Christ's Gift to His Church

It seems to me that of all the team sports in our country, professional football has the most specialization in its positions. In professional soccer, one team can have the same 11 guys on the field for all 90 minutes. And while forwards and defenders and goalies have specific strengths and skills for their position, those differences are not nearly as pronounced as they are in football.

In the NFL, since athletes are so specialized for their position, you are going to find a much wider range of heights and weights across a team. One sportswriter did the work of looking at each team’s roster of 53 people and then averaging the players heights and weights according to position. Here’s what he found.

On average, the shortest position was the running back. They averaged just under 5 feet, 11 inches tall. That’s pretty tall compared to us, but not when you compare it to the rest of the guys on the field. The tallest position was the tackle. Offensive tackles averaged almost 6 feet, 6 inches. That’s 7 inches taller than the running backs.

Offensive tackles were also the heaviest, averaging over 315 pounds, and many guys are much heavier than that. It makes sense that if your job is to push people around or to stop them from getting past you, being bigger is going to help.

It also makes sense that running backs are shorter because that gives them a lower center of gravity which allows them to change direction more quickly. They need to be agile.

Despite the differences between these men’s physical characteristics, they are all on the same team working toward the same goal. R.C. Sproul, the Presbyterian and late founder of Ligonier Ministries, said football was a beautiful thing.

Here are a few sentences from his classic book The Holiness of God. He writes:

“Some people think I am strange when I mention the beauty of professional football games. How could something so primal and violent be said to contain any beauty in it? What I enjoy is watching superbly conditioned athletes who have reached the apex of their sport working together to execute a single movement. Eleven men on one side of the ball each have a specific function to perform in a single play designed to advance the ball only a few feet, while another eleven men on the other side of the ball work together as a unit to prevent that progress. The execution of a play involves a kind of orchestration that requires harmony rather than dissonance. When the harmony is lost, the ball is fumbled or the play is otherwise thwarted.”

Football, like any other team sport, highlights an important principle—a team needs to work together. Unity matters. Everybody needs to be working toward the same goal.

Unity is straddled between uniformity and division. When there is uniformity, everybody does the same thing. There are no differences in function. When there is division, we have allowed our differences to detract from the common goal. But in unity, we have differences without division.

 That’s a vital principle to understand about God’s design for His church. God designed us to be different in some respects. We have different strengths and different resources, but we are all united by our repentance from sin and our submission to Jesus Christ the Lord. We have laid down our own selves and committed ourselves to live for the glory of God. This is the goal of the church—to take the glory of God in Jesus Christ and put it on display to one another, to the world, and even to the angels. To do that, we don’t need to hide our differences.

Just to help you understand that Christians will have differences among them, R.C. Sproul’s son once shared that one year, as a child, he was praying for the Steelers to win a playoff game against the Raiders. When he was done praying, he asked his dad, what if there was a little boy somewhere on the other side of the country praying for the Raiders to win? R.C. Sproul, Jr. said, “My father comforted me by explaining that no real Christian would ever pray for the Raiders.”

You don’t have to agree with R.C. Sproul about football, or about baptism for that matter, to be a part of the body of Christ. God made us different. You do, however, need to have surrendered your life to Christ as the Son of God, trusting in Him fully and only for salvation. Collectively, we focus on obedience to Christ’s word and to Christ’s mission, and we need to recognize that we have different functions.

That was a foundational principle Paul wanted the Ephesian church to understood. The church had Jews and Greeks, people with generations of hostility between them, but they needed to understand and apply the unity they had in Christ.

Listen to what Paul said concerning the Gentiles in chapter 2, verse 13 of Ephesians—But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

By God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, God has created one people. But again, that unity doesn’t mean we’re all the same. And that brings us to Ephesians 4, verse 7. Look at it with me. It starts with the word “but,” so there’s some contrast coming. This is a clarification to make sure no one gets the wrong idea.

Verse 7—But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. In salvation, we all received the grace of Christ for forgiveness and reconciliation. But in terms of how we will function within the body of Christ, we get different roles. We are gifted with different ways that we will contribute.

And as a picture of what happens in salvation, in verse 8 of Ephesians 4, Paul cites a verse from Psalm 68. By itself, Psalm 68 speaks of a triumphant victory for God’s king and for God’s people over their enemies. Some believe that Psalm 68 was written in connection to a specific military victory which God gave David.

Paul takes that idea and He applies it to God’s Supreme King who had achieved the greatest victory of all—Jesus Christ, the Son of David. Ephesians 4:8 says, Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,  and he gave gifts to men.” 

