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(Ephesians 4:11-13)

INTRODUCTION: Today is the last day in our message series called Christ Our Purpose. For the past six weeks we have been looking at our church purpose statement together and learning about God’s purposes for our church as revealed in Scripture. Hopefully you’ve learned a lot about our church from this series as well as what the Bible says we should be doing as a church. So, one last time (at least for this series):

The purpose of our church is to make disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we do that? We have identified the following six things from Scripture that we are supposed to be doing in order to fulfill that purpose. So far, we have looked at the first five of these: 1) calling people to Christ, 2) helping them grow in Christ, 3) receiving them into fellowship and service, 4) involving them in personal and group worship, and 5) sharing God’s love in Broward County and beyond. Today we look at the sixth and last part of our purpose statement: teaching and equipping people for ministry. It spells out Christ, because Christ is our purpose. It’s all about Jesus. (Read Ephesians 4:11-13 and pray.)

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The last way we make disciples here at Plantation Community Church is by teaching and equipping people for ministry. When you look at our purpose statement, you will notice there is a progression. First you come to Christ. Then you grow in Christ as you worship God and become part of a church family. But the final key element here is that of ministry. God brings you into the body of Christ so that you may serve the body of Christ.

Now you might be wondering, how in the world could you serve in the church? But God doesn’t ask you to serve without first equipping you to serve. The very fact that God has called you to serve the church means that he has equipped you to do that. So, this morning we are going to look at three ways that God teaches and equips you for ministry in the church. You are equipped by God’s servants, you are equipped by God’s word, and you are equipped by God’s Spirit.

I. Equipped by God’s servants (Ephesians 4:11-13)

First of all, you are equipped by God’s servants. Let’s go back to our passage now in Ephesians 4.

   A. The pastors equip the people

The first thing this passage teaches us is that the pastors equip the people for ministry. Look at verse 11: “It was he who gave … some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service.” Some people think that ministry is something the pastors are supposed to do. The pastors do the work of the ministry, and the people come to church to be ministered to. But that’s not what God says.

According to Ephesians, Christ didn’t give pastors to the church to do the work of the ministry. Christ gave pastors to the church to equip God’s people to do the work of the ministry. “It was he who gave … some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service.” So, part of my job as a pastor is simply to equip you for ministry. That’s what pastors so. That means each one of us in the body of Christ should be serving in some way.

We have a saying at our church. We have three pastors, but many ministers. We have three pastors—myself, Pastor Leighton and Pastor Sean—but all of us here at the church are ministers. That’s right. You are a minister. You have been called to works of service. No one is exempt. We are all to serve in the body of Christ. Christ gave pastors to the church not to do the ministry, but to equip the people for ministry.

   B. No maturity without ministry

The second thing this passage in Ephesians teaches us is that there is no maturity without ministry. Why did Christ give pastors and teachers to equip God’s people for ministry? Look at verses 12 and 13: “… so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:12-13).

God calls each of us to serve in the body of Christ so that the body of Christ may be built up and we may become mature. In other words, there is no maturity without ministry. You cannot become mature in Christ without the ministry of others, and you will not become mature in Christ without serving others yourself. We need each other. We are saved to serve, and it is only as we serve each other in the body of Christ that we will all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. There is no maturity without ministry.

II. Equipped by God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

So, that’s the first way God equips you. You are equipped by your pastors and teachers for ministry. Of course that raises the question, how do your pastors and teachers equip you? And that leads us to our second point. You are not only equipped by God’s servants. You are also equipped by God’s word.

Look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17 with me now: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This passage tells us three important things about the word of God.

   A. All Scripture comes from God

First, all Scripture comes from God. When verse 16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed,” this means that even though the Bible was written by men, it is inspired by God. The Bible was written by various human authors over centuries of time, and yet God superintended the writing of the Scriptures in such a way that the words of Scripture are truly the word of God. All Scripture is God-breathed. It is the word that comes out of his mouth. All Scripture comes from God.

