Love First Love: Why Are You Part of the Church? / Ephesians 4:7-16

Go ahead and pick up your Bible and turn to Ephesians chapter four. As you’re turning there, I have a question for you: Why are you here?

Before you start freaking out, this isn’t going to be some deep, philosophical question about why you exist in the universe. I’m talking about something very simple: Why are you here today, in this room, right now, with these other people? Why did you come?

I want you to think about that for a second.

The Four Levels of Attendance

I was a youth pastor for several years, and it didn’t take me long to notice that there were different levels of people coming for completely different reasons. I began grouping them into categories.

Level one was all the students who came because they had to, not because they wanted to. You know who I’m talking about. Their mother or their father forced them to come, and that’s why they were there. They didn’t want to be there, but somebody was making them.

Even though we’re adults now, I think some of us are still on level one. Maybe your mom didn’t drag you here today, but some people come because their spouse expects them to. They think, I don’t really want to go, but my spouse makes me. Some people start attending church when they have children, thinking, I don’t really want to be here, but I probably should be here for the kids. Or maybe you come because you feel guilty when you’re not here—you feel like God is making you feel bad if you miss. You think, I know I’m supposed to be there, even if I don’t want to be. If we’re being honest, some of us in this room are pretty close to level one.

Then there is level two. Level two is when someone might start out on level one, but as they hang around, they make some friends. They start having fun, playing games, and they actually want to come. But they want to come for reasons other than spiritual reasons. They aren’t bad reasons; they’re just social or emotional. You think, I just feel good when I’m there.

When I was in youth group, my reason for coming for many years came down to two words: Julie Eppley. Man, I was there for that! Some of you are on level two right now. You’re coming because of a specific person you get to see, or a group of friends. It’s a social connection or an emotional boost. Or maybe it’s even intellectual—it makes you think about interesting concepts. But it’s still level two.

Then there is level three. Level three is what I always hoped our students would reach. Level three means coming for a spiritual reason. You come because you want to grow. You want to hear the teaching. Even if Julie is still there, your mindset shifts. You think, I still care about her, but I love this more. Even if Julie wasn’t here, I’d still come because I am getting something out of this spiritually. I’m learning how to grow, discovering what Christianity is all about, and learning how to live out the life God purposed for me. That is level three.

Many of us in this room have reached level three. The primary reason you’re here is that you want to grow spiritually in your walk with God.

For a long time, I thought that was the top. But then I discovered that level three is not the highest level. Some of you might be wondering, Isn’t that the whole point? Isn’t growing spiritually the ultimate reason we come to church?

Is it? Or is there a level four?

I believe that in Ephesians chapter four, Paul describes level four. He reveals the ultimate reason we should gather with other believers—whether here on a Sunday morning, in a life group, or sitting together at Starbucks. We come together for a reason, but it might be radically different from what we typically think.

Grace According to the Measure of Christ

Last week, Shay did a great job introducing Ephesians 4. In the first three chapters, Paul laid out all the blessings God has given us—what He has done for us and how He placed us into one body of believers. Then, in chapter four, Paul shifts gears. He essentially says: Now that you know what God has done for you and who He has made you, walk in it! Live in it. Devour it. He tells us not to create unity, but to preserve the unity God has already established.

In verses 4 through 6, Paul lists all the things we share: one Lord, one God and Father, one Spirit, one body, one baptism, and one ultimate hope. We have so much in common. But as Shay pointed out, unity does not mean uniformity. Having all these things in common doesn’t mean we are all identical. Just look around—we aren’t the same, and we were never meant to be.

To make sure his readers understood that unity is not uniformity, Paul writes in verse 7:

Ephesians 4:7 (NASB)

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Every single one of us has been uniquely gifted by Jesus Christ. You have a specific measure of Christ’s gift. The person next to you has a different measure. I have a different measure. We are diverse, yet we are designed to work together as a single unit.

Paul uses the human body as an illustration. Jesus Christ is the head, and together, we are the body of Christ. If you look at me on stage, how many bodies do you see? One. But how many parts make up this body? Several. Are all the parts the same? No. My eye is completely different from my ear. My hand is totally different from my foot. They have entirely different functions, but they work together as one body in unity to accomplish a single mission.

Jesus has supernaturally gifted you so that you can function the way God designed you to function within His body.

Paul shows that this concept isn’t brand new; it was foretold in the Old Testament.

Ephesians 4:8 (NASB)

Therefore it says, ‘WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.’

