… and become mature …
Summary: How we use language impacts how we think and what we do. It has a powerful influence on what we believe, too.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13c – Perfection”Ephesians 4:13b – Equipped for Jesus
… the knowledge of the Son of God
Summary: Paul’s word for “knowledge” leads us to a deeper understanding of what it means to know Christ and how that affects us.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13b – Equipped for Jesus”Ephesians 4:13a – Forgive Like Jesus
… until we all reach unity in the faith …
Summary: Looking at the question of unity causes us to ask, “What causes disunity?” The answer could include a million things, but today we look at the need to forgive.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13a – Forgive Like Jesus”Ephesians 4:12 – Body Builder
… to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up …
Summary: Why does God provide leaders for the body of Christ? The answer is simple; to build up the body of Christ. The surprising part is that he needs us to help.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:12 – Body Builder”Ephesians 4:11b – Circles of Faith
… apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers …
Summary: Understanding who these people are requires us to understand our relationship with Jesus, the body of Christ, and those who do not yet know our Lord.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:11b – Circles of Faith”Ephesians 4:11 – Roadmap to Success
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers …
Summary: The one thing all of the people Paul mentions have in common is leadership. Leaders, regardless of their specialty, share certain traits. Our meditation today is all about leadership.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:11 – Roadmap to Success”Ephesians 4:11-13 – The Goal of Faith
So Christ himself 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 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.
Summary: Sometimes it helps to restate what Paul has said in simpler terms. Here we look at a simplified version of this passage to get a better picture of what Paul is trying to say.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:11-13 – The Goal of Faith”Ephesians 4:10 – Things, No-Things, and All Things
He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
Summary: Deciphering Paul’s thinking can be a challenge, but it can also be very rewarding. In this passage, Paul gives us a clue as to the details of God’s plan for the redemption of humankind.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:10 – Things, No-Things, and All Things”Ephesians 4:9 – Finding Heaven
What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?
Summary: Looking at today’s passage tells us as much about Paul as it tells us about Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:9 – Finding Heaven”Ephesians 4:8 – Puzzle Pieces
This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
Summary: Sometimes, the Word of God can seem puzzling. Yet when we come before God in prayer and humility, he is faithful to open our minds to understand his Word.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:8 – Puzzle Pieces”