It was his turn to do the day’s maintenance.
This was not any ordinary maintenance, however. This particular man was an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. And maintenance meant an EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity). His second of the week and something he was looking forward to.
Like every other time he suited up, checked the seals, noted the oxygen levels, everything was as expected and so he cranked open the hatch and stepped outside. Over an hour into this mission outside the confines of the ISS and everything appeared normal, but then things changed.
The back of his head felt cool, now some of that is normal because of sweat, but this felt different. It felt larger. Because in space water doesn’t drip—there is no gravity to pull it downward—instead, it clings. And this water was clinging to the back of his head. Then is wrapped around to his ears. Then it began to cling to his eyes. Remember: he is wearing a helmet that cannot simply be opened. Finally, as he began to make his way back to the hatch and to safety, the water began to cover his nose and his mouth. He couldn’t see well, he couldn’t hear well, and now his ability to even breathe was being threatened.
It was becoming apparent to him that death was a very real possibility and he laboured to attempt to get back to safety while also being hindered in his orientation, vision, hearing, and breathing.
The astronaut made a final desperate attempt to get to the hatch. Did he make it? What happened? We’ll find out at the end, so for now let’s put the astronaut in our pockets and open our Bibles to Ephesians chapter 4, starting in verse 7.
Ephesians 4:7–16
7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high, he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” 9 (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Opening Prayer
Father in heaven, we come before You this morning grateful that You have not left us alone. Thank You for bringing us together as Your church, as the Bride of Christ. We confess that sometimes we forget how much we need each other—we fall into patterns of isolation, consumerism, or self-sufficiency. Forgive us, Lord.
As we open Your Word today, would You speak to us by Your Spirit? Help us to see ourselves as You see us—gifted, called, and essential to Your mission. Show us where we’ve been holding back, where we’ve been afraid, where we’ve believed the lie that we have nothing to offer.
And as we learn together, form us into the kind of community that reflects Your glory—where every voice matters, every gift is valued, and every person finds their place in building up the body.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, who descended into death and rose victorious so that He might fill all things. Amen.
v.7 – Each of Us Is Uniquely Gifted
But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
The ‘but’ here signals a contrast. Paul has been talking about striving for unity as a church, avoiding divisiveness, embracing everything that draws us together.
But—he continues—just because we are called to unity doesn’t mean we’re called to uniformity. We are not interchangeable Jenga blocks. Paul shifts from ‘all of us’ to “each of us”—from the collective to the individual. This should signal to us that there is a uniqueness to each member that works in concert like the different instruments in an orchestra.
Also important: when Paul says “given grace” he isn’t talking about saving grace, but gifts of grace. Those skills, abilities, and spiritual gifts you have? All gifts—graces—from the Lord.
And note that—despite what some believe—there are no more important and less important gifts. As I’ve had the privilege of talking with our various ministry leaders around SunRidge, I have been so encouraged by their work, and I have tried to emphasize that their work leading a Bible study, watching children, serving coffee, or setting up chairs is what makes my job possible at all.
There’s a temptation in church leadership to frame certain roles as coming with power or authority. Let me be as clear as possible: my “authority” as your pastor is not executive control of your life. It’s an invitation implied by your attendance here to encourage you and challenge you based on what I see in your life and how it aligns with Scripture. I don’t like framing it as power or authority because that’s a dangerous posture. If Jesus Himself came to serve rather than be served, I am certainly no better than my Lord.
So I choose instead to frame this as a responsibility to you and an accountability to the Lord for how I shepherd. Now, I have a greater accountability and responsibility as the pastor, but it’s my hope that all of you would take some measure accountability and responsibility for each other—and for me. We’re all in this together, church. And I am far from perfect. Just ask my wife!
vv.8–10 – Christ’s Victory, Our Access
8 Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high, he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” 9 (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)
Paul is making a single claim in two movements. First, he grounds it in Scripture. Then, he explains what that Scripture means.
