Building Up a Church

Summary: Paul explains that although believers share one faith and one body, each person is given grace in a unique measure according to Christ’s gift. Christ’s victory and authority are described as the foundation for this giving of gifts—having descended and then ascended, He now fills all things. From His exalted position, Christ provides different roles among His people, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor‑teachers. These roles are not given for status or hierarchy, but for a clear purpose: to prepare believers for service. Through this preparation, the body of Christ is strengthened and built up, growing toward maturity as each part carries out its God‑given function.   Teaching: God fulfills His will in every place - in heaven and on earth - through the church. It was for this purpose that Jesus was crucified, died, and rose again. And the will of God that fills all things is this: that we would be saved. Our God has not yet brought everything to completion because there is still work to be done. He has made us workers of the church so that we may carry out His work. A ministry position is a gift. Being entrusted with the work of the church is a blessing to us. We must receive it with gratitude and carry it out faithfully. Every gift God gives comes with His story, and we are called to carry that story forward. That story is about winning people and bringing them to Christ. Therefore, a worker in the church must be someone who gains people. To serve in the church means to help others become whole - to supply what is lacking in them. Every work of the church is about building people up and serving them. Service requires the use of our bodies, and it involves our time and our resources. Through the roles and work God has entrusted to us, we build up the body of Christ. This is not merely about bringing people into the church, but about every person growing to the full measure of faith that God has given to each one. Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Apr 6, 2026 Ephesians 4:7-12