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