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Ephesians: Growing a Mature Church (4:11-16)

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What makes a church successful? How is a mature church developed? According to Paul, it is generally the same things that make a football team successful: committed ownership, good coaching, good teamwork, a good understanding of the game plan, a commitment to the plan, lots of hard work and practice, and teamwork. While individual talent on a football team is good to have, without the other things it won’t win a championship.  In Ephesians 4:11-16, while Paul does not directly compare the church to a football team, he does describe it using many of those attributes that make pretty much any team, or organization, successful.

Ownership

So Christ himself . . .

Ephesians 4:11 NIV

It is important for a football team to have an owner who is willing to foot the bill for all the expenses necessary for a winning team. Without deep pockets, and a willingness to make a significant investment, the team will end up mired in mediocrity, or worse.

So who owns the church? Too often, we end up believing that we do; it is our church. Or maybe the pastor’s church. And as a result, we look to our own resources to be successful as a church. But if we are truly a church, then we belong to Christ. He is the owner, and as the owner, he is willing to do what is necessary to ensure that we become what he wants us to be. Paul had earlier prayed in this letter that we would come to understand the plan and purpose he has for us. The resources that are available for us. And his power that is at work in us. If we are not successful as a church, it is not because the owner is tightfisted.

Coaching

. . . 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 . . .

Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV

In vs. 11-12, Paul tells us that the owner, Christ, has given the church some coaches: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. All too often, those of us in the church look to our pastor as if he were hired to do the work of the church. And while we might volunteer to help out a bit, the work is really his to do. That is kind of like the football team expecting their coaching staff to take the field and play the game, while they stand on the sidelines and cheer them on, or criticize their failures.

But Paul tells us here that the role of our coaches is to equip, or prepare, us for accomplishing the work of the church. The coach has a very important place in the working of the team. But we should never expect the coach to be taking the field to do our job. The coach’s responsibility is to lead in the development of the game plan and then to properly train the players to execute the plan.

Understanding Our Roles

My pastor’s role, according to this passage, is to train me to do the work of the church. And to do that effectively, he needs to be working with the owner to develop the game plan for the church. Once that is done, he will be able to equip me to accomplish it. Without the coach having a good game plan, what will he be equipping me for?

My job, as a player on the field, is to allow the coach to train me. And once trained, to go out and give my best. My job does not include second-guessing the coach, or doing what I want. Imagine what would happen to a football team if every player ignored the coach and did what they wanted to. Why should we suppose it would be any different for a mature church?

Understanding the Game Plan

. . . so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12-13 NIV

The coach, in his equipping of the people, should have a goal in mind. And he should be working from a plan designed to accomplish that goal. In vs. 12-13, Paul gives us the desired result of that game plan; the development of a unified, mature, and Christ-like church. While the ways a church may use to reach that state will vary from body to body, the desired end state is the same for all of them.

The coach has responsibility for the development of the plan that will enable the team, or body, to reach that end state. But it is also important that the players on the team understand the game plan as well; if we don’t, how will we ever hit the desired end state of a unified, mature, Christ-like body? I need to know where we are going and how I fit into the plan to get us there.

Commitment to the Game Plan

How important is commitment, or buy-in, to the game plan? Without it, there will be the tendency to change direction every time some more appealing ministry plan comes along. Or anytime we don’t get instant results. A football team, with a good set of coaches, will not let setbacks early in the game throw them into confusion. They don’t dump the game plan and immediately try some other approach at the first sign of failure. Instead, they stick with the plan until it bears fruit.

One of the goals of developing a unified, mature, Christ-like church is that we will not be turned aside to some other course when success does not come instantly. There are so many ‘programs’ available, some good and some not so very good. Jumping from program to program, trying to find something that will work will leave a body in a constant state of upheaval, going nowhere. We need to stick to the game plan put together by the coaching staff and approved by the owner. It’s the only way for us to be successful.

As a church, we also need to be holding firm to the truth. There are so many deceptive doctrines, with just as many proponents of those falsehoods. And they are looking for fertile soil to put down roots and corrupt a church body. As we are properly trained, and committed to God’s word, and his way for us, we will learn to recognize and be resistant to falsehood.

