Ephesians 4:7–16 — Jesus Is Building His Church
Speaker: Adam Pursel
In this week’s sermon from Ephesians 4:7–16, the main idea was simple and searching: Jesus is building his church — are you in? That question had two parts. First, are you in by faith in Jesus Christ? Second, are you in when it comes to helping build up his church?
The sermon began by emphasizing that the church belongs to Jesus. It is his body, his mission, and his work. In the Gospels, Jesus says, “I will build my church,” and in Ephesians 4 Paul helps us see how he does that. Jesus is not only saving individuals; he is actively building a people.
Jesus gives grace to each believer
Paul says that grace was given to each one according to the measure of Christ’s gift. The point is not merely that grace saves us, but that Jesus gives grace to every believer for the purpose of building up his body. Each Christian has received what Jesus intends for them to have in order to serve and participate in the work of ministry.
This means that no Christian is unnecessary, and no Christian gets to assume that ministry belongs only to pastors or church staff. Jesus has measured out gifts to his people with wisdom and purpose.
Jesus gives leaders to equip the saints
The sermon then turned to Paul’s teaching about apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. The emphasis was not on titles for their own sake, but on their purpose. Christ gives leaders to equip the saints for the work of ministry.
That is a deeply important truth. The role of pastors and other leaders is not to do all the ministry themselves while everyone else watches. Their role is to equip believers so that the whole church can do the work of ministry together. The church is built not by a few professionals, but by the whole body working properly.
The church grows numerically and spiritually
The sermon highlighted two kinds of growth. First, the church grows numerically as more people come to faith in Jesus Christ. Second, it grows spiritually as believers become more mature and more like Jesus. Paul’s vision is not only that more people would be present, but that Christians would grow up into maturity, into the fullness of Christ.
This maturity matters because spiritual immaturity leaves believers unstable. Paul says immature Christians are like children tossed to and fro by false teaching, human cunning, and deceitful schemes. Mature believers, on the other hand, are grounded in truth and able to help others grow as well.
Children stay passive; mature believers build
One of the sharper applications of the sermon came through Paul’s contrast between children and maturity. Children do not know much, and they do not contribute much. In the same way, spiritual immaturity often shows up in passivity — expecting others to do the work of ministry while we sit back. But mature Christians roll up their sleeves and join Jesus in building his church.
The sermon pressed the question in a memorable way: Can you build with Jesus? Yes. Should you build with Jesus? Yes. Will you? Only each individual can answer that final question.
Speaking the truth in love
Paul gives one especially practical way the church grows: by speaking the truth in love. Some are tempted to speak truth without love. Others avoid truth in the name of love. But the body of Christ grows when believers hold both together — speaking what is true with genuine love for one another.
This applies at work, in the home, in friendships, and in the church. As believers speak the truth in love, the whole body grows up into Christ and builds itself up in love.
Conclusion
The sermon closed by returning to the central question: Jesus is building his church — are you in? Are you in by faith in Christ? And are you in when it comes to helping build his church? Jesus is actively building his body, and he invites his people to join him in that work.
Lifegroup Leader Guide
Passage: Ephesians 4:7–16
Big idea: Jesus is building his church — are you in?
Main question: Are you in by faith in Jesus, and are you in when it comes to helping build up his church?
Opening Prayer
Father, thank you for sending your Son to save us and for giving your church everything it needs to grow. Help us not stay passive, but join Jesus in building his church. Give us ears to hear your Word and hearts ready to obey. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Icebreaker
What is something you’ve helped build, improve, or grow — and what part did you play in it?
Read the Passage
Read Ephesians 4:7–16 together.
Sermon Summary
This week’s sermon focused on the truth that Jesus is building his church. In Ephesians 4, Paul shows that Christ gives grace to every believer, gives leaders to equip the saints, and intends for the whole church to grow into maturity. The church grows numerically as more people come to faith and spiritually as believers become more like Christ. The key challenge of the sermon was not only whether we believe in Jesus, but whether we are actively joining him in building up his body. One of the main ways we do that is by speaking the truth in love.
Discussion Questions
1. “Are you in?”
- When you heard the question “Are you in?”, which side stood out to you more — trusting Jesus, or building with Jesus?
- Why is it important to ask both questions?
2. Grace given to each one
- Verse 7 says grace was given to each one. Why does that matter?
- How does this challenge the idea that only a few people are responsible for ministry?
- What excuses do Christians often make for staying passive?
3. Leaders equip the saints
- According to verses 11–12, what is the role of church leaders?
- What is the role of the saints?
- How can a church drift into unhealthy patterns when people assume pastors should do everything?
4. Growth numerically and spiritually
- What is the difference between numerical growth and spiritual growth?
- Why do both matter?
- Which kind of growth do you tend to think about more often?
5. Children vs. maturity
- Paul says we should no longer be children tossed around by false teaching. What are some signs of spiritual immaturity?
- Where do you see yourself needing to grow up in Christ right now?
6. Speaking the truth in love
- Why is it difficult to hold truth and love together?
- Which temptation are you more prone to — truth without love, or avoiding truth to keep peace?
- What is one relationship where you need to speak the truth in love this week?
Leader Notes
- Keep the focus on participation. The sermon is not mainly about debates over ministry titles, but about Jesus building his church through his people.
- Press the “Can / Should / Will” framework. Many believers know they can help and even admit they should — but the real question is whether they will.
- Challenge the group not to stay passive. The goal is not guilt, but movement toward faithful participation in the body.
- This is a good week to invite people toward concrete obedience: serving, discipling, evangelizing, encouraging, or speaking the truth in love.
Application
Have each person answer these two questions:
- What is one specific way I can help build up the body of Christ this week?
- What is one relationship where I need to speak the truth in love?
Prayer Time
Pray that:
- people would trust Jesus for the first time,
- believers would stop staying passive,
- the church would grow in maturity and love,
- and Lifepoint would be a church that is all in on building with Jesus.