Paul is quoting Psalm 68. To a Jewish reader, Psalm 68 recalled God delivering Israel out of Egyptian slavery. God came down like a conquering warrior king, defeated Egypt, rescued His captive people through the Red Sea, and destroyed Pharaoh’s army. The Israelites even plundered Egypt’s treasures as they left. God conquered the empire, rescued the captives, took the plunder, and distributed gifts to His people.

Paul explains that this wasn’t just about the Exodus; it was a prophetic picture of Jesus.

Ephesians 4:9-10 (NASB)

(Now this [expression], ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)

Jesus emptied Himself of His heavenly glory and descended to this earth. He became a servant to us slaves. We weren’t captives in Egypt; we were captives to sin, Satan, and death. Every single one of us.

Jesus went to war on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead as the victorious warrior king. He liberated us from the captivity of sin and death. When He ascended to the right hand of the Father, He had the sovereign authority to distribute gifts—not material plunder from Egypt, but spiritual gifts to every believer so that we could serve our new King.

Equipping for the Work of Service

What do these gifts look like? How does Jesus enable the body to function?

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NASB)

And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

Paul lists several foundational equipping roles given to the church:

First, He gave apostles—the “sent-out ones.” They were commissioned by Jesus Christ to lay the foundation of the church, formulate doctrine, and receive direct revelation to establish the faith.

Second, He gave prophets. The word prophet means “mouthpiece.” They were mouthpieces of God who delivered direct messages to teach and guide God’s people. Together, apostles and prophets equip us by giving us the truth. Today, we hold their God-breathed writings right here in Scripture—Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles—equipping us with God’s truth.

Third, He gave evangelists. Evangelist means “bearer of good news.” These are people with a supernatural burden and ability to communicate the gospel clearly to unbelievers. They eat, breathe, sleep, and live the gospel. When you tell an evangelist to go share the good news, they light up: “Yes! Let’s go!” But notice what Paul says: evangelists equip the saints. How do they equip us? By coming alongside us and showing us how to share the truth with a lost world.

Fourth, He gave pastors and teachers (or shepherd-teachers). These are leaders who care for the flock by teaching God’s Word, breaking down what the apostles and prophets wrote into digestible pieces, and showing us how to apply it to our everyday lives.

Look at how this works together:

• Apostles and prophets help us know the truth.
• Evangelists help us share the truth.
• Pastors and teachers help us apply the truth.

When you have those three things, you are thoroughly equipped. But why? Why are we being equipped to know, share, and apply God’s truth?

Is it just so you can grow spiritually? Is it so you can become a better version of yourself?

Look at verse 12 again. The equippers are given to prepare God’s people “for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

This is Level Four.

Level four means coming together not merely to receive, but to serve. We come not to have our needs catered to, but to meet the needs of others.

That changes everything. It means church isn’t primarily about you. Spiritual growth is vital, but don’t put a period at the end of growth. You grow so that you can serve. You are equipped so that you can do the work of ministry and build up the body of Christ.

Serving isn’t just about browsing the church website, picking a volunteer slot, and checking a box—though formal ministries are wonderful. Serving is vastly broader and more organic than that. It is living a lifestyle of actively caring for, encouraging, and building up the people around you. You are here for the person to your right, to your left, in front of you, behind you, and across the room.

Overcoming Our Excuses

I find there are usually two big excuses that keep people from doing the work of service.

Excuse #1: “I’m not ready yet.”

An opportunity to serve comes up, and someone says, “I’m not ready. If I get involved, I’ll mess it up. I’m not equipped yet. Once I get fully trained, PJ, then I’ll jump in!”

If we had to wait until we were 100% fully equipped before we started serving, do you know how many people would be serving? Zero. None of us have fully arrived.

Spiritual equipping doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s like learning to swim. You can’t say, “I need to master swimming completely before I get in the pool.” Imagine sitting on the pool deck while an instructor demonstrates arm motions. Imagine someone giving a lecture on the physics and hydrodynamics of swimming. You take notes, watch videos, listen to swimming podcasts, and watch others swim. Are you learning how to swim? No! You will never learn how to swim until you actually get in the water.

When you jump in, will you swallow some water? Absolutely. That’s part of the process. In the kingdom of God, equipping and serving happen simultaneously. As you serve, you grow; as you grow, you serve better. Don’t wait until you feel completely ready. Jump in the pool.

Excuse #2: “I don’t know my specific function.”

