Ephesians (W2D5) Church Body
Week2. Friday: The Church Body
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word
READ: Ephesians 1:22-23
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Placed (Greek: hypotassō): make subject to, subordinate (1 Corinthians 15:27)
God has placed “all things” under Christ.
Christ is ruler over all of creation. Everything is under His feet.
Appointed (Greek: didōmi): to give over, give an office (Acts 10:42)
Head (Greek: kephalē): supreme, master, lord (Acts 4:11)
Christ is the head (authority, control) of the church.
We are the other members of His body.
Church (Greek: ekklēsia): gathering, assembly, group
The church is not a building or even an organization.
The church is the gathering of God’s people.
His Body (Greek: sōma): his temple, his instruments
We are the body of Christ, each with different functions (Romans 12:4-8)
Our bodies are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
We are called to offer our bodies to God (Romans 12:1)
We are to keep our bodies pure from sin (1 Corinthians 6:15)
Fullness (Greek: plērōma): completeness (John 1:16; Colossians 2:10)
A head needs a body to be complete.
This does not mean that Christ needs us, but rather has chosen to make us His body to be useful for His glory. He could have chosen to get His glory from another means, but in His love He chose to use the church.
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
Church. One of the most misunderstood words in the Christian faith. Many people live as if the church exists for themselves, to meet their needs. For far too long churches have organized around felt needs and personal preferences. That has never been the purpose of the church. The church exists to honor and serve God so that the world can hear the good news of the gospel. The body (church) exists for the head (Christ).
Is church something you go to, or something you are supposed to be?
If the church is the body, then you are a body part. What is your part in the church?
Read Romans 12:4-8. Try to determine what your purpose should be in serving God.
PRAY: Ask God to show you and lead to BE the church.
