Sunday Message – 22nd January

 God the gift giver and gift limiter  Ephesians 4

by Deacon Eunice Attwood

God the Activator – the gifts God gave

11 The gifts God gave……. were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,

God given gifts. Body of Christ – ‘heartbeat is God’ You are a gift of God not God’s gift! God is the source of our giftedness God who is described by Paul as being  in v6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.  Multi-dimensional, awesome God who brought the universe into being and cares about you and I – This is a God truly worthy of worship.

God the Variety maker- ……….some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.

Good news – God built variety into creation stood back and said

‘Champion’!……..God never made rubbish No-one does you as well as YOU DO!.

Meet someone who is different – Thank God

Meet someone not like you – Thank God

We often mix with people who share our principles and our prejudices!

Human tendency to reject rather than embrace difference.

God the Gift giver and Gift limiter

• God didn’t intend us to be OMNICOMPETENT
• God is a community making God,
• God believes in team

Variety of gifts & limitations – our limitations allow the gifting of others to shine through.

Don’t be afraid of your gifts or your limits

Equipping the saints for the work of ministry -is a communal task

God the Builder

….. to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

Purpose – build up, growth, sustain life, healthy body of Christ.

Unity of faith- unity within diversity

Knowledge of God- experienced in community

Maturity –  to the measure of the full stature of Christ

¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and knitted together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

• In an environment of unconditional love – people grow!

• In an environment where people experience grace, forgiveness, mercy they grow because it is Energising, Equipping, Enabling.

Words of Paul……. to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.