He begins by quoting Psalm 68:18—a victory psalm that celebrates the Lord’s triumph, ascension, and the distribution of the spoils of battle—and showing us how it points to Jesus, how it finds its fulfillment in Jesus. The victorious King does not ascend to hoard His triumph, but to share it. What He receives, He gives.
This echoes Jesus’ own words in John 16: “It is to your advantage that I go away.” Christ’s departure is not abandonment, but expansion. When Jesus rose from the grave and took His place at the right hand of the Father, He “took captivity captive.” Death—the final captor, the great enslaver of humanity—was defeated and stripped of its power.
Because Christ has come, and because Christ has risen, everything changes. Access to God is no longer mediated through a restricted priesthood. The barrier is not removed by eliminating mediation, but by transforming it. All who confess Jesus as Lord now share in that access. Peter calls this a “royal priesthood.” The Spirit, once given selectively and temporarily, now indwells every believer.
Paul then draws out the logic. If Christ ascended, He must also have descended—fully entering death itself, the grave, the depths of human mortality. But the One who descended is the same One who rose and ascended far above all things.
And why did He do this?
“So that He might fill all things.” One Father over all, through all, and in all—giving gifts through the victorious Son by the Spirit, so that Christ’s fullness might now be made visible in His people.
v.11 – The Roles Christ Gives His Church
He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
There is some debate about what these roles are, but Paul’s emphasis here is not on titles —it’s on function. These are not ranks in a hierarchy. They are gifts Christ gives to His church for a purpose.
Apostles — The word apostle simply means “sent one,” and I need to acknowledge upfront: this term makes many Christians nervous for good reason. We’ve seen self-proclaimed “apostles” abuse this title to build empires and manipulate people. That’s real damage.
So let’s be clear: The original Apostles—the Twelve and Paul—had a unique, unrepeatable role as eyewitnesses to the resurrection. They testified to the foundation revealed to them in Christ. But the New Testament also mentions other apostles—Barnabas, Apollos, Andronicus, Junia—faithful church planters and missionaries sent out for the gospel. Apostolic ministry continues in that pioneering sense, but no one today carries the foundational authority of the Twelve. Anyone claiming otherwise is rightly avoided.
Prophets — Prophecy can make modern Christians nervous, but Paul is clear that it is a good and necessary gift. In 1 Corinthians 14, he tells the church to desire prophecy because it exists “for upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation.” Prophecy includes both fore-telling—speaking about what God will do—and forth-telling—boldly speaking God’s truth into present circumstances. And Scripture is equally clear that prophecy must be weighed and tested against God’s Word. In the New Testament we see prophets like Agabus, and the daughters of Philip, exercising this gift for the strengthening of the church.
Evangelists — If apostles are planters, evangelists are gatherers. They are gifted to clearly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and call people to faith. Evangelists often serve as a bridge between the unbelieving world and the local church, helping people take their first steps toward following Jesus. The New Testament explicitly names both Philip and Timothy as evangelists.
“Pastor” is really a shepherding word—it describes what is done, not a status to be claimed. In the New Testament, shepherding is consistently connected to elders. The role is one of care, guidance, and protection for the good of the flock. Pastors are entrusted with people’s spiritual well-being, and Scripture treats that responsibility with great seriousness. Interestingly, pastor is the only one of these titles that is never assigned to a named individual in the New Testament church.
Teachers are entrusted with the careful handling of God’s Word. Their task is to help the church understand what Scripture says and how it shapes faithful life. Where prophets may speak directly to a moment and evangelists proclaim the gospel to the lost, teachers take the time to explain, to connect, to build understanding piece by piece. They help us see how the whole counsel of God fits together—how Leviticus connects to Hebrews, how the Psalms prepare us for the Gospels, how doctrine shapes devotion. Because people place trust in those who teach, Scripture warns that teachers are held to a higher standard. The New Testament gives us many examples of faithful teachers, including Priscilla and Aquila, who helped instruct Apollos more accurately in the way of the Lord.
So these are the roles Christ gives to His church. They are different, but they are not competing. They are varied, but they are not random.
