SESSION FOUR Ephesians 4:1-16
Are We Building as One? Year B—Lectionary 18 / 9 Pentecost
Preaching Supports
Focus Statement The Spirit binds us together to build up the church, uniting us in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
Key Verse Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit 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. Ephesians 4:15-16
Theme Statement
An overarching glimpse of the entire worship series. Often we don’t notice that a building is being constructed until the walls go up. From purchase of the land to the architectural design, from surveying to excavating, a lot can escape our notice if we are not personally involved in the project. Then one day something changes and we see a new edifice rising. Many of Paul’s letters were written to churches with a long laundry list of problems. The letter of Ephesians is unique. Paul saw the need for a new vision for the church. It does not address problems within the church but problems outside the church and ways that God’s people could gracefully meet those challenges. This would be a church built on love. The town of Ephesus proved to be an especially good building site for this increasingly visible church. Membership in many churches today is declining. Some consider the church to be an ineffective earthly institution. This series is an opportunity to examine the church’s divine origins and lessons which can guide us in mission and ministry. Paul’s message in Ephesians is not limited to the people of ancient Ephesus. Its powerful insights are designed to inspire churches and leaders for all time. 1. 2. 3.
Tip Many of the creative worship suggestions in these preaching and liturgy supports require some preparation, so please look through them well in advance.
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Are We Building in Love? Ephesians 1:3-14 (Year B—Lectionary 15 / 6 Pentecost) Are We Building without Walls? Ephesians 2:11-22 (Year B—Lectionary 16 / 7 Pentecost) Are We Building beyond Measure? Ephesians 3:14-21 (Year B—Lectionary 17 / 8 Pentecost) Are We Building as One? Ephesians 4:1-16 (Year B—Lectionary 18 / 9 Pentecost) Are We Building Up? Part I: Ephesians 4:25—5:2 (Year B—Lectionary 19 / 10 Pentecost) Part II: Ephesians 5:15-20 (Year B—Lectionary 20 / 11 Pentecost) Are We Built to Withstand? Ephesians 6:10-20 (Year B—Lectionary 21 / 12 Pentecost)
Text Study
An expository summary of the reading related to the Together in Faith Adult Bible Study. Today’s passage underscores the value of Christian unity. The sevenfold formula of oneness in Ephesians 4:46 underscores the exponential power of this unity in the church, unity made possible because of our unity “in Christ.” This passage parallels ancient formulas used by Hellenistic Jews to describe unity of the people, temple, and Torah with the unity of God. The Great Shema proclaims “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, is one” (Deuteronomy 6: 4). Preaching Supports: Ephesians 4:1-16, p. 1 Book of Faith is an initiative of the ELCA, © 2009 Augburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use provided that each copy carries this notice.
Ephesians 4:8 contains a reference to Psalm 68:18 which recalled Moses’ ascension up Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments. This psalm was traditionally associated with the festival of Pentecost, which celebrates the day of the giving of the Torah. Significantly, Pentecost was also a festival of the spring harvest, the first fruits of the growing season. The birthdate of the church was also on Pentecost, when many of the first believers were gathered into the Christian community (Acts 2). This Psalm, which commemorates the gift of the Torah, is used in Ephesians 4 in reference to the gifts of the Spirit. Both are divine gifts that enable unity with God and one another. Both are signs of God’s love for us and God’s desire for our growth into Christ-like maturity (Ephesians 4:13). Ephesians 4: 16 says, “. . . the whole body, joined and knit together. . . as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.” The word for “joined” is a term that applies to both construction and biological metaphors. In both cases it refers to well-crafted, strong, and mutually supportive interconnectivity. The word “body” is a metaphor for the church—a mystical body of believers, the living temple of God. The Temple of Artemis may have been an architectural wonder, held up by 127 solid, 60-foot marble columns, but the church of Christ, fastened by grace, and is supported by solid pillars of God’s gifted people. Ephesians 4 describes the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These gifts are given to enable God’s people to do their work of ministry. An early word for religious leader was diakonos, or “one who waits on table” (Acts 6:1-6). All church leaders benefit from this humble reminder that Jesus demonstrated many acts of selflessness in his life and ministry. He is our model of the servant leadership that holds the whole church together in love. Insights from the Original Language: Henotēs: Unity. Only occurs twice