lord, but we have to receive it. Paul talks about salvation in personal terms in Ephesians 2:1-9, but he emphasizes that our salvation must result in “good works.” We must sequence this properly. We do not work for our salvation, but we do work it out.

Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. He expects all His disciples to do ministry. His followers are on mission. Our gifts and blessings are not merely for us—we are sent to others.

We do not have to understand all scripture before we start applying it. Be proactive. Do what you can do with what you have.

Everyone needs correction because we all sin. We are self-centered and self-absorbed. Jesus followers are not immune from egotism and narcissism. We prefer not to hear it, but it benefits us when lovingly told the truth. Scripture is full of some classic reproofs. King Hezekiah was a “good king,” but he was full of pride. He showed off “his” treasures to the enemy and took credit for success that was not his. The consequences were catastrophic for the next generations, but Hezekiah greeted the news with a nonchalant attitude. This is the “Hezekiah Syndrome.”

In chapter seven of his excellent book, “Necessary Endings,” Dr. Henry Cloud describes the three types of people: wise, foolish and evil. Wise people seek reproof and correction. Foolish and evil people avoid responsibility. Adam and Eve, after surrendering to temptation, denied personal responsibility and blamed the serpent, each other, and God.

The Word of God is also profitable for training in righteousness. While reproof and correction are disciplinary, training in righteousness seems more positive. Growing Christians embrace new patterns of attitude and behavior so we can influence more people to follow Jesus.

We all need to learn so we can grow. When we love the subject matter, learning is enjoyable. I’m reminded of the Paul Simon song, “Kodachrome,” when he recalled all the stuff he had to learn in high school and concludes, “… it’s a wonder I can think at all.” I remember intentionally trying to forget the material after some tests in college classes. In my immaturity, I thought it might waste space in my brain. It was trivial information to me. Since it had no application, I was not motivated. My spirit was not teachable in these classes. My attitude was, “What’s the least amount of work I have to do to pass this class?” I believe “Humility is the essential virtue; pride is the essential vice.” A teachable spirit opens doors to growth and opportunity. A teachable spirit unites. It recognizes that: I do not know it all. I need others to help me grow.

Not only do we need to learn, but we also need to teach. This philosophy aligns with our mission statement of Helping Others Follow Jesus. It’s not enough just for us to follow Jesus, but we should be helping others follow, too. We can teach the scriptures to others in a wide variety of ways. Parents have a great opportunity to be teaching their kids. If we don’t teach children God’s Word, they will learn from other things that are often opposed to the teachings and tradition of the Christian faith.

“Inspired” literally means “breathed into.” We believe God divinely influenced the writers of the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. About 40 different authors wrote the books of the Bible over approximately 1,500 years. They wrote in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic on three different continents (Asia, Africa and Europe), yet it has amazing unity. The books of the Bible do not always present its characters in the most flattering light. Many of its prophecies have already been fulfilled (others are not completed yet). Archaeology cannot prove the Bible is true, as that is beyond its ability, but it does show these are not mythological books. Thus, the Bible is unique. The doctrine of inspiration stresses the authority of Scripture for Christians.

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he was referring to what we call the “Old Testament” or the “Hebrew Scriptures.” Paul wrote the bulk of the New Testament. His letters were accepted by the early church. Nobody knows for certain the exact dates, but Paul’s writings were early.

The Bible can be hard to understand, but we can break it down in simple terms. We have The Bible in Five Words: Creation, Fall, Israel, Jesus, Church. The overall purpose of the Bible is redemption.

The resurrection of Jesus is the single most transformative event since creation. How can a dead man return to life, walk through walls, eat, disappear, yet appear perfectly normal? How could a doubtful disciple, Thomas, put his hand into Jesus’ side and touch the piercing on Jesus’ resurrected body? How could Jesus ascend to heaven? How did terrified disciples become bold witnesses of Jesus? I have more questions than answers, but if I could explain everything I would not need to worship. There is mystery here.

The context of Acts 2:29-33 is the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples and the church was born. Pentecost excited and empowered the disciples. Pentecost confused and bewildered outsiders (they thought the disciples were drunk). The cowardly denier, Peter, who had feared arrest as a follower of Jesus, became a new man. Full of the Holy Spirit, he preached the first sermon in the history of the church. Peter explained the good news. When asked what they could do, Peter said, “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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (Acts 2:38-39).

“Getting old ain’t for sissies” is true. I don’t minimize the problems of aging but getting old wasn’t the concern of the early Christians. Jesus’ big three disciples are all mentioned in Acts 12:1-5. James, the brother of John, was beheaded, Peter imprisoned. What did the church do? They prayed. How did they pray? With “earnest prayer.” So much of our prayer time is for the sick. That is biblical. We are told to do that. However, mortality is 100 percent. All of us die eventually. I am not cavalier about aging or death. We experience loss and grief in both. However, we must remember our mission: Helping Others Follow Jesus. Trouble follows when we get off mission and become earthbound rather than seeking the kingdom of God. On the night Jesus was arrested, He prayed earnestly in Gethsemane that this cup could pass from Him (Mark 14:32-42). Paul gave the Ephesians great instructions on prayer: “… praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me …” (Ephesians 6:18- 19). He told the Thessalonians: “… we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith …” (1 Thessalonians 3:10). James describes how Elijah was a righteous man who prayed fervently, with the admonition to us to do the same. The writer of Hebrews (6:11-12) has an application for us too: “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Yearning (“longing, craving, hunger, thirst, ache”) is our intense desire when separated from someone or something we love. Like a dehydrated deer, David “pants,” or yearns for God (Psalm 42). He is weary, exhausted, anxious and perplexed. Many of the Psalms speak of being parched, thirsty, dry and gasping. Paul yearns to be with his friends (Philippians 1:8). During hardship, he built strong bonds with the new believers there. He linked “yearn” with “affection of Christ Jesus” (verse 8). He had great affection for the Philippians. He seemed nostalgic as he reflected on “the good ol’ days” (was being thrown into the Philippian prison “the good ol’ days?”). Acts 16 is this story. He had affection for the Thessalonians, too: “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20).

Indifference, sloth, apathy, disinterest and a lack of sympathy are the opposites of yearning. It’s the danger of the lukewarm heart (“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17). It is easy (natural) to grow cold in the faith. Following Jesus is NOT about emotion—it is about affection