HERALD SERIES Part 4 (Discipleship in Community)

Ephesians 4:11-16 Leaders are to equip for the work of ministry (v11-12) Saints are to do the work of Ministry (v12)   THE ONGOING GOAL OF MINISTRY building up the body (v12) in maturity (v13) No longer tossed in the world (v14) conformed in Christ (v15)   THE PROPER WORK OF MINISTRY speaking the truth in love (v15) Laboring properly to build the body up in love  (v16)     THE CHURCH IS OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PASSION, PURPOSE, PEOPLE AND PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF CHRIST!   (1)  Under The Authority Of Christ The Saints Make Disciples, Identified In Christ & Increasing in Obedience To Christ   Matthew 28:18–20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 2 Timothy 2:1–2  You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Colossians 3:12–17 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.   (2)  Each Member Of The Body Is Gifted By The Spirit, In Order To Bring Glory To The Father Through The Work Of Christ!   Romans 12:1–8 a.Together by mercy we present our bodies as a living sacrifice. (v2) b. Together we are transformed  by renewal in mind (learning in teaching) to  test and discern the will of God (learning in doing) (v3) c.  Individually we humble ourselves, think clearly about the faith God has given us d.   We no longer consider ourselves independent  but part of his body, members of one another, mutually dependent. (v4-5) e.     Using our gifts as members of the body for the body. (v6-7)   1 Peter 4:10–11 a.     Each has received a gift to serve one another b.     A gift is a stewardship                                                i.     Gifts used for our own power, pleasure, possession in sin are a perversion of God’s gifts, and can have severe consequence for us. (But will not end the purposes of God)  ( Solomons Good gift 1 Kings 3:5-14, Solomons faithless use 1 Kings 11:1-13 ) c. Speaking and serving by the strength that God supplies for the purpose of God’s glory in Christ!