Preacher: Tom Yeakley
Ephesians 4:11-15
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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. 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 people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
John 15:12-14
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
- The sacrificial life = the exchanged life
- Give your life away to others for Jesus’ sake
2 Characteristics of an Equipped Disciplemaker:
- Competency / Skills to Serve Others
- Romans 12:6 – We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4 – There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
- Ephesians 4:11-12 – So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
- Find your fit! Sense God’s hand on you – satisfaction and joy and great feedback
- Eric Liddell – “When I run, I feel the God’s pleasure!”
- The Character of a Servant
- Mark 10:45 – For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.“
- Being a servant is our identity, not our activity!
- Luke 1:38 – And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
- Luke 17:10 – So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
- Called to represent the Messiah, not be the Messiah!