Essential Church: The Place To Grow

The local New Testament Church is essential to the life of a Christian for many reasons. On e of those reasons is Spiritual growth. While it is true that a person can grow in their relationship with God outside of the local church, if they neglect the local church they will also neglect the overall wellness of their spiritual being.

1. In Ephesians 4:7-11, Paul explains what Christ gave to each saved person in order to glorify in the setting of the local church.

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
-God gave grace that enables us to use the ministry gift that Christ gave us.

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
-This is the imagery of a conquering king bringing home gift and spoils for the conquered nation and passing them out during a triumphal entry on his way back to the palace.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
-These are specific gifted people that God gave as a gift to the local assembly (church) of believers.

2. In Ephesians 4:12-14, Paul explains why these gifts and people where given to the local church.

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
-This is why God gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the believers in local congregations.
-“Perfecting of the saints” = “Maturing or Growing – Why?
-“For the work of the ministry” – “Those people help us to grow so that we can serve God.” –Why?
-“For the edifying of the body of Christ.” = “So that the Church grows and is built”
Remember, building the church is what Christ is doing. We want to be involved in Christ’s work.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

This growing-working-building cycle should continue until everyone is like Christ. If we are following the Great Commission, this cycle will continue until Christ returns or until we are promoted to heaven.

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Here is the key verse for this point of why the church is essential to the life of the believers. If we fail to utilize the gifted people that God has given to us as a local assembly of believers we will, at best, be stunted in our spiritual growth.

God has given us the support, accountability, and diversity of people in the local church to help ground us in what is true so that we can grow and are not tossed around or carried away be every new thing that comes by. He wants us to learn and grow so that we are grounded in the truth and won’t be deceived by the sleight or craftiness of deceitful men.

So many people are involved in false doctrine and extra-biblical activity because they never matured and they never matured because the never availed themselves to the gifted, essential church.