A conquering king would return from victory with those of his people which had been freed from the enemy. They were formerly captive, but now he leads them home. And that is a picture of Christ, triumphing over sin and Satan and the demons, and freeing us from our slavery to sin. Christ is our triumphant King.

Then it says that this king gives gifts to men. Our Old Testament says that the King received gifts from men, so some think that Paul is using some other translation that existed at the time. But even if the verb appears to be the opposite, the idea is the same. The conquering army would have taken the spoils of war home, and then given it to the king. And then, in turn, the king would give those gifts out to His people. So, the king receives gifts, and He gives them. It’s the same picture here.

What we have in this picture is an important reminder. The death and Resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ didn’t just free us from sin and judgment, it was also the victory that gave us our spiritual gifts. Christ died and rose again for His people. And He ascended back to the Father so that from there He could send His Holy Spirit and impart to His people the gifts that He has chosen for them. Do you remember when Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away?” He was talking about sending the Holy Spirit.

Now, verses 9 and 10 have a parenthetical note. It says there, “In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

Paul is making the point that Christ was not simply a man. He came down from heaven, and he went back up. He is the Supreme King of His people and of all creation.

Now, in discussing the gifts Christ gives to His people, Paul focuses on one particular group. Look at verse 11—And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.

If you want to read more examples of gifts that Christ gives to His people, you can read Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 12, but here in Ephesians 4, Paul focuses his list on church leadership.

And I want you to notice something. He doesn’t say that Christ gifts these men with something. That’s not the way Paul words it. He says that Christ gives these men to the church. In other words, it’s true that Christ gifts people for service, but those who serve are also a gift to the rest of the church.

Think about that. God gifted you so that you would serve the church; He gave you something. But you yourself are also a gift to the church. And that’s a reminder that our gifts are not intended for personal benefit. They are given for the benefit of the church. Paul makes that clear in 1 Corinthians 12. It’s all for the common good, not to elevate yourself.

That principle applies to church leadership as well.

The first group Paul mentions are the Apostles. These were the first generation of church leaders. They were personally chosen by Christ. They were witnesses of His earthly ministry and of His resurrection. From a human perspective, they began the church in Jerusalem, and they were given miraculous signs as proof of their special function.

Back in chapter 2 of Ephesians, verse 20, Paul says that the church was built on the foundation of the Apostles and the prophets. The early church was devoted to the teaching of the Apostles, and it was the Apostles of Jesus Christ that gave us the New Testament.

The second group Paul mentions are the prophets. Before the New Testament was complete, there were prophets in the churches who explained the Scripture or the Apostle’s teaching, and sometimes they even gave direct revelation from God. There are examples of that in Acts, and references to it in the epistles.

Third on Paul’s list is the evangelists. In Acts 6, seven men are chosen to help the Apostles address a problem in the church, and one of them was a man named Philip. Later in Acts 21:8, he is referred to as Philip the evangelist. He is the only person in Scripture given that title, and the assumption is that it referred to someone specifically taking the gospel to unbelievers.

The final group on Paul’s list is the shepherds and teachers. In the Greek, Paul’s list includes an article and a conjunction for each group he lists. There are two distinct little words marking off each new group on the list. But the last two terms are united. These last two groups, shepherds and teachers, only get one article and one conjunction.

So, in terms of a translation, we could put it like this: Jesus gave first the Apostles, also the prophets, also the evangelists, also the shepherds and teachers. By linking those last two groups, it seems that Paul is purposefully using two words to describe the same group. These are the shepherds and teachers, or, if you will, the teaching shepherds. Who are they?

Well, we know that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd of His people. That’s a common image in the Scriptures. But Jesus has also given to local churches men who serve as under-shepherds; on behalf of Christ, they shepherd the flock.

Now, the word we typically use today for a shepherd of a local flock is pastor. In Spanish, the connection is much clearer since the word is the same. A pastor is a shepherd of the flock.

The more common terms you find in the Bible for a shepherd are elder and overseer. These are interchangeable terms. A pastor is an elder is an overseer. They’re all talking about the same office in the church.

In Acts 20, when Paul is talking to a group of elders, he says they are overseers, and he calls them to shepherd the church. All three words are used there. In 1 Peter 5, the elders are told the same thing: Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight. So, again, an overseer is the same as an elder, and that’s the same as a pastor. That’s the way the Bible uses those words.

This is especially important for us members to understand, number 1, because this is how we govern our church, but, number 2 because this is part of what we’re going to be voting on next week. Collectively, as a congregation, we are either going to affirm a man to the office of elder or not. and you need to know what that means.