Others say, “I want to serve, but I don’t know my spiritual gift yet. What if I’m supposed to be a hand and I try to act like a foot? I’ll look silly. Once I discover my exact calling, then I’ll step up.”

Notice that in Ephesians 4, after naming the equipping roles, Paul doesn’t list individual job descriptions for the rest of the church. Why? Because you don’t need an exhaustive blueprint to begin serving. You just need to know that you are a vital part of the body.

Think of those wooden labyrinth games where you guide a marble through a maze by tilting the box. The player tilts the box forward, backward, left, and right to move the marble where it needs to go. We are the marble, God is holding the box, and the box is active service. When you step into the box of service, God can direct you. If you start heading down the wrong path, God will simply tilt the box and redirect you. You aren’t a failure if you try something and it doesn’t fit. The only failure is refusing to get in the box.

God cannot steer a parked car, and you cannot tilt an empty box. Get in the game. Take an opportunity. When you feel unqualified, remember that God specializes in using unqualified people so that He receives all the glory. You might not feel ready, but the Holy Spirit living in you is ready.

Crossing the Finish Line Together

How long are we supposed to keep serving and building each other up?

Ephesians 4:13 (NASB)

until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Did you catch that? Paul doesn’t say you serve until you individually become mature and reach the fullness of Christ. He says we do this until we all attain to the unity of the faith and mature manhood.

Our spiritual growth is deeply interconnected. Christianity is not an individual sprint; it’s a team race where nobody finishes until the last person crosses the finish line.

Can you think of someone who is further along in their faith than you? Can you think of someone who is struggling or trailing behind? Then we haven’t arrived yet. What are you going to do about it?

This isn’t an individualistic faith. It really is “all for one and one for all.” Every single one of us is responsible for the spiritual vitality of the whole body.

Ephesians 4:14 (NASB)

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;

The word children here refers to toddlers. Toddlers are delightful, but they are incredibly gullible. When I was two years old, I believed there was actual gold at the end of the rainbow. Toddlers believe whatever they are told.

Paul warns that if we remain isolated, we will be like spiritual toddlers—tossed around by every shifting cultural wind and deceptive teaching. Many people think the only safeguard against deception is reading more theology books or listening to more sermons. But Paul says the true defense against deception is a healthy, functioning community where we look out for one another.

Ephesians 4:15-16 (NASB)

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all [aspects] into Him who is the head, [even] Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Instead of being immature and easily deceived, we speak the truth in love to one another.

When I start drifting off course to the left, a brother or sister in Christ is there to gently and firmly push me back onto the path. When you start drifting to the right, someone is there to lovingly redirect you. When someone falls behind, the body reaches out and helps carry them forward.

Some people say, “I want to follow Jesus, but keep it private. Don’t get into my business, don’t challenge me, and don’t call me out. You do your thing, and I’ll do mine.”

That is not how the body of Christ works. When fellow believers step into your life with loving truth, they aren’t being busybodies who think they’re better than you. It is the exact opposite: they intervene because they value you. If my physical hand is injured, I don’t ignore it. I care for it because the whole body suffers without it. You are indispensable to this church.

What you do affects all of us. You cannot claim that your private struggles or isolation don’t impact anyone else. We need what only you can supply.

An Unstoppable Force

Deep down, every human heart wants to know that they are needed, valued, and part of something bigger than themselves. You were made for this. You were created to be an active part of the living body of Christ.

When Jesus Christ is the head, and every single joint supplies what it was designed to give, the body builds itself up in love.

When we move from level one, level two, and level three all the way to Level Four—declaring, “I am here for others, to serve and to build up the body of Christ”—everything changes.

It will transform your personal life. It will revitalize this church. And even greater than that, it will shake the world around us. When the world looks at us, they won’t just see isolated individuals trying to do good deeds; they will see a unified, loving, corporate body that looks like Jesus Christ. And that is a testimony the world cannot ignore.

Let’s pray.

*Lord, thank You for Your Word. I pray for every single one of us in this room, that You would move our hearts to Level Four. Thank You for the truth given to us through the apostles and prophets. Thank You for evangelists who teach us how to share Your good news, and for pastors and teachers who shepherd our hearts and help us apply Your Word.

Help us never to stop at just receiving knowledge. Equip us so that we may do the work of service. Strip away our excuses of feeling unready or unsure. Give us the courage to jump into the water, to step into the box, and to serve our brothers and sisters with joyful abandon.

Thank You that Jesus Christ is our Head. May we walk together in deep unity and love, so that a watching world will see the body of Christ and give glory to You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.*