Which brings us to the question Paul is actually driving toward:
What are these gifts for?
v.12 – Equipping for Ministry, Not Consuming Services
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
Church, I believe there are three primary goals for the church: to reach the lost with the hope of the Gospel, to train the saved for the work of ministry, and to send the trained to reach the lost with the hope of the Gospel—and on, and on, and on until Jesus returns for his Bride.
For the most part, my role is trainer—teaching and shepherding. But you are the ones tasked with the work of ministry.
See, we’ve gotten to this place in our world where we see the pastor as the ministry and the people as the congregation. The congregation shows up to be pleased. They’ve come for a great church service and that’s what they’d like to receive.
Over the years I’ve heard every complaint: the songs are too old, the music’s too loud, the pastor’s too casual, I can’t find community, I’m not being fed, the lights are too bright, the pulpit isn’t made of wood—yes, that’s real—and many, many, oh so many more. Thankfully these aren’t complaints I’ve received here, but my point is this: “Have it your way” is the slogan for Burger King, not the church.
When some aspect of the service doesn’t please me, that’s a consumer mindset. That thinking is all messed up. That thinking says the service exists for me. No, no, no! The service exists for God. The church is His Bride.
So if you ever find yourself tempted to complain, take a step back. Think about the volunteer who showed up two hours before the service to work on the thing you’re about to complain about. This place runs on the heartfelt efforts of real people using the gifts the Lord has given them, and the training offered by apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—all for the glory of God and His Kingdom.
And yeah, that means sometimes it’s not pretty or polished or perfect. But it’s real and authentic and built with love. And I would take messy love over manufactured perfection any day of the week. Amen?
Now, if you’re here and you’ve never confessed Jesus as Lord—if you’ve never turned from sin and trusted Him for salvation—today can be that day. Talk to me after the service. But for those of you who already call Him Saviour, it’s time to get to work. If you can click a mouse, rock a baby, straighten a chair, or shake a hand, we can use you. That gift can be employed for the work of ministry in building up the body of Christ.
What does that mean? Glad you asked. Let’s keep reading to find out.
v.13 – Growing Toward Maturity Together
until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
So we have the stewardship gifts—apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher—equipping those with any and every gift, including future stewards, to build up the body of Christ until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
It’s important to note that this is a different unity than we learned about earlier in Ephesians. This is a unity we do grow into. This isn’t the collective unity of love and care and community from chapter 4, verse 3. This is an individual unity—unity of faith, knowledge, maturity, and stature.
This is a unity formed around truth and doctrine, which comes from maturity. We all grow from childhood into adulthood, from naïve and gullible to studied and discerning. This is why the roles of pastor and teacher are so important. Our job is not to tell you what to think, but to show you how to get there. A good Bible teacher is like a good math teacher: they show their work. I hope I demonstrate how I come to my conclusions. This is why I teach the way I do—slowly, verse-by-verse, so we can break down each section and help you see not only the position I hold, but also areas where there’s room for disagreement, where there’s some uncertainty.
The goal, of course, is to be like Christ. And while this is an outcome we should pursue with everything we have, we are fallen and fallible and imperfect. We will not get there this side of heaven. Nevertheless, Scripture calls us to press on toward the goal, and so we try. Amen?
Now, because we live in a world where we see only dimly, as in a mirror, our eyes and hearts and minds are darkened by sin. So it’s worth remembering that there will be things about which we disagree—and some of that is okay. But some of it is not. Let’s keep reading and discuss that further.
v.14 – Spotting False Teaching: Essential, Core, and Secondary
We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.
Paul is clear: we will be targeted by trickery, craftiness, deceit, and scheming. There are wolves who seek to infect Christ’s Bride with lies and false teaching—and this is deeply dangerous for three reasons.
First, it pulls us off mission. No lie from a false teacher ever results in the true Gospel being proclaimed—the same Gospel that has been transforming lives and reshaping cultures for thousands of years.
Second, it damages the Gospel itself. When a confused world hears ten competing messages all claiming to be “the gospel,” many don’t dig deeper—they simply walk away, assuming the whole thing is incoherent.
