Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Ephesians 4:1-16
Ephesians 4:1-16Holman
Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)Unity and
Diversity in the Body of Christ4 Therefore
I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you
have received,2 with all humility and gentleness,
with patience, accepting[a] one
another in love, 3 diligently keeping the
unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. 4 There
is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope[b] at
your calling— 5 one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who
is above all and through all and in all.
7 Now grace
was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s
gift. 8 For it says:
When He
ascended on high,
He took prisoners into captivity;[c]
He gave gifts to people.[d]9 But what
does “He ascended” mean except that He[e] descended
to the lower parts of the earth?[f]10 The One
who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that
He might fill[g] all
things. 11 And He personally gave some to be
apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for
the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of
Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith
and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a
stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then
we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by
every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques
of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let
us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. 16 From
Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament,
promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the
proper working of each individual part.
Questions:1.
How is Paul a prisoner of the Lord?
A. If you
are a prisoner are you in charge? No, so Paul is saying that the Lord is in
control of him.
2.
What does it mean to be above all, and through all, and in all?
A. He is
omnipresent and omniscient.
3.
What gifts is Paul talking about?
A. I don’t
know, but….Grace and salvation, spiritual gifts
4.
What is your role in your Christian life?
A. ??????
5.
What do all these people do? Teachers, prophets, evangelists, and
pastors?
A.6. What does verse 14 mean? A. Group7. How do you tell the truth in love? A. Group