Reader (not the teacher)

Ephesians 4:11-16

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Questions

1. By the diversification of Jesus Christ himself, what different roles did he (Christ) give to his followers? (verse 11)

   The roles included apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors [shepherds], and teachers.

2. What two common objectives are stated for all these roles? (verse 12)

   1. The equipping of the saints for the work of service

   2. The building up of the body of Christ

3. What two things were "we" expected to pursue? (verse 13)

   1. Attaining the unity of the faith [in Jesus Christ]

   2. Attaining knowledge of the son of God

4. What two things were "we" expected to achieve? (verse 13)

   1. Spiritual maturity

   2. The stature of the fullness of Christ [Christ, not a person or a theology, is the standard.]

5. What would be the result in negative terms [things that would no longer be true of them]? (verse 14)

   1. We will cease to be children [gullible].

   2. We will not be unstable, at the mercy of 'waves' that yield to the latest force and influence.

   3. The 'winds of doctrines' will not determine our course and direction. [They lived in a situation and environment powerfully influenced by idolatry and power policies.]

   4. We will not be subject to the trickery of men.

   5. We will not be easily deceived.

6. What would be true of them? (verse 15)

   1. They would speak truth in love [they would have a genuine concern for people, not just 'issues'].

   2. They would grow up [mature] in all aspects of Christ allowing him to be their 'head'.

7. What would become true of the body under this new headship of Christ? (verse 16)

   They would be pulled toward each other and bound to each other as a strong, healthy body. Everyone would function in a manner that would allow the body to develop to its full potential.

Practical Application Questions/Statements

1. Discuss this statement: "In the early church, by Jesus Christ's design, not everyone functioned in the same role in the church."

   At the core of the discussion should be the understanding that Christ used different people for different purposes.

2. Discuss this statement: "In building up Christ's body, the spiritual maturing of people in Christ shared an equal place with bringing people to Christ."

   At the core of the discussion should be the awareness that the objective was more than bringing people to Christ--it included maturing Christians as Christ's body.

3. Discuss this statement: "Caring about a person always has been critical to (1) bringing him or her to Christ and (2) maturing him or her in Christ. Thus it takes both relationships and knowledge to help a person be spiritually God's child."

   At the core of the discussion should be the awareness that people always have responded to love relationships [genuine concern for them as individuals] rather than to indoctrination or manipulation.

Reader (not the teacher)

Acts 13:1-3

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Questions

1. What two roles were among Christians in Antioch? (verse 1)

   The two roles mentioned were prophets and teachers. Remember, they possessed no written New Testament as do we.

2. What were these people doing? (verse 2)

   They were ministering to the Lord and fasting.

3. While they were doing this, what did the Holy Spirit say to them? (verse 2)

   "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Two Jewish Christians were to be evangelists to the gentiles.

4. Did the Holy Spirit have plans for Barnabas and Saul that went beyond working in Antioch? Explain your answer. (verse 2)

   Yes. The Holy Spirit had planned a task for them.

5. How were Barnabas and Saul "sent away"? (verse 3)

   They left after fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands.

Application Questions

1. Discuss this: "God might have bigger spiritual plans/purposes for me than where I am right now."

   Use the call of Barnabas and Saul as an example of the fact God actively works in the lives of people.

2. Discuss this: "If God has a bigger spiritual plan/purpose for me, does that mean God wants this congregation to fail?"

   No! God objectives go beyond 'what works here,' our comfort zone, and what seems wise to us at the moment.

3. Discuss this: "Should I wait to be active in a congregation until I am sure of what my future purpose might be?"

   No! We equip ourselves for another work by serving well where we are!

4. Discuss this: "It is quite important for 'those sent out' to know and feel the encouragement of those sending them."

   One of the biggest enemies in doing a cutting edge work for the Lord is feeling alone. We have the power to minister to those who feel lonely! No one should feel abandoned as he or she does God's work!

5. Discuss this: "All we do in daily life should be a part of expressing our spiritual relationship with God and each other. That should be as much a priority in our lives as eating and prospering."

   We are what we are because of the influence of Christ on our lives each day in every situation. Our value system in Christ should be obvious in the ways we live.

Link to Student Guide Lesson 3

Copyright © 2006
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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