in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:3 and 4:13). It describes an agreement in Spirit and a constant care to protect the unity, but also to resolve difficulties, dissensions, and divisions which threaten it. Unity in Christ has been described as the central message of this letter. Synarmologeō: Fitted or joined together as parts of a building or a body. Only occurs twice in the New Testament (Ephesians 2:21 and 4:16). In construction terms, it means “to frame together.” Teleios: Maturity (Ephesians 4:13). Refers to the virtue, mind, and character, and integrity of a full grown adult having wisdom to appreciate and practice the divine. Also referenced in 1 Corinthians 13:10. Apostolos: A messenger or delegate who is sent out (Ephesians 4:11). Term used of twelve apostles including Paul, but also Barnabas, Silas, and others. The New Testament describes them as the foundational teachers of the Christian faith. Euaggelistēs: Means one who brings or shares “good news” (Ephesians 4:11). This is not just any good news. This is the best news ever! It brings us the greatest freedom the world has ever known. We are no longer slaves to the ways of the world but free to follow God’s way. When we truly recieve God’s message of salvation we want to share it with others. It’s impossible to keep something that great to ourselves! The fourth chapter of 2 Timothy describes the challenge of this task: “as for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully” (verse 5).
Sermon Outlines
The first outline is designed for use if the scheduling of this series corresponds with the Church Year calendar. The second outline is provided for general use at any time of the year.
Outline 1: (Lectionary-based Sermon) Gospel Connection: It is clear in John 6:24-35 that the crowd thought that it was Moses who gave the people the bread from heaven (manna). Preaching Supports: Ephesians 4:1-16, p. 2 Book of Faith is an initiative of the ELCA, © 2009 Augburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use provided that each copy carries this notice.
Jesus taught that Moses had no such power. Jesus instructed the crowd to remember all such power comes from God. Ironically, many ancient Rabbis taught that Moses was later punished for striking a rock for water, an act where he tried to take credit for the miracle. In the same manner, we need to remember that Christian unity is a gift from God. This is a unity that transcends the usual things that bind us together (common language, history, ancestry, traditions). God’s gift of sustaining unity brings all of God’s children together from all parts of God’s creation despite barriers of language, tradition, or history. Our faith community is not torn by differences (like with the Tower of Babel) but brought together as the church of Pentecost. Title: “The Ties of Love” Introduction: This message is NOT about the various kinds of ties we give to the dapper men in our lives. No, it’s about a hymn written by Rev. Dr. John Fawcett. Pastor Fawcett served the same church for many years. He wrote this hymn after being invited to move elsewhere. After much prayer and struggle, he knew the Spirit was encouraging him to stay. He wrote the hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” (ELW 656) to express the many ways that God’s love binds us together. The hymn also speaks of burdens to bear. How can we help each other? What does it mean to be the family of God? These are all questions that today’s epistle lesson longs to answer! 1. Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; a. Ties of selfless concern: “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” b. Ties of genuine deference: “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” 2. The unity of heart and mind is like to that above. a. Heavenly fellowship on earth: “Making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” b. Kin in Christ: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” 3. Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; a. Prayers for God’s gifts of grace: “But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.’” b. Prayers for the grace to BE God’s gifts: “(When it says, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)” 4. Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. a. All for one: “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” b. One for all: “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.” 5. We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear; a. Together against falsehood: “We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine.” b. Together against confusion: “By people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.” 6. And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. a. Tears of growing pains: “But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Preaching Supports: Ephesians 4:1-16, p. 3 Book of Faith is an initiative of the ELCA, © 2009 Augburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use provided that each copy carries this notice.
Tears of joy in maturity: “From whom the whole body, joined and knit 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.”
