What is the Lord teaching us in Ephesians 4:11–12?
Up to this point in Ephesians 4, Paul has reminded us that we share one faith, one Lord, and one hope. Then he showed us that Christ gives different gifts to different believers. Now he takes another step forward and shows how those gifts help the whole church grow.
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
When people talk about gifts, we often think about abilities. But in these verses, the gifts are people.
Christ gives certain people to the church to help others grow. Some of these roles were especially important in the early days of the church. Others continue today as men preach the gospel, teach the Bible, and care for God's people.
If you've ever had a faithful pastor, teacher, or Christian mentor who helped you understand God's Word, you've experienced one of Christ's gifts to His church.
This is another reminder that we need one another. The Christian life was never meant to be lived alone.
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"
Verse 12 explains why Christ gives these leaders.
Their job is to help believers grow and become ready to serve. The picture is not a church where one person does all the work while everyone else watches.
A healthy church looks more like a family working together. Some teach. Some encourage. Some visit the sick. Some pray faithfully. Some help quietly behind the scenes. Not everyone serves in the same way, but everyone has a part.
As each person serves, the church becomes stronger. People are encouraged. Needs are met. The body of Christ is built up one act of service at a time.
What can we glean from this passage?
Christ has not called most Christians to stand behind a pulpit. But He has called every Christian to be part of His work.
The leaders Christ gives to a church are there to help God's people grow, learn, and serve. Their goal is not to gather all the work to themselves but to help others become useful in the Lord's service.
In the first part of Ephesians 4, we saw that we are united in Christ. Then we learned that Christ gives different gifts to different people. Now we see why: so the whole church can grow together.
Every believer matters. Every act of service matters. And Christ is the One who puts it all together.
