Equipped

Text: Ephesians 4:12-16

I.               Introduction

A.  The Right Tools

1.    I have a set of tools on the stage today. Some of these tools have a very specific purpose while others can have multiple applications.

2.    This Christmas, I decided to build something for Sally. It wasn’t the hardest project in the world, but if I had not had the right tools it would have been a lot more difficult.

3.    I’ve built things in the past where it took me much longer than it should have simply because I did not have the right tools.

4.    This year, my Sunday morning focus will be on providing you with the tools you need for your spiritual life.

B.  Equipped for Life Theme

1.    For 2025, our theme is Equipped for Life

2.    God has provided tools to equip us to live in this world.

3.    Some are basic, everyday tools that we need; tools of knowledge.

4.    Some are more advanced tools; they are tools with specific purposes, like tools for how to be a faithful Christian in the workplace, how to develop a Chrisitan home, etc.

5.    All of these tools are important.

6.    This year, we’ll examine how the Christian can live a full, purposeful life in service to the Lord.

7.    Our theme passage this year will be Ephesians 4:12-16

C.  Background on Ephesians

1.    In chapter 1, Paul gives us insight into the spiritual blessings we have in Christ and His church.

2.    Chapter 2 is Paul’s focuses on helping the Ephesians understand God’s plan to restore the original unity of God’s creation through Christ. In Christ, the Jew and Gentile have become one new creation (2:15).[1]

3.    Chapter 2 reminds us that the church, the dwelling place of God, is still being built up – the work is not done. Our passage this year focuses on how that building process works best.

4.    In chapter 3, we learn that the church is the unveiling of the “mystery” of God to redeem all mankind and to bring unity to God’s people.

5.    Chapter 4

a.    Verses 1-6 calls us to unity through the seven ones

b.    Verses 7-16 call us to maturity

6.    This year, our goal will be to become better equipped to handle life so that we finish the year looking more like Christ, than like the world.

II.            Equipped

A.  for His Church[2]

1.   

a.    The seven ones provide a good, basic blueprint of the essential truths that we need to understand what it means to be in Christ.

b.    These ones help us appreciate all that God has done for us in Christ.

c.    They show us how to maintain unity in a world of divisiveness.

2.   

a.    Ultimately, we aim to think, act, and speak more like Jesus.

b.    Immaturity in the church leads to division and strife.

c.    We need to continue growing in the faith no matter our age.

d.    Paul reminds us that we cannot stay children in the faith because we will be tossed to and fro by deceitful schemes.

e.    As we mature, we begin to find purpose.

3.  

a.    Temptations and trials come in all forms. They can change depending on the season of life, but they never leave us alone.

b.    Paul reminds us that storms will come and we must prepare now for those storms.

B.  of His Church

1.   

a.    In chapter two, we are reminded that we are being built into a dwelling place for God.

b.    In Peter’s first epistle, we learn that each of us is a stone in that building, a part of the priesthood of the church. (1 Peter 2:4-5).

c.    For the church to grow, there must be growth in each one of us individually.

d.    Illustration: I mentioned at the beginning of my lesson that each of these tools has an important role. It’s been designed to perform some specific task. Each of us has something that this congregation needs. If we use it to help the church, growth happens in the body. If not, growth can be frustrated and halted.

2.   

a.    When each of us grows individually, the church grows collectively.

b.    Colossians 2:19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

c.    Later in this letter, Paul talks about the armor of God.

d.    Everything we’re studying this year is to help us secure that armor so that we can face the wars that wage against us.

III.         Conclusion

A.  Challenged

1.    My hope and goal is that we will all be challenged to live more purposeful lives for Christ.

2.    If we will use the tools God has given us to build His houe, we will succeed.

3.    It won’t always be comfortable; growth never is, but it is worth it.

B.  Invitation

1.    One of the most important tools God gave us is His Word.

2.    In it is the blueprint for how to make sure you are in Christ.

3.    This morning, do you need to change something? Do you need to equip yourself with Christ?