Nov 16, 2017- Suggested Reading 2nd Service Ephesians 4

“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.”

Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)

It amazes me how far from this text Christians in 2017 have strayed. The idea that each part (each individual) of the local body of Christ has work to do for the benefit of the local church would probably be rejected by the majority of people who attend church in Belleville. Attending church on a Sunday is a decision that needs to be made each week- it is not a given in most Christian’s lives today. The reality is that church attendance must fit into our schedules and other priorities. If that is reality today, then the idea that Parkdale won’t be build up to what God intends for us, unless each person who is a part of Parkdale gets to work and does their part is so radical as to be unbelievable. But that is the vision the Lord has for His church everywhere according to Ephesians 4. The pastors and teachers are there to equip His people for works of service- not to do all the works of service themselves. The church is a body and therefore each part (each person) has work to do, and actually until each person does that work prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10) Parkdale will never have the kingdom impact God has created us to have. I don’t want you to misunderstand- I am not upset or worked up in any way- this chapter is all about God’s grace, the river of grace that you can’t stop. It is His grace that called us, His grace that gave us our spiritual gifts, His grace that brought us together and it will His grace that makes Parkdale become the church God intends us to be.

Dear Lord Jesus, Lord of Parkdale take each us to the place where we all are doing the work you have prepared for us to do at Parkdale. To your glory, to your fame, may your church be build up.