Hard Work and Practice

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, 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. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 

Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV

You’ve got a game plan, and you’re committed to the plan. Now it’s time to begin to do the things the coach has been telling you. It’s much easier to just sit around and watch everyone else turn to and get to work.

We need to speak the truth in love. Unfortunately, that probably doesn’t mean that I need to share your faults with you in a loving way. If I am to speak the truth, and Jesus is the truth, then I would suspect that Paul is telling me that I should be talking about him, what he has done, is doing, and will do. Don’t get blown around with false teaching. Instead, focus on the truth of Jesus. And do that by recognizing the extent of his love for others. Share the truth with each other, as well as with those on the outside; let love be what takes you to those who need the truth.

And as we do that, we will become a mature church. Until we are committed to the game plan and putting into practice the teachings of our coaching staff, we will be immature, falling short of his design for us.

Putting the Team First

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 

Ephesians 4:16 NIV

On a football team, it is important that each player do the job they are selected to do. If even one player fails to do their job, or attempts to do someone else’s job, the whole team will suffer. It is only when each player performs their best, in their assigned role, that the whole team will be successful.

A mature church is the same way.  It is only as each member of the body undertakes to be the body part that they have been equipped and trained to be, that the body will be most successful. The result of each member being faithful to their calling is a church that is growing and being built up in love.

Thoughts

Yes, the church is not exactly like a football team, and our pastor is not exactly the same as a football coach. There is much more to being the church of Christ than there is in playing a game. But I believe there are some lessons we can learn from the comparison.

Has Christ placed you in the church as a coach? Then please lead and train the rest of us to do the work of the church. A half-hour sermon once a week probably won’t do that. Know your players, their strengths and weaknesses, and where they fit within the body.  And then equip us to be that.

Has Christ placed you into the church as a player? Then follow the leadership of your coach; be committed to the team; know your place in the body, and give it your all. Realize that if you are not taking your place within the body, you are leaving a hole, and thus are hurting the body of Christ.

Let’s all work together to become a unified and mature church; a Christ-like body.

Some Questions to Consider

  • What do you think of the comparison between the church and a sports team? What are the weaknesses in this analogy?
  • Do you know your place within the body of Christ? Is the Lord satisfied with your performance?
  • What does a mature church look like?

You are welcome to respond to these questions in the comment section below. If you do, be sure to check the “Notify me” checkbox just above the Post Comment button so you can get any feedback. Note that all comments are moderated. Only respectful comments relevant to the topic will be posted.

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Ed Jarrett

Just an old clay jar that God continues to see fit to use in his kingdom's work. I am retired, married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. I have followed Jesus for many years. And I love to share what He has given me from His word.

A Note to Readers

The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.

2 thoughts on “Ephesians: Growing a Mature Church (4:11-16)”

  1. Characteristics of a mature believer:
    1) They know who they are. Maturity is having a solid identity. They do not find their identity in money, power, position, achievements, culture etc but in Christ (Philip 3)
    2) A mature believer has learned to die to self. No longer holding onto self life, but surrendering their lifes daily to Christ ( Mat 16:24 , John 12:24-26)
    3) a Mature believer is Unselfish. They are other minded. Concerned about their family and other people’s welfare. They are no longer inward focused, but outward focused (1 Cor 10:24; Phil 2:3,4)
    4) a Mature believer takes responsibility for their own lifes. They no longer blame others, but full responsibility for their actions. (Ps 51:3; Mat 7:5)
    5) a Mature believer is committed and connected in relationships, allowing life to flow from.them to others and from others to flow to them. (Eph 4:15- 16, 1 Cor 12:21,22)
    6) a Mature believer protects unity in relationships. They do not instigate division but aim for unity. In their families and in the church and the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:25,26 Eph 4:2,3)
    7) a Mature believer knows how to walk with God through crisis. Crisis to them is a time, not of frustration and anguish, but walking with God through it. They have learned to journey with God through the good and bad (Ps 84:5-7; Phil 4:11-12)

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