Ephesians: Wholeness in a 
World
Week of July 24, 2005
This Week’s Scripture Reading
Ephesians 4:1-16
1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace.
4We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. 5There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all. 7However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ. 8That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9Notice that it says “he ascended.” This means that Christ first came down to the lowly world in which we live. 10The same one who came down is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that his rule might fill the entire universe.
11He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, 13until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ.
14Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. 15Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Prayers for the Week:
Sunday |
Heavenly Father, I ask You to empower me to live a life worthy of the calling You have given me. Let me live my part in the body of Jesus well, so that in worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and mission, we are faithful to your call. Amen. |
Monday |
Heavenly Father, I pray for a new anointing of Your Holy Spirit not only upon me, but also upon all who are part of the local body of believers known as New Life Christian Ministries. Keep us ever in the unity of the Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Tuesday |
Heavenly Father, I pray your church around the world. I pray that You will unite us in our common points as we seek to serve You today. Glorify Yourself in us, by filling us with Your unity and love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. |
Wednesday |
Heavenly Father, thank You for the leaders You have given to guide Your Church around the world, and for our local leaders who serve in Your name to see that we all continue to love and serve You faithfully. Bless them and guide them. Amen. |
Thursday |
Heavenly Father, Thank You for all the gifts You have given—natural and spiritual—in my life. I pray that You will empower me to serve You first and foremost in my life, and thank You for the Holy Spirit who makes Your real and present today. Amen. |
Friday |
Heavenly Father, I pray for maturity in my life. I pray that I will think, speak and act as Jesus would in every situation I face today. Glorify Yourself among us by bringing a fullness of maturity to our lives. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Saturday |
Heavenly Father, As I live this day and everyday, teach me to speak the truth in love. Teach me to honor You by honoring others with the truth spoken or presented in Your love. This I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Background on the Text
The text before us this week reminds us of the magnitude of God’s plan for us! Some have called Ephesians 4:1-16 God’s “Magna Carta” of the church, since it lays out for us who we are, what we are called to be, what we are called to do and the ultimate goal of our lives together. Without a doubt this text is one we could examine for weeks and not consider every nuance of meaning and application! Suffice it to say that in this text we find out about the unity that holds the body of Jesus Christ together, the gifts that Jesus has given by means of the Holy Spirit that we may honor Jesus, build up the church and share the Good News with the world, and we find out that the process of living out our faith is ultimately to lead to such maturity that we will be like Jesus. Paul uses his favorite image of the church in this week’s reading: the Body of Jesus Christ. Each of us is a vital part in that body and each of us holds a role that only we can fulfill. As you read the passage this week ask God to show You the part that only you can play!
Monday
Observation: What does the text say?
Tuesday
Interpretation: What do these verses mean?
Wednesday
Application: How can I respond to the text’s insights and teachings?
Thursday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
Encouraged and strengthened me by:
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Fallen short areas
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What will I do with these insights?
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Friday
After reading and studying this text, reflect on the following discipleship growth points:
What did God say to me this week?
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Share insights and growth points.
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Changed/transformed how?
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Saturday
Reflective Thoughts