Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Ephesians 4:11-16 (ESV)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Yesterday the sermon focused on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and 3,000 people were baptized in one day! The disciples did not expect that to happen, but they were ready for the Holy Spirit to use them. This week we will focus on “being ready” for the Spirit to use us, too. In Ephesians 4 Paul is saying that Jesus has given the church leaders to prepare the entire body of Christ, the church, for the work of ministry. Are you, as a part of the body, ready to serve? Pray that the Holy Spirit would prepare your heart and equip you to do ministry and consider what ministry the Holy Spirit is calling you to participate in, inside or outside the church. How are you ministering to your family, the people at work, the people in your social circles? How are you showing them love, mercy, grace, peace? Are you living by the Spirit and producing “good fruit” (Galatians 5:22-25)? Are you ready?