Last night we resumed our Tuesday night services. When the church that bought our old building moved in, we switched the time and location for this midweek service. And we started meeting at our new location on Wednesday nights. But we have not met since Easter, as the move has been in full swing since then. So last night, we began again on Tuesday nights. And I picked up my study of Ephesians, which I have been away from since the end of last year. Did you get all of that? Me neither. Bottom-line, we resumed our Tuesday night services and I resumed my exposition of the Ephesians.

I probably should have waited a week or two before I resumed Ephesians. I am still unpacking my books in my new study and moving into my new “war room.” And it was our first week back, with all that that means. But I was eager to get back at it. So I picked up where I left off. I am at Ephesians 4:7-16. Of course, this is too much text for me to handle in one setting. So I will do it in three parts. I started last night with verses 7-10.

Footnote: I was asked last night why I didn’t do more review of where we had been so far in this study. I thought it was a good question. But I was kind of surprised that someone would consider it a big deal.  I honestly never thought about it. When I am preaching a series, I work hard to make sure that each message can stand on its own. So it does not require that you hear a previous message (or messages) to follow the train of thought for the current message. Likewise, I think if I am preaching a series or not, i strive to make sure that I bring whatever part of the larger context is relevant for the present message. And  I tried to do that last night. I pray the message was clear, faithful, and helpful.

Here is the sermon skeleton…

Title: “How Christ Grows His Church”

Text: Ephesians 4:7-10

Theme: The growth of the body of Christ

Point: Christ grows his church by his gracious enablement and his sovereign authority.

Outline:

I. Christ grows his church by his gracious enablement (v. 7)

    A. Christ’s gracious enablement is necessary.

    B. Christ’s gracious enablement is personal.

    C. Christ’s gracious enablement is sufficient.

II. Christ grows his church by his sovereign authority (vv. 8-10)

     A. The promise of Christ’s authority (v. 8)

    B. The proof of Christ’s authority (vv. 9-10)

       1. He descended (v. 9)

       2. He ascended (v. 10)