Ephesians 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 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. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. A healthy church has spiritual . v. 1-6 A healthy church celebrates spiritual . v. 7-12 For other spiritual gifts passages see: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 27-31; Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. Romans 12:6 NIV A healthy church grows people to spiritual . v. 12-16 Questions for personal reflection and/or Discipleship Group: Opener: What is your image of “church”? How would you complete this sentence: “Church is ___________”? Go to the Source: Read Ephesians 4:1-16. What do you sense God saying to you from this passage? What is the purpose of the gifts given (v. 8-13)? Live it out: BE: of the five qualities in v. 2, which one still needs developing in your life? DO: of the five APEST gifts listed in v. 11; which one resonates most with you? What other gifts or natural talents do you have that could build up the body of Christ? What is one strength you have that you could use to bless others?