Third, it can lead people to abandon their faith entirely. We hear a lot today about Christians “deconstructing,” but often what’s being abandoned is not Jesus—it’s Jesus plus something else: Jesus plus a celebrity pastor, Jesus plus prosperity, Jesus reduced to signs, success, or moralism. These false doctrines don’t merely stall the work of the Gospel—they offer a counterfeit. And when people discover the lie, they walk away believing that was Christianity.
So how do we spot false teaching?
The same way the RCMP spots counterfeit money. They don’t study every fake—they master the real thing. The look, the feel, the texture, the raised ink, and other security features. When a counterfeit shows up, it stands out immediately. It just feels wrong. In the same way, when we immerse ourselves in Scripture and prayer, the Holy Spirit forms discernment in us. Fraudulent gospels and distorted portraits of Jesus begin to stand out.
That raises an important question: what’s the difference between trickery and good-faith disagreement?
I’d suggest three levels of doctrine: Essential, Core, and Secondary.
Essential doctrines are necessary for salvation. Paul states this plainly in Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” The thief on the cross shows us it really is that simple.
But Paul doesn’t want us to remain infants. To grow into maturity—and to be protected from deceit—we must also know the Core doctrines: the truths that define historic Christianity and are guarded by the great creeds—the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds. Along these lines, C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity is a wonderful guide. Some Core doctrines include:
- Jesus is fully God and fully human
- Humanity is fallen, sinful, and in need of redemption
- Salvation is a gift of grace, not moral effort or spiritual technique
- God is three persons in one substance: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Scripture is authoritative and norming for faith and life
Then there are Secondary doctrines—important, but not church-dividing. These are often the very things Christians weaponize against one another: the state of the dead, women in ministry, charismatic gifts, end-times views, free will and sovereignty, and creation timelines, among others. Faithful Christians, studying the same Scriptures, have reached different conclusions on these issues—and here’s why: when discussing something like fate and free will, we’re using our limited understanding to put words to the attributes and works and ways of an infinite God. We need the grace to recognize that our position—however studied and considered—may be wrong. That’s called humility.
If a belief doesn’t betray the Essentials or the Core, then we are free to disagree with charity and humility. When we elevate Secondary issues into Core ones, we begin to wound the body—one part attacking another. Imagine grabbing a knife with your right hand to attack your left leg with the belief that you are protecting the body! The very idea is shocking and absurd! So it is when we attack our brothers and sisters in the faith. It damages the church, confuses the world, and drives people away.
Our goal is to pursue truth with joyful focus as eager learners, not angry exclusion like aggressive goalies. Which brings us to where Paul is heading next. Maturity doesn’t come from winning arguments—it comes when every part does its work well, for the good of the whole, as we grow together into Christ.
vv.15–16 – Growing Into Our Head
15 but speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
So we’re working to be theologically mature and doctrinally discerning. We agree on Essential and Core doctrines, but we don’t stop there. We continue to grow and learn and ask questions and have discussions—all with the same goal: growing in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And that posture of love is not always soft and warm and fuzzy. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is smack someone upside the head—metaphorically speaking! Don’t start hitting each other, church! Love offers grace to grow, but it never compromises the truth.
As we do this—speaking firmly and softly in love—we help each other grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. What does it mean to grow into our head?
Truthfully, I don’t think it’s very complicated. And it’s actually kind of funny. But before we get to the funny part, let’s sort out what the “head” is.
The head was not seen as the CEO of the body in the ancient world—at least not in the same big-boss-man way we think of it today. It was the source of orientation to the world. The ancients believed that because of the faculties of sight and sound, the head was uniquely equipped to assess and evaluate the environment around it in a way the body could not. Fair enough. I suspect we’d still think that today.
They also thought the head was the coordinator of the body—the one that caused all the parts to work in unison to achieve tasks and goals that benefited head and body together. And again, I think we’d still agree with this today.
