Ephesians 4:13-16

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:11-16
• Lesson/Sermon
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: Truthing in Love — Growing Together Toward Maturity

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13-16

I. Review: The Purpose of Church Leadership (verse 12)

A. The significance of a comma in older translations (e.g., RSV 1946) after "equip the saints"

1. With the comma: pastors have a threefold role — equipping, ministry, and building up
2. Without the comma: pastors have an immediate purpose (equip the saints) and an ultimate purpose (build up the body of Christ) B. Every-member ministry affirmed — all believers must discover and use their spiritual gifts C. Four strategies for discovering your spiritual gift (from James Montgomery Boice's resource Finding Your Gift)
3. Learn what the Bible says about spiritual gifts
4. Pray regularly and submit your discernment to God
5. Make a sober, honest assessment of your spiritual strengths
6. Seek the wisdom of mature Christians in the body

II. Three Phases of Attaining Maturity (verse 13)

A. Unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God

1. "Faith" here is objective — the theological content of Christianity, the faith "once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3)
2. "Knowledge" is experiential, not merely intellectual — daily walking with Christ (Philippians 3:10)
3. Unity is both maintained (eagerly, Ephesians 4:3) and attained — understood in degrees, like sanctification B. Mature manhood
4. Refers corporately to the church as a single organism, not merely to individuals
5. Connects to the "one new man" of Ephesians 2:15 — Jew and Gentile united C. The measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
6. Matthew Henry: this perfect standard will not be fully reached until heaven
7. God's children are always growing while in this world

III. The Danger of Immaturity (verse 14)

A. Immature believers are like children tossed by waves — unstable, following theological fads, latest podcasts, or popular speakers B. Human cunning, craftiness, and deceitful schemes prey upon those without doctrinal grounding C. The antidote: submission and obedience to God's will

1. Romans 12:1-2 — do not be conformed to this world; be transformed by the renewal of your mind to discern God's will

IV. Growing Up in Truth and Love (verses 15-16)

A. "Speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15) is better rendered "truthing in love" — living and embodying truth, not merely stating it B. Boice's illustration: subtracting love from each mark of the church (from his study of John 17:13-26)

1. Joy without love = pleasure-seeking
2. Holiness without love = self-righteousness and legalism
3. Truth without love = bitter orthodoxy
4. Mission without love = colonialism
5. Unity without love = ecclesiastical tyranny C. Christ is the head — the source and maker of the whole body (Ephesians 4:16)
6. Every joint working properly enables bodily growth
7. The goal is not mere numerical or physical growth but building up the body in love

V. Conclusion: Love as the Frame of the Entire Passage

A. Chapter 4 begins and ends with love — verse 2 and verse 16 both close with "love" B. Boice's summary: truth wedded to love C. 1 Corinthians 13 read in closing as Paul's supreme treatment of love — the fitting capstone to this section's themes of unity, diversity, and growing maturity