Pastor Steve Massey- “God’s Glorious Church: The Life of Christ’s People” 04/26/2026

Union with Christ means union with His people. This blood-bought unity is precious and worthy of protection and care. "... Walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called...," Ephesians 4:1 (LSB). Last Sunday, we saw what Christ has made His church to be: one body with many diverse members, committed to one another. This Lord's Day, we'll turn to Ephesians to see how the body is called to live together. Unity is not created by the church—it's a gift from the Spirit of God, powerful in its source yet fragile in our hands. This oneness runs deeper than shared preferences and affection. We live worthy of our calling as we relate to one another "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," Ephesians 4:2-3. These unity-preserving virtues are vital to the church functioning as one body. They ensure that each member's diverse gifts contribute to our maturity in Christ and our witness to the world. By God's design, our unity is not anchored to feelings alone, but to truth, so that Scripture shapes not only what we believe, but how we relate to one another. I hope you'll join us this Sunday as we continue our short series on "God's Glorious Church," and consider "The Life of Christ's People." Get ready: Read and meditate on Ephesians 4:1-16. What is the calling Paul refers to in verse 1? Which commands in verses 2 and 3 are internal? Which are relational? According to verses 13-16, what is the ultimate goal of the church's growth? Where might Christ be calling you to step more fully into your role in the body? Ask yourself: Am I living