By Garry Knighton Church of Christ/North - Shreveport, La.
	BUILDING A STRONG CHURCH SERIES - Lesson 1 FORMULA FOR A STRONG CHURCH

• Ephesians 4:1-16.
  INTRODUCTION:
• • Christ's church was designed by God - Ephesians 3:7-10.
    • No accident.
    • Not result of man's plan - Ephesians 1:3-4.
    • Church is of God - I Corinthians 1:2.
  • The Church is the "called out ones" - Ephesians 2:1-3.
    • The saved - Ephesians 5:23.
    • The church is the Body of Christ - Ephesians 1:22-23.
      • "Body" means that the Lord directs.
  • The Church is a living organism - I Peter 2:5.
    • Living things must grow or die.
    • The church can live, grow, give God glory and edify the saints by this plan.

• THE NECESSARY ELEMENT - EPHESIANS 4:1-2.
  • The church is a calling - v. 1-3.
    • Must view as a vocation.
    • Must put the kingdom first - Matthew 6:33.
  • Our commitment must show forth Christ - Galatians 2:20
  • The church activity is the center, not the sideline.
• THE CLIMATE OF GROWTH - U-N-I-T-Y - EPHESIANS 4:3-6.
  • Jesus prayed for unity - John 17:20-21.
  • Paul condemned division - I Corinthians 1:10-13.
  • Unity - oneness of mind - Acts 2:42-46.
    • Doctrinal matters - I Corinthians 4:6.
    • Expedient matters - "the best, fastest, most appropriate way."
    • Liberty - in areas of no command or example.
• THE "TRUTH" IS THE SOURCE OF GROWTH - EPHESIANS 4:15.
  • The church is planted through teaching the Word of God.
    • Word is the SEED - Luke 8:11.
    • Jerusalem church is an example of the teaching of the Apostles - Acts 2:39, 42, 47.
    • The church grew because the Word was preached - Acts 8:4.
    • Antioch resulted from the preaching of the Word - Acts 11:19-26.
  • God's Word is called "milk" - I Peter 2:2.
  • God's Word is called "meat" - solid food - Hebrews 5:12-14.
  • If the church is to be edified we must:
    • Teach it to our people - 2 Timothy 4:1-4.
    • Teach it to faithful men - 2 Timothy 2:1-2.
    • Christians must grow in the knowledge of Christ - 2 Peter 1:8.
• EACH MEMBER MUST BE INVOLVED - EPHESIANS - 4:16.
  • Each member is important, needed and useful for the welfare of the whole church.
  • Every joint supplying - 4:16.
    • Without each holding his part the building will fall.

• CONCLUSION:
  • What is standard for measuring church growth? When every member:
    • Is becoming more Christ like - Philippians 2:5.
    • Is gaining more power to stand against the Evil One - Ephesians 4:27.
    • Is "Always abounding" in the work of the Lord - I Corinthians 15:58.
    • Is supplying his or her part.

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