But for the parts of the body the head is trying to coordinate to work properly together, they have to grow into maturity—they have to grow into the head. Okay, here’s the funny part. Think about the proportions of an infant. Think about their tiny little bodies and gigantic heads. Ever watch an infant try to touch their hands together over their head? They barely reach! It’s adorable. But now imagine if—as a full-grown adult—you still could only barely touch your hands together over your head! [demonstrate this]
That’s what Paul is talking about: going from spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood so that we can be more effectively coordinated by our head—Christ—to do the work of the ministry! We need to grow in strength and maturity because there’s work to be done!
And when that happens, when every muscle, tissue, joint, and ligament is operating in its giftings and at full capacity, it promotes continued growth of the body. In this way we continue to develop and grow and mature. Some of us in the room are spiritual infants—welcome to the family, we could not be more excited that you’re here. Some are spiritual children, learning and growing and starting to use their gifts for the body. Some are spiritual teens, stronger and more confident while still continuing to mature and helping the newer Christians. And some are spiritual adults who are mature and serving the body for the growth and building of the church.
But here’s the important part: everyone from the adult to the newborn, from the seasoned veteran to the newest recruit, is part of the body and has a role to play. And each part needs to be operating at its fullest capacity for the church to most effectively fulfill its mandate.
Which brings us back around to the astronaut in our pockets.
Out of the Pocket
You remember our astronaut performing the spacewalk outside the International Space Station? Suddenly he felt a chill at the back of his head. It was water—coming from somewhere—clinging to his scalp. And as the water continued to accumulate, it wrapped around his ears, limiting his hearing. It wrapped around his eyes, limiting his visibility. Then it began to cover his mouth and nose, limiting his ability to breathe. He knew he might very well drown inside his helmet before he could get back to safety. Getting back into the hatch and inside the airlock was his only hope.
Did he make it? What happened?
This is the true story of Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano. This event happened on July 16th, 2013. Fortunately, the story does have a happy ending—Luca was able to get back inside in time to avoid drowning in about 500 milliliters of water. And when they examined the suit, do you know what problem nearly killed this man?
A clogged filter. A part that likely cost well under $100—possibly only tens of dollars. And the total cost of that EVA suit Parmitano was wearing? About $12 million. That’s less than 0.00001% of the total cost. And yet it was still enough to bring the whole thing down. It’s tempting to say that a $100 part on a $12 million suit is unimportant, but that is flatly, disastrously wrong.
So it is with each of you, church. God brought you here. You have something to offer. You have something to contribute. And no matter how small you might think it is, it is still critical to the mission. If you are withholding your gifts from the church, not only is the church as a body poorer, and each of us as members poorer—but you yourself miss out on the joy and growth God intends when you withhold your gifts. You have been called to that work by the Lord Himself.
If you are not serving, ask the Lord this week where you can help, then talk to someone doing that work already and ask how you can get involved. And if it’s a new idea, come talk to me or one of the elders. Let’s use the gifts we’re given to grow to maturity together. Everyone belongs. Everyone contributes. Everyone grows. Amen? Let’s pray.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the head of the church, and we are Your body. Thank You for the reminder today that every single one of us matters—that no gift is too small, no contribution insignificant.
We confess that we’ve sometimes treated Your church like consumers rather than co-laborers. We’ve complained when we should have served. We’ve held back when we should have stepped forward. Forgive us, and by Your Spirit, stir up in us a fresh eagerness to use what You’ve given us for the good of Your people and the glory of Your name.
For those of us who are spiritual infants, give us patience and grace to grow. For those who are children and teens in the faith, give us courage to step into new areas of service. And for those who are mature, give us wisdom and humility to equip the next generation.
Help us to speak truth in love, to pursue unity without demanding uniformity, and to grow together into You—our head, our hope, our everything.
Send us out from this place not as spectators, but as servants. Not as critics, but as contributors. Not as isolated individuals, but as a body that works together for Your kingdom.
In Your strong and gracious name we pray. Amen.
Benediction: 1 Peter 4:10–11