Scripture:
“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 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.”
— Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
When you think of church, what comes to mind?
For some, it’s a men’s group or a Sunday morning service. For many, it’s where people go to “get saved.” And while church might be where someone meets Jesus for the first time, Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-13 that’s not actually its main purpose.
In this passage he shares that the purpose of the church isn’t just to introduce people to Christ—but to help them grow up in Him.
It’s like a gym. You can sign up for a membership (salvation), but that’s just the beginning. The real transformation happens over time, as you show up, stretch, train, stumble, and get stronger. And you don’t do it alone—you do it with others.
God designed the church to be a workshop for growth. It’s a place for:
- Equipping (learning how to live out your faith),
- Serving (putting love into action),
- Maturing (growing out of selfishness and into Christ-likeness),
- Unity (becoming one body, not just individual believers doing their own thing).
Growth isn’t always comfortable. It takes a lot of effort and focus, but it’s always worth it.
Paul’s words struck me as a combination of expectation-setting and encouragement. While it does take time and energy, we weren’t meant to grow alone. Discipleship is a team sport. Whether you feel strong in your faith or like you’re just getting started, the church is God’s idea to help us get where we’re going. Not by perfection—but by grace, love, and truth in community.
Ephesians 4 invites us to see a deeper purpose in church: God is using His people—imperfect and messy as we are—to help shape and grow each other.
It’s not just about attending. It’s about actively participating. It’s about becoming.
What does “actively participating” look like for you right now?
Maybe it’s showing up more consistently. Maybe it’s taking more of a leadership role, serving someone, or simply opening up to a brother in Christ.
Small steps matter. Growth happens together.
Reflection Questions:
- What gifts or experiences has God given you that could help build up someone else?
- What’s one way you’ve grown as a result of being connected to other believers?
- Are you more comfortable being “fed” at church or contributing in your church community? Why?
- If you are comfortable sharing, is there an area in your faith where you feel “stuck”? Who could you talk to about it?
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