Outline 2: (Thematic Sermon) Title: “Costly Grace” Introduction: The recently published User’s Guide to Baptism by Martin Marty explores the nature of the church and God’s relationship to us. It all comes down to grace. The third article of the creed affirms that, as the body of Christ, we are members of God’s household. Our membership begins at baptism wherein the Holy Spirit “ignites” gifts in each one of us. We need to respect our differences because we are joined together in common mission. We accept and affirm God’s grace as we share it with one another. 1. Baptism is a means of grace that reminds us God is connected with us at all times. a. God is present in good times, unhappy ones, dangerous times, circumstances of temptation, failure, and even times of success and prosperity (which can be the most difficult time to remember God). b. In chapter three, “Using the Faith Connected with Baptism,” Marty writes, “One hopes that in our own age of individualism, the baptized will regain a strong sense of community” (p. 38)—a theme Paul stressed emphatically in Ephesians 4. 2. While some Christian traditions emphasize the connection between baptism and “forgiveness,” in Pauline theology, the accent is on “unity.” a. Paul spoke of the believing community as being so intimate and so mutually committed that the metaphor of the body was appropriate in describing the community of the faithful: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Corinthian 12:1213). b. In the letter to the Ephesians, the bond of unity and communion is most profound, most urgently stated: “There is one body and one Spirit . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Ephesians 4:4-5). 3. Marty points out that our baptism is also very dangerous. a. It is related to two deaths. We are reminded that “in baptism our gracious Father frees us from sin and death” by “joining us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.” b. We understand that our baptisms send us back into a violent world that sometimes rejects agents of God’s good grace. We are reunited with a world in need of unity “in Christ.” Luther also reminded us to take our baptisms very seriously. The best things in life never come cheaply. Our lives depend upon it!
Children’s Lesson
The first option is designed for use if the scheduling of this series corresponds with the Church Year calendar. The second option is provided for general use at any time of the year.
Option 1: (Lectionary-based Lesson) Supplies needed: lots of crazy ties! Perhaps you can convince the men in your church to wear their novelty ties—whether funny or meaningful in some way, so long as they were given in love! Good morning, children! Did you notice something unusual around here this morning? Maybe your dad even did something kind of weird today. Maybe I can get some men up here to let you know what I’m talking about (pre-select some men to come up who are wearing the funniest or most poignant ties). Discuss the ties. These sure are crazy ties, but there is something that ties them all together—get it, ties
Preaching Supports: Ephesians 4:1-16, p. 4 Book of Faith is an initiative of the ELCA, © 2009 Augburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use provided that each copy carries this notice.
them all together! It’s the fact that they were all gifts. And that all these gifts were given in love. Love sometimes gives funny gifts because it knows the other person so well. Love knows what makes us happy. God knows what makes us happy, and so God gave us the gift of love in Jesus. Our faith in Jesus ties us all together as one! It’s our source of joy and strength. Together we can do things in love for God’s wide world that we could never do by ourselves. (If men are willing to empty their closets of crazy ties, you might collect some to give to the kids as they leave. Perhaps you could even schedule a tie-tying workshop between the services!) “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love!”
Option 2: (Thematic Lesson) Supplies needed: 1) sporting equipment, 2) coach’s whistle. It’s summer time. Show the children a baseball, bat, and glove. Talk about the game. Ask them if they have ever played. Discuss the various positions: batter, pitcher, catcher, infield, and outfield. Compare these positions to the various roles in Ephesians 4:1-16. Ask them about the importance of the coach. Who is our coach that keeps us together? Jesus binds us together and enables us work, play, and have fun together in the glory of God’s creation.
Ideas and Images for Preaching
What follows are a variety of creative ways to enhance the communication of the message. While some links to ideas and images are provided, permission and payment may be required for congregational use.
Active Participation Ways to create an active learning environment. Ephesians is unique because it does not contain a long laundry list of problems. The letter is a celebration of the many healthy aspects of ministry together and recommendations that enable spiritual health and growth together. Ephesians 4:13 describes the goal of achieving Christian maturity. Take a moment to the sermon to have congregational members turn to one another to share ways that they have experienced signs of Christian maturity both within themselves and their church.