   B. All Scripture is useful

Secondly, all Scripture is useful, and particularly useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

We are probably most familiar with the teaching function of Scripture. This has to do with the content of Scripture, with what Scripture tells us, but these other functions are important too. “Rebuking” has to do with refuting error and convicting of sin. The word translated “correcting” means “to set something upright that has fallen down.” The word translated “training” in training in righteousness is a word that was used of training and disciplining young children.

I like to think of these four words in this way. Think in terms of life as a path. The teaching passages of Scripture define the path for you, that is, they tell you the right way to live. The rebuking passages let you know when you have left the path. The correcting passages tell you how to get back on the path. And training in righteousness keeps you on the path once you get there. All Scripture is useful in at least one of these four functions, which is why it is essential that we take the time to read and study God’s word, all of it. This needs to be a daily part of your life.

   C. Scripture equips you for every good work

And when you do that, when you read and study God’s word, something amazing happens. You will find yourself equipped for every good work. That’s what verse 17 says: “so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Now in Paul’s day this word translated “equipped” was used to describe a completely outfitted rescue boat. Today you could compare it to paramedics and an ambulance. The paramedics in an ambulance are completely outfitted, thoroughly equipped, ready for any situation or emergency. In the same way, when you know the Scriptures, you are thoroughly equipped and ready for any task God may send your way.

III. Equipped by the God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

So how does God equip you for ministry? You are equipped by God’s servants. You are equipped by God’s word. And then finally, you are equipped by God’s Spirit.

Now let me show you how the three of these work together. As we’ve seen, your pastors and teachers equip you for ministry primarily by preaching and teaching the word of God. Think of the various parts of God’s word as the tools you need to be equipped for ministry. The pastor’s job is to teach you how to use these tools. But there’s still one piece missing, because these are not just regular hand tools. These are power tools, and to use power tools, you need power.

And that’s where the Holy Spirit comes in. Yes, you are equipped for ministry by your pastors, and yes, you are equipped for ministry by God’s word. But you must also be equipped by God’s Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who gives you the power to do ministry. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12 next which talks about spiritual gifts.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

A spiritual gift is a gift given by the Holy Spirit which empowers you to serve in the body of Christ. This passage in Corinthians tells us three important things about spiritual gifts.

   A. There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit

First of all, there are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. In other words, there is only one Holy Spirit, but he gifts us for service in different ways. We don’t all serve the same way in the body of Christ, because we all have different gifts. Some people have gifts of music, some have gifts of administration, some have gifts of teaching, some have gifts of encouragement, some have gifts of helping others. God is a generous giver of gifts, and he gives a variety of gifts through the Holy Spirit so that the body of Chris may be built up.

   B. The Spirit gives gifts to all believers

Secondly, the Spirit gives gifts to all believers. Paul says: “There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men” (1 Cor. 12:6). That means if you are a believer in Christ this morning, then God has given you gifts for ministry. God has gifted you by the Holy Spirit to serve the body of Christ in a special way. He has given you the power you need for your power tools. Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift for service.

   C. Use your gifts to serve others in ministry

And therefore, number three, you need to use your gifts to serve others in ministry. That’s what verse 7 says: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” God doesn’t give you your spiritual gift for yourself. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to serve others. Therefore, it is important that you discover your spiritual gifts so you can use them to serve others in the body of Christ.

So, how do you discover your spiritual gifts? We have some diagnostic tools available in the church office that will help you with discovering your gifts, but I would say first, just ask God. Ask God to show you your gifts. Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive” (Matt. 7:7).

Next, read through the lists of spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Learn the different ways God equips people for ministry in the church.

Then, prayerfully consider how God has used you in the past, and ask others how they see you best serving in the body of Christ.

But most importantly of all, start serving! It is only as you serve in the church that you will truly discover the ways God has especially gifted you to minister to others.

CONCLUSION: What is the purpose of Plantation Community Church? Christ is our purpose! The purpose of Plantation Community Church is to make disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. And one of the ways we do that is by teaching and equipping people for ministry.

You are equipped by God’s servants, you are equipped by God’s word, and you are equipped by God’s Spirit. In other words, you are ready to go! There are many ways to serve in the body of Christ. How is God calling you to serve?

© Ray Fowler

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