Believers Serving One Another

Ephesians 4:11-16 Mace It is he then that made some, apostles: some, prophets: some, evangelists: and others, pastors, and teachers: 12 thus fitly qualifying his servants for their respective offices, in order to build up the body of Christ: 13 till being united in a perfect belief, and acknowledgment of the son of God, we grow up to that full state of maturity required by Christ: 14 that we should be no longer children, fluctuating, and carried about with every empty doctrine, by men vers'd in sleight and the crafty arts of deceit: 15 but being sincere in mutual love, may be entirely united to Christ, who is the head: 16 from which the whole body fitly framed, and compacted by the entire adherence and contribution of every part performing its respective function, increases and improves itself by the mutual concern of the parts.

We learn

B1 There is no teaching on 2 classes of church workers—priests and laity

C1 We are brothers and sisters.

D1 Matthew 23:8 CSB But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.

D2 Galatians 6:10 Williams So then whenever we have an opportunity, let us practice doing good to everybody, but especially to the members of the family of faith.

C2 Each brother and each sister has a gift given by God for a purpose. There might be different measures and different affects but each has a gift from God.

D1 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

D2 1 Corinthians 12:12 NIV Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

D3 Romans 12:4-5 NIV For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

D4 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 NIV For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

C3 The one standing before the congregation is only a human who is exercising the gift God gave.

C4 There are fakes who are only naturally gifted with intellect, theology, philosophy, etc.

C5 God’s gift to us has spiritual fruit. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

C6 We need to use that gift. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

C7 We need to be faithful to use it. 1 Peter 4:10 NIV Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

B2 Our motive for using gifts is to edify the brothers and sisters and to glorify God.

B3 Using our gifts properly will help all of us stay faithful to the end instead of vacillating from one belief to another.