Clips TV, movies and miscellaneous video. Option #1: Ephesians 4:1-6 (from http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/319/ephesians-4-1-6-) Option #2: One Cross/One Body (from http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/2045/one-cross--one-body) Option #3: Build the Bridge (from http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/22183/build-the-bridge) Option #4: The Power of Unity (from http://www.sermonspice.com/videos/3924/the-power-of-unity)
Humor Jokes, cartoons, and miscellaneous funny stuff. Question: Why is coffee referred to as a third “Lutheran sacrament”—an occasion for unity? Johann Sebastian Bach was an avid coffee drinker and devout Lutheran. He composed a “Coffee Cantata” in 1732. This satirical operetta tells of a cruel father who forbids his daughter from drinking the evil drink. He would not let her marry if she continued to drink coffee. She begged, “Father, don’t be so severe! If I can’t drink my bowl of coffee three times daily, then in my torment I will shrivel up like a piece of roast goat.” She ultimately refused to marry any man who would not let her (written into the wedding contract) allow her to make coffee whenever she choose! In Coffee by Claudia Rosen she says that, in the sixteenth century, Pope Clement VIII considered banning “the devil’s drink.” He decided to give it a taste test first and declared it “to be so delicious, that it would be a pity to let the pagans have exclusive use of it. We shall cheat Satan by baptizing it.” A Franciscan friar named Marciano d’Aviano stopped a foreign invasion of Austria and helped invent cappuccino. The
Preaching Supports: Ephesians 4:1-16, p. 5 Book of Faith is an initiative of the ELCA, © 2009 Augburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use provided that each copy carries this notice.
retreating enemy left behind bags of coffee beans, which the Viennese found so bitter that they added milk and sugar. Some say this sweet and frothy drink was called “cappuccino” after Marciano’s Capuchin order (named for their brown robes). Pope John Paul II (a coffee lover) pronounced Marciano d’Aviano a saint in 2003, citing, of course, additional miracles performed. (Author’s Note: Of course the story about Marco d’Aviano is consider a hoax by some. It’s a cute story anyways.) Today the Lutheran World Relief Coffee Project obtains coffee through Equal Exchange, helping small farmers through fair trade practices. Several churches have opened coffee rooms with clever names like “Holy Grounds.”
Illustrations Stories and anecdotes that enhance understanding. Illustration #1: One in Christ Early church traditions indicate the apostle John moved to Ephesus and became the bishop of Asia Minor. Some claim Mary, mother of Jesus, accompanied him and she became a valued partner in ministry. John and Mary stood for a different type of love than the one found in the temple of Artemis; they shared the love for Jesus that bound them together at the foot of the cross. Illustration #2: Together in Ministry Pricilla and Aquila were a husband and wife team that shared ministry together (author’s note: a significant inspiration for us who have passed over thirty years of ministry together). They worked together in Corinth with Paul for many months. Later they sailed with Paul (Acts 18:19) from Corinth to Ephesus. All three were quite familiar with the challenges of planting a church in this challenging mission field.
Projection NOTE: The PowerPoint presentation provided for use in the Book of Faith Adult Bible Studies can be easily adapted for worship settings.
Props and Objects Ideas for designing a more multi-sensory sermon. Option #1: Yarn, knitting needles. Perhaps you could have someone sit and knit throughout the service to illustrate the way God knits us all together as one body in Christ. Option #2: A 3-D, anatomical version of the human body, like those used in science classes, can be used to illustrate the interconnectivity of God’s gifted people.
Images Links to photos or art that enhance multimedia presentations. Option #1: Knitted heart (from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mararie/2383229392/) Option #2: Knitted cross (from http://www.flickr.com/photos/dumbledad/2897809593/) Option #3: Knitting hands (from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cedwardmoran/861501588/) Option #4: May the Circle Be Unbroken (from http://www.flickr.com/photos/risager/2194845999/) Option #5: Hmm! Coffee. (from http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PvIDLqqkDJo/SV0OIHb9mjI/AAAAAAAAI-0/ jhz8naL8mg8/S718/DSC_0002.JPG)
Links Are you a helpful link? Consider making any creative worship ideas that your congregation develops available for more churches to use via the social networking features of www.bookoffaith.org.
Preaching Supports: Ephesians 4:1-16, p. 6 Book of Faith is an initiative of the ELCA, © 2009 Augburg Fortress. May be reproduced for local use provided that each copy carries this notice.