As a congregation, if we appoint a man to the office, he needs to know his responsibilities, and so does the rest of the church. God calls the church to imitate their elders, to submit to them, and to honor them.

What does God call the elders to do? In other words, what is it that the pastors are supposed to be doing? Well, the title tells you. A pastor pastors, and a shepherd shepherds. Just like in English, the Greek noun has an accompanying verb to describe what that position is responsible to do. Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter after restoring him? He said, “Shepherd My Sheep.” It’s the verb form of this noun for a shepherd.

Well, what does it mean to shepherd the flock of God? The essential characteristic of that is that a shepherd nourishes the sheep with the word of God. He ministers the word of God so that people can grow by being instructed, corrected, and encouraged. This is the common characteristic of the groups Paul mentions in verse 11. They all proclaim God’s word.

Being a shepherd isn’t simply a title. It is a function. You all need to understand that. It’s not a status symbol in the church; it’s a responsibility. And that’s why Paul links shepherds with teachers. There might be teachers who are not recognized as pastors, but there should never be a pastor or an elder who doesn’t have a teaching function within the church. The shepherds are the men specifically tasked with feeding the congregation the word of God.

When Paul gives the requirements for an elder in 1 Timothy 3, it’s very similar to the requirements for a deacon. Both groups focus on character and reputation. But the key difference is that an elder is required to be “able to teach.” That’s not listed for the deacons, who are the recognized servants in the church.

In Titus, Paul says that every elder “must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” He needs to know the word of God. He needs to be able to articulate it for the benefit of others, and he needs to be able to defend it against false teaching. To be an elder is not simply a leadership position, it’s a function of proclamation.

Now, the level of knowledge and skill necessary to lead a church is going to vary on each church. And the way an elder teaches can vary too. Sometimes that means teaching in the form of preaching. Sometimes that means teaching in a classroom setting, or in a counseling setting, or in a home. It could even be a very intentional teaching that happens in conversations. Whatever it looks like specifically, the principle is clear: an elder or a pastor is a teacher.

Jesus came to teach and to preach. The Apostles had a teaching ministry, both in the assembly and from house to house. And in a similar way, the elders of a local church are to be teachers.

Why? What’s their goal? Verse 12 answers that for us. Here is why Jesus gives elders or pastors to a local church. Verse 12—to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.

This is Christ’s design for the church. We are all supposed to be moving toward Christlikeness. Rather than be content wherever we are, we’re supposed to be growing spiritually for the glory of God.

Lord willing, next week we’re going to talk about everyone’s role in the church. We all have a part to play in God’s design. We all have a responsibility to help the church mature. But before we get to that, we need to understand that behind God’s design for a local church, the driving force, from a human perspective, is the pastor-teachers of the church. It’s the elders.

Christ gives elders to the church so that they would equip the saints. The saints are the members of the church. Equipping them means preparing them for their task, getting them ready, training them.

Yesterday, the youth went to the snow. And even though this is southern California, you don’t go to the snow in shorts and sandals. You need a certain mindset, and you need some kind of gear. There needs to be a preparation. Well, if you’re going to be useful for the glory of God, you need to be prepared. You need to be equipped. And it’s our job as elders to see it forward the best we can.

Once you’re equipped, it’s not like you get a little diploma that you get to frame on your wall and then you never have to come to church again. That’s not how it works. Being equipped means now you’re ready to come to church, not only to receive, but to do the work of ministry. You’re going to do your part, like verse 12 says, to build up the body of Christ.

God designed the local church to be a beautiful thing. The most beautiful people in the world don’t come from any one geographic location. The most beautiful people in the world are the citizens of heaven. As diverse as we are, Christ’s glory is on display as we walk in harmony and unity.

And to help keep us on track, and to help prepare us for the work we’re called to do, Jesus Christ raises up elders or pastors in the local church. We teach the word, we proclaim the word, we counsel with the word, so that by His word, the Spirit of God would conform us more into the image of Christ and equip us to be used for His glory. This is God’s design—that we all grow up together into Jesus Christ.

I’d like to close by reading a verse that shows Paul’s heart for this. This is from his letter to the Colossians, and it shows his heart as an Apostle. And it’s such an important reminder about the task of the elders and the task of the church. Colossians 1, verses 28 and 29. Colossians 1:28-9.

Speaking of Jesus Christ, Paul says: Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Elders, we want to proclaim Christ with the goal that our church will look more and more like Him and minister like Him for the glory of God.