Thursday
Ephesians 4:11-16

The church is the living, breathing body of Christ. And if we are to be a growing body, it goes without saying we must move from the infant stage toward adulthood. Paul lays out God’s formula for an effective, growing body of believers here in Ephesians.

• The purpose of pastors and leaders is to develop ministry.
• The purpose of ministry is to develop maturity.
• The purpose of maturity is unity with Christ and his church.

The leaders of the church are to equip, prepare, and train the believers so they can learn to function in their own ministries. Ultimately, each member must commit to giving time and energy to the gifts and ministries God has given. How much time and energy are you giving to the spiritual gifts God has given you? Which ministries are you leading in hopes of reaching our community with the good news of Jesus?