Called to Unity: Growing the Body in Love

Ephesians 4 begins with Paul urging believers to “live a life worthy of the calling” received from God. The calling is not just officership, or a platform job, or one special kind of church work. The calling belongs to every believer, and that calling is to be close to Christ and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone met along the way.

The body of Christ is not made out of people who all look the same, talk the same, or came through the same door. The Fountain Square corps has people who came through family, programs, signs, friendships, and long winding stories. The popcorn image shows that God brings different colors, different shapes, and different gifts into one place, and then the fire of the Spirit makes that small handful become more than it looked like it could be. There is always room for more.

The recliner going up the stairs shows how hard it is when minds, bodies, and people are not in unity. The church can look united on the outside and still not be pulling in the same direction. Ephesians 4 says Christ is the head, and every supporting ligament has work to do. The body grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work, not as a few people do everything.

The Great Commission is not only a call to pack up and go across the world. The Greek sense of “as you go” brings the mission into Walmart, the doctor’s office, the restaurant, the neighborhood, and ordinary conversation. Christ’s love compels the believer to move, to call, to pray, to offer kindness, and to bear witness even when it feels uncomfortable. Competence does not come from natural ability. God makes ministers of the new covenant by the Spirit, and the Spirit gives life.

Isaiah’s “new thing” presses the church to stop planning only for today and to ask whether the future can be seen by faith. God can fill a chapel, raise up children and families, and do what others never imagined. Prayer, excitement, and obedience have done it before.

The aroma image says the church should smell like Christ. Some will smell life, and some will resist it because darkness does not want that aroma around. Psalm’s “taste and see” goes even further. People will not only hear church words or notice religious appearance; people will taste whether the life is real in the checkout line, in frustration, and in the way ordinary people are treated.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Unity is more than matching words The recliner on the stairs shows that looking together is not the same as moving together. A body can share language, space, and habits while still pulling against itself. Ephesians 4 calls the church into a deeper unity, where every part submits to Christ the head and does its own work in love. [29:50]
• 2. The calling belongs to every believer The calling is not limited to officers, teachers, greeters, musicians, or people with obvious gifts. God has given one shared calling to every believer, and that calling is to stay close to Christ and carry his gospel into the world. Ordinary testimony is not a lesser thing than public ministry when the Spirit gives life through it. [30:27]
• 3. Witness happens as life happens The Great Commission is not locked away in foreign mission fields or special church events. “As you go” places the gospel inside errands, appointments, meals, and daily interruptions. The question is not whether opportunities exist, but whether Christ’s love is compelling enough to notice them. [37:49]
• 4. God makes small people competent The few gathered together may look too small for a large community, but Scripture does not place confidence in human ability. Competence comes from the Lord, not from polish, training, or natural boldness. The Spirit can take people who feel inadequate and make them ministers of life. [39:56]
• 5. The gospel must be tasted People do not only listen to words or smell religious aroma from a distance. People taste the truth when patience replaces anger, when kindness appears in a checkout line, and when prayer is offered without making a show. A life that claims Christ must have the flavor of Christ when pressure exposes what is really inside.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [26:35] - Ephesians 4 and Believer Unity
• [27:30] - A Recliner and Real Unity
• [30:09] - One Calling for Every Believer
• [31:32] - Popcorn and the Body of Christ
• [34:03] - Workers for the Harvest
• [37:09] - The Great Commission As You Go
• [39:05] - Christ’s Love Compels
• [40:57] - Seeing God’s New Thing
• [46:06] - Small Beginnings and Big Faith
• [49:01] - The Aroma of Christ
• [51:24] - Taste and See the Lord
• [55:06] - Praying the Gospel to Life
• [56:08] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

1. According to Ephesians 4:15–16, how does the body of Christ grow and build itself up? What role do individual members play in this process?
2. The sermon used the image of a recliner being carried up stairs to illustrate forced vs. genuine unity ([29:22]). How does Ephesians 4:2–3 describe the attitudes necessary for true unity?
3. The popcorn metaphor in the sermon emphasized diversity in the body of Christ ([31:32]). How does Ephesians 4:7–12 explain the purpose of different spiritual gifts?

1. Why might Paul emphasize that unity requires “bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2) rather than just sharing the same space or language? How does this connect to the recliner illustration ([29:50])?
2. The sermon stated, “Competence does not come from natural ability” but from the Spirit ([39:56]). How does 2 Corinthians 3:5–6 (“our competence comes from God”) challenge common assumptions about what qualifies someone to serve in ministry?
3. The “aroma of Christ” metaphor (2 Corinthians 2:15) was linked to everyday actions like kindness in a checkout line ([54:43]). Why might tangible, practical love be more impactful than religious words or appearances?

1. The sermon stressed that witnessing happens “as you go” in daily routines ([37:49]). What is one ordinary place (e.g., grocery store, workplace) where you could intentionally look for opportunities to reflect Christ’s love this week?
2. The recliner story showed how unity breaks down when people aren’t “pulling in the same direction” ([29:22]). Is there a relationship or situation in your life where you need to practice “bearing with [someone] in love” (Ephesians 4:2) instead of resisting or criticizing?
3. The popcorn analogy highlighted that every believer’s unique story matters ([31:32]). How can you use your specific background, struggles, or gifts to encourage someone who feels excluded or unseen?
4. The sermon asked, “Does your life ‘taste’ like Christ under pressure?” ([54:43]). Recall a recent moment of frustration or stress. How did you respond, and what would it look like to “flavor” that situation with patience or kindness next time?
5. Ephesians 4:16 says the body grows “when each part is working properly.” Are there areas where you’ve held back from serving because you feel unqualified? How could you step into a role this month, trusting God’s competence over your own ([39:56])?