Moving Forward in Faith: Embracing Our Calling

Devotional

Day 1: Living as Prisoners of Christ

Our identity as prisoners of Christ means we are called to live lives worthy of our calling. This involves humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Being a prisoner of Christ is about being fully surrendered to His will, living a life that reflects His character and purpose. This surrender is not about losing freedom but about gaining true freedom in Christ. It means allowing Christ to lead and guide every aspect of our lives, trusting that His plans are better than our own. [24:57]

Ephesians 4:1-2 (ESV): "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: Receiving Grace and Gifts

Each believer receives grace and gifts from Christ, apportioned according to His will. These gifts are meant for the edification of the church, not for personal glory. Understanding that our gifts are given for the benefit of the body helps us to avoid jealousy and to appreciate the unique roles we each play. When we recognize that our gifts are from Christ, we can use them selflessly to serve others and build up the church. This perspective shifts our focus from self-centeredness to community-centeredness, fostering unity and love within the body of Christ. [42:56]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: Think of a specific gift or talent you have. How can you use this gift to serve and build up your church community this week?

Day 3: Developing into Maturity

Spiritual maturity involves moving from infancy to adulthood in our faith. This means we are no longer swayed by every new teaching but are grounded in the truth. Maturity enables us to discern between what is right and wrong, allowing us to engage in ministry effectively. As we grow in our faith, we become more stable and resilient, able to withstand challenges and false teachings. This growth is a continuous process that requires intentional effort, study of the Word, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. [53:42]

Hebrews 5:14 (ESV): "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

Reflection: What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of God's Word and grow in spiritual maturity?

Day 4: Engaging in Ministry

As we mature, we are called to engage in ministry, speaking the truth in love and working together as a unified body. This involves using our gifts to serve others and to build up the church, ensuring that each part does its work in unity and love. Engaging in ministry is not just for pastors or church leaders; it is a calling for every believer. By participating in ministry, we contribute to the health and growth of the church, fulfilling God's mission on earth. [54:43]

1 Corinthians 12:12 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."

Reflection: Identify one ministry or service opportunity in your church where you can contribute your time and talents. How can you take a step to get involved this week?

Day 5: Unity in the Body of Christ

The church is called to be a unified body, working together for the common goal of glorifying God. This unity is achieved through humility, gentleness, patience, and love. When we work together, we become more than the sum of our parts, effectively fulfilling God's mission. Unity does not mean uniformity; it means valuing and respecting each other's differences while working towards a common purpose. This unity is a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and grace. [57:53]

Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: Reflect on your relationships within your church community. Is there someone you need to reconcile with or show more patience and love towards? How can you take a step towards unity today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone! Today, we delved into Ephesians 4:1-16, focusing on the theme "Put it in Motion." The essence of our discussion was about the necessity of movement in our faith journey. We explored how our faith, maturity, and sanctification cannot remain stagnant; they must be in constant motion, moving forward. We began by discussing the importance of being—being prisoners of Christ, being purposeful, and being partnered with one another in unity. This involves living a life worthy of our calling, characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

Next, we talked about receiving. As believers, we receive grace and gifts from Christ, each apportioned according to His will. These gifts are not for our personal glory but for the edification of the body of Christ. We are called to use these gifts to build up the church, ensuring that each part does its work in unity and love.

Finally, we focused on developing. We are to develop into maturity, moving from spiritual infancy to adulthood, where we are no longer tossed by every wind of doctrine. This maturity enables us to engage in ministry effectively, speaking the truth in love and growing into the fullness of Christ. As we develop, we become more than the sum of our parts, working together as a unified body to fulfill God's mission.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Being Prisoners of Christ: Our identity as prisoners of Christ means we are called to live lives worthy of our calling. This involves humility, gentleness, patience, and love. Being a prisoner of Christ is about being fully surrendered to His will, living a life that reflects His character and purpose. [24:57]
2. Receiving Grace and Gifts: Each believer receives grace and gifts from Christ, apportioned according to His will. These gifts are meant for the edification of the church, not for personal glory. Understanding that our gifts are given for the benefit of the body helps us to avoid jealousy and to appreciate the unique roles we each play. [42:56]
3. Developing into Maturity: Spiritual maturity involves moving from infancy to adulthood in our faith. This means we are no longer swayed by every new teaching but are grounded in the truth. Maturity enables us to discern between what is right and wrong, allowing us to engage in ministry effectively. [53:42]
4. Engaging in Ministry: As we mature, we are called to engage in ministry, speaking the truth in love and working together as a unified body. This involves using our gifts to serve others and to build up the church, ensuring that each part does its work in unity and love. [54:43]
5. Unity in the Body of Christ: The church is called to be a unified body, working together for the common goal of glorifying God. This unity is achieved through humility, gentleness, patience, and love. When we work together, we become more than the sum of our parts, effectively fulfilling God's mission. [57:53]
### [57:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:35] - Announcements and Greetings
[09:39] - Opening Prayer
[16:23] - Introduction to Ephesians 4
[17:25] - The Importance of Motion
[18:49] - Emancipate to Lead
[19:35] - Revisiting Sermon Notes
[21:15] - Saved to Serve
[22:21] - Three Points: Be, Receive, Develop
[24:57] - Being Prisoners of Christ
[29:18] - Living Worthy of Our Calling
[34:19] - Being Purposeful
[38:22] - Being Partnered
[41:57] - Receiving Grace and Gifts
[46:59] - Using Our Gifts
[53:42] - Developing into Maturity
[54:43] - Engaging in Ministry
[57:53] - Unity in the Body of Christ
[59:19] - Call to Action
[60:53] - Congregational Sharing
[70:06] - Communion Preparation
[76:20] - Communion
[78:00] - Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What characteristics does Paul urge believers to exhibit in Ephesians 4:1-3? How do these characteristics contribute to unity in the body of Christ?
According to Ephesians 4:7-8, what does each believer receive from Christ, and for what purpose are these gifts given?
In Ephesians 4:11-13, what roles are mentioned, and what is their purpose in the church?
How does Paul describe spiritual maturity in Ephesians 4:14-15, and what are the signs of this maturity?

