Ephesians: A Worthy Walk
Background: For the next month, we will be studying the Book of Ephesians, a letter Paul wrote while he was in jail in Rome, awaiting his first trial. Ephesus was one of his best churches, and he spent a lot of time there on his missionary journeys. The church likely planted the other churches of Asia Minor that Jesus referenced in Revelation 2-3.
Ephesians is easily outlined. Chapters 1-3 speak of the great salvation we have in Christ, which comes by grace through faith alone. Then, 4:1 is the turning point, where Paul admonishes them to "walk worthy of the calling you have received." We cannot be worthy of Christ's salvation - it is a gift of grace. But having received it, we can then, by the Spirit's power, WALK worthy. Chapters 4-6 describe the worthy walk. This is a favorite template for Paul. He develops a doctrine then applies it practically.
As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage.
Today's Reading: Ephesians 1-6 Focus Passage - Ephesians 4:11-13
11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip 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.
Through the Bible Readings: Isaiah 43-44, 1 Corinthians 16, Psalm 106:21–27, Proverbs 23:4–5
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Equipping the Saints
As in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, Paul here, in verse 11, lists a series of ministries that illustrate his principle of diversity that builds unity in the Body of Christ - sometimes called the Body-life principle. Each list is a little different. Romans is specifically a list of gifts for the Body of Christ, while Paul calls the list in 1 Corinthians "manifestations" - ways the Spirit makes his presence known. The distinctions may or may not be technical. Here, Paul is listing leadership positions over the Body of Christ and there seems to be a chronological component to this listing. The Apostles founded the church and were not an ongoing office. The prophets revealed God's word (and whether that office is ongoing is the subject of many arguments). Evangelists carried the Gospel to the ends of the earth and pastor-teachers led the churches they founded.
In verse 12, we see the key to church life, and one of the reasons many churches struggle. Much damage was done by an unfortunate placement of a comma in the King James Version. After listing the offices in verse 11, it said, "...for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." This made it seems as though leaders had three jobs. They were to "perfect the saints," bringing them to spiritual maturity, they were to accomplish the work of the ministry, and they were to build up the Body of Christ. This incorrect and unfortunate punctuation led to the idea of "do-it-all" clergy, or as my dad said, "hired holy men" who did the ministry for the people.
The text is actually very clear in what it actually means. God called leaders in the church to equip the saints (a word that describes EVERY believer) so that the saints (church members) would perform the work of the ministry and thereby build up the Body of Christ. The church is built up when people do the ministry (the word simply means service). The work of the leadership is to equip them.
A friend of my dad's told a story once. He's a very well known pastor, but I do not know if he's told this story publicly, so I will withhold his name. A member of his church called him and said, "Pastor, my neighbor has been asking questions about the faith and I believe he is very close to trusting Christ. Will you come over, speak to him, and try to lead him to Christ?" What the pastor said next stunned the man. "Sir, your neighbor will die and go to hell before I come over there and lead him to Christ." After the member's pulse started again, he added this. "I will come over and spend as much time with you as you need so that you will know what you need to say. I will teach and train you to go over and talk to your neighbor, but I will not do your work for you."
That seems shocking, but isn't that what verses 11 and 12 are saying? It is up to the leaders to teach and train, not to DO all the ministry. The church suffers because it things that ministry is something the pastors do, instead of realizing that it is something the pastors train the people to do.
Father, help me to serve you faithfully, and to train your people to do the work of the ministry.
Think and Pray:
Do you see yourself as a minister, a servant of Jesus Christ?
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