Speaking Truth in Love

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. Read through Eph 4:11-16 and reflect. What part of this passage seems to stand out to you most?

2. According to this verse, who does the "work of the ministry" in the church? Why do you think it has become so common to assume that "ministry" is only done by paid professionals? What are the benefits of that perspective? And what are the downsides?

3. What are some consequences for us, as Christians, if we do not participate in the body, and therefore not mature?

4. In light of verse 14, what kind of "truth" does Paul envision us speaking to one another? Very practically, what does that look like? Do we all need to be able to preach sermons to each other?

5. What are some examples of speaking the truth, but not "in love"?

6. What is the connection between our schedules/time and obeying this verse?

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. 15 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. - Eph 4:11-16

God gives teachers to the church (Eph 4:11).

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

• Eph 4:7-8

(long parenthetical comment in vs. 9-10 about what it means for Christ to “descend” and “ascend”)

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,”

• These four offices are the gifts that Jesus gives after His ascension. He is no longer here bodily, but He gives gifts to the church to sustain them in His absence.
  • There are many lists of “spiritual gifts” in the NT. The gifts are vast and various and are supernatural gifting given by God for the needs of the church—they can be as sensational as the gift of miraculous healings, to as ordinary as the gift of administration or help. But this is unique in that these four gifts listed here all share one common denominator: they all are those who speak God’s Word.
• Who are the “apostles and prophets”? “…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,” (Eph 2:20)
  • Those who have a unique, divinely given gift to not only explain God’s word, but to give God’s Word via special revelation. These gifts are no longer operative in the church today, but have ceased.
• “Evangelist” is simply one who preaches the gospel. This term is used only twice in the NT besides here: to describe Philip (Acts 21:8) and Timothy (2 Tim 4:5). It could refer to someone who has been uniquely called to travel around sharing the gospel. Or just someone uniquely gifted to preach the gospel.
• Pastor-teacher (Reminder: “elder” “pastor” and “overseer” are all used interchangeably for the same office in the church)
  • A pastor is a teacher and a teacher should be a pastor.
  • The one technical qualification of an elder: “able to teach”
    • Scott, Eddy, George, and Aaron all are teachers.
    • We want to see more teachers and men who have the ambition to serve as elders raised up.
  • Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. - 1 Tim 5:17
    • What sets me apart as the “teaching pastor” is that I am paid for my work (as is Aaron).

Who equip the saints to do the work of the ministry (Eph 4:12)

“to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,”

• The work of the ministry is not something you hire out. You do not come to church to watch me do the work of the ministry. If you meet with Aaron for counseling, or sit under Eddy’s leadership of our prayer gathering, or take George out to lunch to ask him a question, or have Scott come to your house for a home visit—you are not, strictly speaking, seeing the work of the ministry. You are, rather, receiving the pastoral care and Biblical teaching to equip you to do the work of the ministry.
• To be a member of the church is to be a minister.
  • Think of your pastors in this church like fitness instructors. You come to see how we lift the weights, do the stretches, demonstrate the movement. But the whole point of attending the fitness class is so that you would do the exercise. How strange would it be to go to a fitness course only to watch an instructor exercise, and then go home?
  • Why we are congregationalists. The members of the church hold the keys of the kingdom, the pastors do not. We give instruction and teaching on how those keys should be used, but your pastors cannot use them alone.
• Before we define anything further, this should put a sense of importance on how you think about the role of your pastors in your life. You have a ministry, a calling on your life. And God has put your pastors in your life to help equip you do that. And the most important thing your pastors do to accomplish that, alongside prayer, is to teach you God’s Word.
  • Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. - Heb 13:7
• What can you do to assist your pastors in doing so? Lean in to the church. Gather every Sunday for our corporate worship. Attend our prayer gatherings and discipleship classes which take place before this service. Make yourself available for pastoral care and home visits. Approach us when you have questions about something. Pray for us and for your own reception of the equipping ministry of the Word.
  • Do not let a podcast become your pastor. Do not let YouTube become the functional authority in your life. No, we will not be as skilled or interesting as your favorite internet preacher, but your pastors are charged with keeping watch over your souls—and John Piper and Tim Keller are not.
  • Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. - Heb 13:17

The work of the ministry: Building up the body of Christ till we all look like Jesus (Eph 4:13)

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, - Eph 4:13

• The goal of our ministry to one another: that we all are unified around our shared faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
  • If you’re not a Christian and you are visiting us this morning, I wonder what you think it is that unites a church together? Perhaps a shared set of politics? A similar family background? Education, or income, or ethnicity?
    • The inmate who is serving a life sentence, but has repented of his sins and asked Jesus for forgiveness, is more united to the Christian homeschool mom than the Christian homeschool mom is to her mormon homeschool neighbor.
  • Jesus Christ is the foundation of the unity of our church. Not our shared stages of life, not our tastes in culture or entertainment, not our background or education or income or age.
  • Let the gigantic truths of the gospel be what draws us towards one another.
• Our knowledge and faith produce in us Christlikeness.
  • The sermon from last week: God’s Word should produce change in us. Faith produces works.
  • But we are to do this to one another. We are to help build one another up so that we work to collectively shape us.
  • How??? We will get there, but first…

What happens if we don’t? We remain children, easily deceived (Eph 4:14)

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.

• We do not drift into truth by accident.
• The community of the church is like the immune system of the soul.
• exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. - Heb 3:13

How do we do it? Speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15)

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

• Speak Truth—contrast with the false doctrine of the previous verse.
  • We are creatures of the Word. Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of Christ.
  • Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom - Col 3:16
  • I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. - Rom 15:14
  • We must know God’s Word! Your Bible reading, and sermon listening, and study is not just for you. You cannot give what you do not have.
  • We must be willing to correct.
    • Faithful are the wounds of a friend, profuse are the kisses of an enemy - Prov 27:6
  • But 90% of speaking truth in love is encouragement, not correction.
• Love—the truck of truth can be a heavy load. The bridge of love must be even stronger to bear the load.
  • Speaking truth in spite or in frustration isn’t love.
    • Parents, spouses, a note on correcting
  • To love we must know each other. Make time for each other. Practice hospitality! Not every interaction needs to be corrective or formative, we just need to be able to hang out, laugh, and have fun.

What is the result? The body grows so that it builds itself up in love (Eph 4:16)

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.

What can you do?

• Be equipped
• Know your mission
• Invest in relationships
• Speak the truth

When you serve in nursery, you are contributing to this, because you are freeing up the young parents to listen to the sermon.

When you faithfully attend your discipleship group and choose to show up with an eagerness to give rather than a “what does this have for me?” attitude.

When you hang around after our service and greet guests and friends, but also other members you haven’t gotten to know yet.

When you invite someone out to lunch or over for dinner.

When you read your Bible in the morning, come to church, attend our prayer gatherings and discipleship classes, and meet with your pastors.

When you encourage and correct.