Ephesians 4:1-3

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.

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Ephesians 4:4-6

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.

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Ephesians 4:7-10

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 led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’ (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.) www.networkchristian.org

Ephesians 4:11-13

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s 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.

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Ephesians 4:14

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 men in their deceitful scheming.

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Ephesians 4:15-16

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into 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.

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Do not discount the gift that in Christ we are NEW creations.

My PAST is no longer held against me in the eyes of God.

But with forgiveness God has given us in Christ a new NATURE from which to begin writing a different future.

God takes away our UNRIGHTEOUSNESS and gives to us His RIGHTEOUSNESS

I am new, but I am also in the PROCESS of being made new.

With your new nature you have a received a new CALLING

Too often we use the language of “call” to speak only of VOCATIONAL ministry.

Live a life worthy is to live a life that REFLECTS God’s call in everything I do.

The Spirit gives unity; it is up to us to MAINTAIN it.

God has gifted and equipped you for MINISTRY

Paul leaves no room for anyone to say, “I have NOTHING to offer”.

The problem is we COMPARE our gifts to one another often discounting ourselves because we are not “as good as” or are “different from”.

What is important is not what you would do if you were gifted differently, but what you do with the gifts that God PURPOSED to give you.

Please take a moment to fill out yourCommunication Card

My Next Step Today is to:( ) Do the home life help (in bulletin)( ) Identify where I need to embrace that I am not who I use to be.( ) Identify an area to work on that is not fitting with my “new nature” in Christ. ( ) Thank God for my gifts.( ) Seek ways to grow in and exercise my gifts in ministry( ) Other________________________