JULY 1, 2024
READ: Ephesians 4 (Focus vs. 11-16)
MEMORY VERSE
“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.” Ephesians 4:15
BACKGROUND
“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.” Ephesians 4:15
Andrew Card was the Chief of Staff to American president George W. Bush.
In an interview regarding his role in the White House he explained, “In each staff member’s office hangs a framed statement of purpose: ‘We serve at the pleasure of the President.’ But that does not mean that we serve to please the President or to win his or her pleasure.
Rather, we serve to tell him what he needs to know to do his job.” That job is to govern the United States of America.
In so many of our roles and relationships, we slip into people-pleasing mode rather than building up each other in unity, as the apostle Paul often urged.
In Ephesians 4, Paul wrote, “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith” (vv. 11-13).
In verses 15-16, Paul cut through our people-pleasing tendencies, stressing that these gifts should be expressed by “speaking the truth in love” so that “the whole body . . . grows and builds itself up in love.”
As believers in Jesus, we serve people to build them up and to accomplish God’s purposes. Whether or not we please others, we’ll please God as He works through us to create unity in His church.
By: Elisa Morgan
INSIGHT
In the New Testament, several passages list spiritual gifts given by the Spirit to believers in Jesus to serve the body of Christ. The two primary lists are found in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.
Some scholars include Ephesians 4:11, but others believe this listing pertains to the roles or offices of leadership within the church rather than to spiritual gifts.
Effectiveness in these offices is predicated upon the gifts listed in Romans and 1 Corinthians. For example, to be effective in the role of pastor-teacher (Ephesians 4:11), having the gift of teaching would be of paramount importance (Romans 12:7).
Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 seem to focus on the gifts themselves, while in Ephesians 4, the emphasis seems to be on gifted people.
By: Bill Crowder
APPLICATION
Who do you serve to please? How might God’s higher presence direct your words?
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“As believers in Jesus, we serve people to build them up and to accomplish God’s purposes. Whether or not we please (them), we’ll please God as He works through us to create unity in His church.”
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
“Truth when spoken from a place of genuine love and concern, damages the kingdom of darkness and advances the Kingdom of God” Katherine Walden
PRAYER
“Dear God, I want to please You by speaking the truth in love to my brothers and sisters.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“TEACHING THE TRUTH IN LOVE” Acappella
Are we teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is (like it is)
Are we holding pure motives
Showing that we care
Are we teaching the truth in love
(love love love love love)
A man came to my Jesus
Telling all that he had done
To fulfill the good commandments
He knew every single one
But Jesus said there’s something that indeed he did lack
The savior told the truth
He didn’t hold the message back
He was teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is (like it is)
While holding pure motives
And showing that He cared
He was teaching the truth in love
(love love love love love)
A woman caught in evil and without an alibi
The truth so very obvious, made no attempt to lie
With all the foes against her how she felt so all alone
Till Jesus asked the people
“who would throw the first stone”?
He was teaching the truth in love
In love…
Sometimes it’s hard to know
Exactly how we are to share
With the Master’s words of confidence
Directly do we dare
Shouldn’t we water down the message?
Should we tell them only parts?
Will they see Him in our message?
Will they see Him in our heart?
Are we teaching the truth in love
…holding pure motives
Showing that we care
Are we teaching the truth
Are we teaching the truth
Are we teaching the truth
In… love
In love…
In love…
READING THROUGH THE BIBLE THIS YEAR (DAILY)
PROVERBS 6