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to live a life "worthy of the calling" you have received, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:1? How can this be practically applied in daily life? [24:57]
How can understanding that our gifts are given for the benefit of the body of Christ help us avoid jealousy and appreciate our unique roles? [42:56]
What are the dangers of remaining spiritually immature, according to Ephesians 4:14? How can we guard against these dangers in our faith journey? [53:42]
How does engaging in ministry and using our gifts contribute to the unity and growth of the church, as described in Ephesians 4:16? [54:43]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you struggle to live with humility, gentleness, patience, or love? How can you work on these areas to better reflect Christ's character? [24:57]
Think about the gifts and grace you have received from Christ. How are you currently using these gifts to edify the church? Are there new ways you can serve? [42:56]
Identify a specific area in your spiritual life where you feel you need to grow into maturity. What steps can you take this week to move from spiritual infancy to adulthood? [53:42]
How can you actively engage in ministry within your church or community? What practical steps can you take to start or enhance your involvement? [54:43]
Consider a time when you felt unified with other believers. What contributed to that sense of unity, and how can you foster similar unity in your current church community? [57:53]
Reflect on a recent situation where you were tempted to respond in a way that was not humble or gentle. How could you have handled it differently, and what can you learn from that experience? [35:31]
How can you encourage and support others in your church to use their gifts for the edification of the body? What specific actions can you take to help others recognize and develop their gifts? [47:43]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "Anything standing still is really not going forward. One place I heard if you're not moving forward, if you're standing still, you're actually going backwards. You're regressing. I don't know if I believe that, but you're definitely not moving forward. And I don't know if I believe that. I was just this week I've been thinking about the fact that our faith, our faith walk, our maturity, our sanctification, our maturation, our hearing myself talk again can't stay still. We've got to move forward. We've got to go forward." [17:25] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We've been saved. We've been set free to be a part of the body of Christ, to do something, to be what God has called us to be. So every movement has purpose. So when I led that ad team meeting last spring, I said, you know, we've got to emancipate to leave. We've got to free people up so that they can do their stuff, so that they can live in their passion." [21:15] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Your life isn't really worth living until you live it in the way that it was intended. Your life isn't worth living until you... to make use of the calling you've received. Your life isn't worth living unless you live it in the way that it's intended for. You ever been in a place where you're like, I just know that this is what I'm supposed to be doing right now? Whether you want to do it or don't want to do it, you just know that it's that sweet spot." [31:00] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We fight against unity when we should be fighting for unity. For unity. So now unto him who is able, he is able, but we don't allow him to work in that because we fight against it. One body, one spirit, we're called to hope. And so we have to be, if we're going to put it in motion, we've got to be able to do it." [41:22] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So let's put it in motion. Let's put it in motion. Let's take what God's given us. Let's take what God's called us to. Let's take our salvation and let's put it in motion. We got some gaps to fill, but let's put it in motion. So what I want to ask you today is a lot of content. What's a piece of that that you think the church or you needs to step into immediately?" [59:19] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "Being is identification. And when you are something, you should know some things. So I called Shari. I was like, man, this dude went off. Now, part of me was really, really offended. Part of me understood. I got it. But I was like, but I told him I haven't talked about it in 25 years. I told him, I haven't been active. I haven't been around a guy in this fraternity in over 20 years. I haven't talked about this in years. Shari mentioned it to me like six months ago, but I don't remember anything. Give me a little grace. There was no grace." [26:37] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So we have to be prisoners in our being. We have to be prisoners. And that means that we have to be prisoners in our being. That means that we're subjected to the one that we're a prisoner of, that we're called to the one that we're a prisoner of. We serve the one who is the master. We seek the one who is the master. We don't live reckless lives. He says as a prisoner of the Lord, live a life worthy of the sentence. Live a life worthy of the one that you've been called by." [29:18] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We don't do this alone. There's one body, one spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. Right. The church is being divided and it's the saddest thing that I can think of. Why is it that we who have the greatest agent of change to the Holy Spirit are being divided in stuff that has nothing to do with him?" [38:22] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So we receive grace and we receive gifts. It was he who gave some to be apostles and pastors and prophets and evangelists and teachers to prepare God's people. This is where I thought I was going to jump all over y'all right here, right? My job ain't to do the ministry. My job is to help equip people to do the ministry. That's what he's given me, right? To do the ministry. And part of me doing the ministry is to help people be able to do the ministry." [47:43] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We're developed into maturity. We'll no longer be infants. We're going to grow up. We're going to become something that we weren't. We're going to understand things that we didn't. We're going to see things that we didn't. We're going to stop doing stuff that we used to do because we know better. When you know better, you do better. When we put this in motion, we start to grow. When we grow, we don't put up with the nonsense that we used to put up with, the immaturity. We don't get caught up in silliness because we know the difference between meat and mess." [54:10] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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