Introduction
In this session, Ephesians chapter 4: 1-10, we will focus on understanding the stakeholders’ ROLES in creating and maintaining the Unity and maturity of the body of Christ in a corrupt environment. (stakeholders are interested parties of the believers’ good or evil: Christ, Believers themselves, the corrupt leaders and the church workers). Paul emphasizes the place and power of Oneness for the new community, the family of God in this corrupt world.
Objectives
By the end of this session, the learner will have:
- Understood the meaning of Unity and maturity of the body of Jesus Christ
- Understood the stakeholders’ ROLES in creating and maintaining the UNITY of the body of Christ in a corrupt environment (stakeholders are interested parties of the believers’ good or evil: Christ, Believers themselves, the corrupt leaders and the church workers)
- Listed dos and don’ts of believers in Christ in walking in unity in a corrupt environment
Outline
- Walking in Unity of the body of Christ
- Walking in the Maturity of the body of Christ
- Believer’s role in maintaining unity
- Christ’s role in maintaining Unity
Group Study Time
Ephesians 4: 1-10
Connecting
- Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
- Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
- Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
- Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.
Comprehending
- What is the meaning of Unity in the body of Christ? What is maturity in the body of Christ? What is walking in Unity and maturity? (Consider what you say, what you do and what you are)
- Read Eph. 4: 4-6. List 7 times the name ONE is mentioned to show perfect UNITY. What does Paul say about perfect unity created by God? What is the role of the New family’s unity in a corrupt world?
- Read 4: 1-3, By the Grace of God, the believers are called to maintain UNITY of the Spirit. List 5 things every believer must be, or do, to maintain the UNITY of the body of Christ?
- Read 4: 7-10. Describe the transaction Christ did to create the unity of his body. (Transaction means buying, selling or giving.)
Committing
- Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
- List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
- Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
- Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
- Sin to confess
- Promise to claim
- Attitude to change
- Command to keep
- Error to change
- Prayer to make
- Example to copy
- Truth to obey and
- Something praiseworthy
Communicating
- Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
- Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
- Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.
Post Lesson Teaching Summary
Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!
Walking worthy of your calling in Unity and maturity
Ephesians 4: 1-10
Audio Summary
Ephesians 4:1-10
Context
- Paul, from prison, urges the Ephesian church to live out their wealth as God’s unified family, focusing on their work in unity and maturity.
- The passage outlines believers’ and Christ’s roles in maintaining unity in a corrupt world.
Unity and Maturity in Work (Ephesians 4:1-10)
- Believers’ Role: Live worthy of their calling by being humble, gentle, patient, and bearing with one another in love, striving for unity through peace.
- Unity’s Foundation: One body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, and God unite the church, emphasizing equality among Jews and Gentiles.
- Christ’s Role: Ascended after descending, Christ gave gifts—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers—to equip believers for ministry.
- Purpose: These gifts foster unity and maturity, enabling the church to reflect Christ’s glory in a Christ-rejecting world.
- Stakeholders: Believers, Christ, church workers, and corrupt society influence the church’s work, requiring effort to maintain unity.
Application
- Live humbly and patiently, pursue unity, and use Christ’s gifts to mature in faith, glorifying God in a corrupt world.