The Keys to a Fit Church
Ephesians 4:16
Intro: One of the most misunderstood and neglected doctrines in the Bible is the doctrine of the church.
And the doctrine of the church is one of the most important doctrines in the Bible.
There are many important doctrines; in fact all of them are important.
But if a person doesn’t understand the church, and more importantly, their role in it, it creates a huge problem.
The Church is the Body of Christ. This doctrine is repeated often in the New Testament.
· 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
· Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church:
Paul mentioned the “body” in 1:23 and in 5:23, 30.
The word BODY is found in chapter 4 four times (vs. 4, 12 and 16)
In chapter 4, we find:
A. The Particulars of the Body – vs. 4-6
B. The Perfecting of the Body – vs. 12 “…for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
C. The Partnering of the Body – vs. 16a “…the whole body fitly joined together…”
D. The Progressing of the Body – vs. 16c “…making increase of the body…”
I. The Church that is Situated Together
We find this word “fitly” used several times in the book of Ephesians to describe the unity and plan for the church.
Ephesians 2
· 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
· 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
· 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
· 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
We find it again in chapter 4, verse 19.
“Fitly joined together” and “fitly framed together” is the same Greek word sunarmologeo soon-ar-mol-og-eh’-o:
· to join closely together
· to frame together
· 2a) parts of a building
· 2b) the members of the body
Paul places an incredible amount of emphasis on the importance of UNITY.
· Ephesians 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
One of the key words in this verse is the word COMPACTED.
· to cause to coalesce, to join together, put together; to unite or knit together: in affection
1 Corinthians 12
· 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
· 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
· 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
II. The Church with Scriptural Teaching - vs 11; 20, 21
· Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
A church that is fit will have a strong teaching ministry.
· Here at Calvary Baptist Church, we place a lot of emphasis on the teaching.
· We are re-vamping our Sunday School ministry. Raising the bar.
· We are halfway through our second year of the SureWord Baptist College.
· We have weekly Discipleship classes with our new coverts and new members.
We start the day every morning in our Christian School with Bible Class.
The Great Commission clearly gives the church the mandate to “teach them to observe all things.”
One of the qualifications of the New Testament pastor is that he be “apt to teach.”
When Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he reminded of them of what they had been taught.
Ephesians 4
· 20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
· 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Paul testified to the church at Ephesus in Acts 20 that he had made teaching a huge priority.
Acts 20
· 17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
· 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
· 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
· 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
· 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
· 35 I have shewed you all things,
III. The Church with Strong Teamwork - vs 12
A fit church has a strong nucleus of workers that strive to accomplish the plan of God.
The church was given a job; a duty; a commission.
Jesus clearly told His disciples: “Occupy till I come.” (Luke 19:13)
Jesus set the example as a twelve-year-old boy:
· Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
A church that is fit is a church that has been equipped for THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.”
A fit church is full of workers.
A fit church is full of servants.
A fit church is full of ministering hands and ministering hearts.
One goal; one agenda; one purpose – to accomplish the work of the ministry.
IV. The Church that Seeks Truth - vs 13-15A church that does not make the truth a major priority is not a biblical church.
One of the key components of a biblical church is a group of people that place a high premium on truth.
We are not interested in political correctness.
We are not concerned with fitting in with the woke, liberal ideology of modern day churches.
For us to be fit, we must have a passion for the truth.
A. The Measure of the Truth
· 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
B. The Maturing of the Truth
· 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
C. The Message of the Truth
· 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
· 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
· 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour:
V. The Church that Shows Tenderness - vs 16Paul placed a lot of emphasis on the importance of loving one another.
· 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
· 15 But speaking the truth in love…
· 16 …maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
A church full of division is not fit.
A church full of fighting is not fit.
A church with debating, strife, discord and contention is not fit.
It doesn’t matter how strong the preaching is.
It doesn’t matter how solid the teaching is.
It doesn’t matter how much truth you’re exposed to.
It doesn’t matter how much work you’re involved in.
If you and I do not love one another, it is all a complete waste of time!!
God said it like this in 1 Corinthians 13:
· 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
· 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
· 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
VI. The Church with a Sanctified Testimony - vs 17-32
The rest of this chapter details the godly and sanctified character of a “fit” body of Christ.
Our Sanctification will be evident by:
A. What we PUT IN – vs. 17-21
B. What we PUT OFF – vs. 22
C. What we PUT ON – vs. 23, 24
D. What we PUT AWAY – vs. 25-31
E. What we PUT UP with – vs. 32
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