INTRO: We are in the first section of the practical part of the book of Ephesians. It deals with Christian unity and the section goes from 4:1-16. And to achieve this unity God gave some Apostles and prophets. As I view it, these men gave us the NT. Then He gave some evangelists. All of the Apostles had a part in this as well as they brought the Gospel to the then known world.
In the last message we looked at church unity. Is it the task of pastors to unite the various churches or denominations? I believe the pastor's task is to edify believers until they come to maturity. Only in this way can true unity ever be achieved. I do not believe we will ever bring about true unity by focusing on unity between separate churches. One of the greatest reasons we do not have greater church unity, I believe, is because pastors are not truly bringing believers to maturity. Furthermore, in our efforts to bring about unity we are compromising and getting weaker, not stronger. The divisions between mainline denominations and the true faith is getting greater, not less.
Once churches were established, it then required pastors and teachers to finish the believers. This is the task of shepherding. And without the New Testament there would be no unity. Without evangelists there would be nothing to unite. And without preachers there would be no one to see to the unity. And now the pastors are to edify the church they are responsible for until they reach Christian maturity.
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