Week 20 Growing in Love
“God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ.”
Rick Warren
Today’s Passage
14As 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;
15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16from 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.
Ephesians 4:14–16 (NASB95)
Background
Quotes are summarized from Wikipedia. Passage summaries are from Biblehub.com by Jay Smith, with permission. Scripture comes from LOGOS software under license.
Quote- Richard Duane Warren (born January 28, 1954) is an American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor and author. He is the founder of Saddleback Church, an evangelical Baptist megachurch in Lake Forest, California. Since 2022, he is director of the Finishing the Task mission coalition. Warren was born in San Jose, California, the son of Jimmy and Dot Warren. His father was a Baptist minister, his mother a high-school librarian. He was raised in Ukiah, California, and graduated from Ukiah High School in 1972, where he founded the first Christian club on the school's campus. Warren says he was called to full-time ministry when he was a 19-year-old student at California Baptist University. In November 1973, he and a friend skipped classes and drove 350 miles to hear W. A. Criswell preach at the Jack Tar Hotel in San Francisco. Warren waited afterwards to shake hands with Criswell, who focused on Warren, stating, "I feel led to lay hands on you and pray for you!"
Passage- The book of Ephesians is a Prison Epistle (letter written while in prison). Paul wrote it about 60-62 A.D. The key personalities of Ephesians are the Apostle Paul and Tychicus. It was written to encourage believers to walk as fruitful followers of Christ and to serve in unity and love in the midst of persecution. Paul encourages the believer to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling”. Every believer has a responsibility to live as servants of Jesus Christ. Paul teaches that it takes hard work to be in unity with others, and that we are to be “imitators of God” (5:1). He mentions imperative truths and advice for well-functioning families, including husbands and wives who upon the oath of marriage become as “one flesh” (5:31). Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church (body of believers) and the way that Jesus Christ loved the church is the way that the husband must love his treasured wife, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her" (5:25).
Opening Statement
Is love just something meant for us to take in or is it something we have in abundance to hand out? Is love a precious treasure to be coveted or something to be give to everyone like candy from a parade float? What do we do with the love we have and the love we are shown?
Ask: What does growing in love mean?
Point: Perhaps verse 15 from Today’s Passage gives us a clue. Please read the following:
15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Ephesians 4:15 (NASB95)
Ask: What does that word “truth” mean?
Point: Let’s look at the Greek word used. Please see the Definitions Page.
Ask: The root of the Greek word for truth is based on it being real so what is real about love?
Point: If Christians say we love, it is all about love, and love is at the heart of our faith people should experience real, tangible things from Christians they can connect with love.
Ask: Does this mean just what I think love is or what you think love is?
Point: No, and yes. Please read the following:
16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:16 (KJV 1900)
Ask: What does that verse in the King James Version from Today’s Passage tell us about what love is according to God?
Point: It says a lot. It says the body of Christ, the church should be correctly brought together, fitly. It says all the parts, meaning gifts, should be properly working together, effectual. It also means the unique love we each bring to the body of Christ should add something the body didn’t have, edifying.
Ask: What does “edifying” mean?
Point: Please see the Definitions page.
Ask: According to the English definition of Edifying how do we morally or spiritually lift someone up?
Point: Relate the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the everlasting, unchanging word of God to them.
Ask: To whom should we be doing this?
Point: The “edifying” part is for the body of Christ, the Church as outlined in Today’s Passage. Please read the following:
15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
16from 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.
Ephesians 4:15–16 (NASB95)
Ask: What about the Great Commission? Aren’t we supposed to “make disciples of all the world?”
Point: Yes, but the edifying and lifting up morally and spiritually is for the Body of Christ, the church, those who already believe. The good news of the Gospel of Christ that sins are forgiven is the evangelism for the world. Please read the following:
13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.
14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:13–14 (NASB95)
Ask: If we want to be “mature” what then should we be doing?
Point: Mature Christians should be consuming “solid food”, discussing harder topics within the church, and becoming more astute in the usage of the Word of God through association with other believers. Please read the following.
17Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.
18He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.
Proverbs 27:17–18 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
19As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man. 20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied. 21The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him. 22Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him. 23Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; 24For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, 27And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens. Proverbs 27:19–27 (NASB95)
Tasks for the Week
Task 1 Re-read the Closing Statement and consider it in the context of being a mature Christian.
Task 2 Re-read the Closing Statement and list the things you see in there as building up brothers and sisters in Christ.
Task 3 Re-read the Closing Statement and contemplate those things that passage highlights you have as gifts meant to “edify” the Body of Christ.
Task 4 Re-read the Closing Statement and contemplate those things you feel convicted of that you do not do well that might be bringing down the Body of Christ.
Task 5 Re-read the Closing Statement, pray, and ask God to direct your ways to make sure you walk His path for your life instead of your path.
Definitions
All definitions come from Dictionary.com
All Greek entries are from James Strong as listed in the LOGOS software attributed as WORDSearch 2020
15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, Ephesians 4:15 (NASB95)
Greek Strong’s Number: 226
Greek Word: ἀληθεύω
Transliteration: alētheuō
Phonetic Pronunciation: al-ayth-yoo’-o
Root: from <G227>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 1:251,37
Part of Speech: v
Vine’s Words: True, Truly, Truth
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
tell the truth 1
speak the truth 1
[Total Count: 2]
from <G227> (alethes); to be true (in doctrine and profession):- speak (tell) the truth.
James Strong, “Ἀληθεύω,” in Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
Greek Strong’s Number: 227
Greek Word: ἀληθής
Transliteration: alēthēs
Phonetic Pronunciation: al-ay-thace’
Root: from <G1> (as a negative particle) and <G2990>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 1:247,37
Part of Speech: adj
Vine’s Words: Indeed, True, Truly, Truth
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
true 23
truly 1
truth 1
[Total Count: 25]
from <G1> (a) (as a negative particle) and <G2990> (lanthano); true (as not concealing):- true, truly, truth.
James Strong, “Ἀληθής,” in Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:16 (KJV 1900)
Greek Strong’s Number: 3619
Greek Word: οἰκοδομή
Transliteration: oikodomē
Phonetic Pronunciation: oy-kod-om-ay’
Root: feminine (abstract) of a compound of <G3624> and the base of <G1430>
Cross Reference: TDNT - 5:144,674
Part of Speech: n f
Vine’s Words: Build, Builder, Building, Edification, Edify, Edifying
Usage Notes:
English Words used in KJV:
edifying 7
building 6
edification 4
wherewith (one) may edify 1
[Total Count: 18]
Feminine (abstract) of a compound of <G3624> (oikos) and the base of <G1430> (doma); architecture, i.e. (concrete) a structure; figurative confirmation:- building, edify (-ication, -ing).
James Strong, “Οἰκοδομή,” in Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary (WORDsearch, 2020).
Edifying
[ ed-uh-fahy-ing ]
adjective
Instructive or beneficial, especially morally or spiritually; uplifting:
We had our meals together, during which we listened to reading from an edifying children's book.