GRACE to YOU

1. GRACE to YOU KIF Fall 2011 Sermon Series - Ephesians

2. Resources for aWorthy Walk(Gift of Power) KIF Spring 2012 Sermon Series - Ephesians

3. Ephesians 4 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:    “When he ascended on high,    he took many captives    and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 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. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

4. Ephesians 4 7 But each one of us has received a gift of grace, just as Christ wanted us to have it.  GRACE • Christianity is defined not by what we do, but by what God has done. • Grace by definition is an act of giving. It is God’s nature to give. • Grace gives in a measure that is unmerited, unearned and undeserved and free because it is its character to give • Grace is the act of self-giving; self-donation (John 3:16, John 7-Living Water) This GRACE is also called a GIFT

5. Ephesians 4 "As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace" (1 Peter. 4:10).  Ephesians 3:8, refers to one of his own gifts or "graces" of the Spirit: "To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given." "To preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.“ "Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you" (2 Timothy. 1:6) GIFTS are for GIVING

6. Ephesians 4 Pattern of God giving himself: It is the nature of grace to give. GIVE GIVE GIVE

7. Power of the Gift "Stir up the gift that is in you, which was given to you" (2 Tim 1:6) "that I may know him and the power of his resurrection" (Phil3:10) HE is thePOWER SOURCE 1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

8. Ephesians 4 7 But each one of us has received a gift of grace, just as Christ wanted us to have it. ( But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.) ILLUSTRATIONS • Don’t choose the characteristics of your own baby • Your gift is like your fingerprint • Team Effort • Some teach, some minister Church is not a place for spectators. Everyone does their part.

9. Ephesians 4 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?  10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)  11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,  12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 

10. 4 Support Ministries Pattern of God giving himself: It is the nature of grace to give. Foundation “Originating the Word” Proclaiming “Expounding the Word” Applying the Word “Obstetrician” Applying the Word “Pediatritian”

11. 4 Support Ministries Pattern of God giving himself: It is the nature of grace to give.

12. Note that each of the four support ministries we are discussing have to do with the Word of God. The first two--apostles and prophets--are concerned with originating and expounding the Word, while the last two--evangelists and pastor-teachers--are concerned with applying the Word to individual lives. The evangelist deals with the beginning of Christian life while the teaching pastor is involved with the development and growth of that life. 

13. we must not lose sight of the supreme reason for the manifestation of these gifts. It is in order that the world might see Jesus Christ at work. It needs to come to grips with him, but it was never intended that the world should come to church to find him. The church should be in the world. 

14. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as his custom was, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,  because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives  and recovering of sight to the blind,  to set at liberty those who are oppressed,  to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:16-21 RSV)