St. Luke Ev. Lutheran Church
Sermon delivered by Pastor Anthony E. Schultz
Ephesians 4:11-16 Pentecost 10 August 13, 2006


It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ. From him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

People of God—rescued from the flaming lake of fire in hell by the innocent blood of the very Lamb of God:

Did you hear about the lady who was in a car accident? She went off the road—into the ditch—her car flipped over. She was hanging there—by her seatbelt—unconscious in the terrible heat. There she was—completely helpless! For hours—people drove by. They didn’t see her car—or they did—but they thought it was just a car—so they kept on going. After 6 hours—a truck driver saw the upside down car and called 911—just to report the upside down car. The police sent a wrecker—a tow truck. And the tow truck driver started to hook up the car—to tow it away—when he first realized—there’s a lady helpless in this car! This is the way it often goes—when it comes to human physical rescues. If it is so very difficult to rescue people from physical danger—then how incredibly impossible it is—to try and rescue ourselves from spiritual harm and danger! Only Jesus could save us from our sins—and he did. God’s Word today reminds us we are saved by grace alone.

We Are The Body Of Christ!

  1. We have different roles and responsibilities

  2. We grow in unity in Christ

The part of God’s Word we are concentrating on today is part of Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus. Ephesus was the home on one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Do you know about the wonders of the ancient world? Things like the hanging gardens of Babylon. Tiers on tiers piled with earth—thickly planted with trees and flowers—with birds and exotic animals. Huge amounts of water are pumped to the top and run down—so the fruits and vegetables and flowers all grow and grow. There is the great Pyramid of Giza—so absolutely huge—it can be seen from outer space! There is the lighthouse of Alexandria—fire flaming at the top to show the way to safe harbor. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world—was in Ephesus. It was the beautiful temple built in honor of Artemis—the Greek goddess of hunting and wild nature—and fertility! How people back then prized and valued having babies. How they valued their flocks and herds having babies. Fertility meant family—and fertility meant earthly wealth. Big families worked together—to take care of fertile fields—crops and animals. It all worked together. The temple built to honor Artemis—was a place of business—and a place of worship. People who gained earthly riches brought Thankofferings—gold and ivory statues of Artemis—earrings, bracelets and necklaces—made of precious metals and precious stones. On the night of July 21st—356 years before baby Jesus was born—a man named Herostratus burned the temple to the ground—in an attempt to make people remember his name. Oh, some said—it worked. Really? Did you remember the name Herostratus? Do you think you will remember it—after lunch today? When the apostle Paul preached law and gospel in Ephesus there were still those who served Artemis. Paul did not treat these people like the enemy. He saw them as people who needed to know the truth of the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth—crucified and risen and ascended!

It is in Ephesians chapter 2 that we have one of the most precious memory treasures—that every child in our day school and Sunday School and confirmation class learn it and review it. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10 Saved by grace—means we are going to heaven—only because God is gracious and good. We are saved by grace through faith. That saving faith—is a gift from God—only because God is gracious and good. Because our heart is full of Jesus’ forgiving love—our lives will be full of good works—everyday acts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—that give glory to our Heavenly Father. The letter to the Ephesians is filled with words of warning and encouragement. “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:14b-20 Living in the light of Jesus’ forgiving love has everything to do with marriage—husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church… Jesus’ love colors children and their parents—slaves and their masters. So put on the full armor of God—so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service… It is our Heavenly Father—who by grace alone—has chosen people to be called workers in his kingdom. It’s all part of the LORD’s long range planning. The LORD reassured Jeremiah with familiar words—oft quoted by those who remind us—life begins at conception! “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5,6 Remember when we concentrated on the scroll of the prophet Amos? Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I as a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said, ’Go, prophesy to my people Israel…’” Amos 7:14,15 Remember Saul on the road to Damascus—looking for Christians—whether men or women that he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9:2b-4 The LORD picks his workers—to preach and teach and share the good news of Jesus Christ. The LORD picks his workers—pastors, teachers, principals, staff ministers, Sunday School teachers. The LORD calls his workers—not to do all the work—but to prepare God’s people for works of service…

Think what that means! To prepare God’s people for works of service… Take the simple example of visiting the sick. One of the most important things that pastors do—is visit people who are sick and in the hospital. Pastors will meet you in the ER—and literally hold your hand and pray—when you have been in horrible life threatening accidents. We will visit you when you are in Intensive Care—and you have all kinds of tubes in you and all kinds of monitors on you. We will visit you and have devotions with you when you are in the hospital for days or weeks or months! And that is all very good. But God’s Word says—Jesus has apostles, prophets, evangelists—not to do all those things for everyone. He calls them to prepare God’s people for works of service. We ought to be preparing you to make visits on people who are sick or shut in. Imagine how many visits people would have—if each of us were visiting people who are sick or shut-in! Imagine how many prayers and how many devotions if each of us were visiting the people we know—sharing God’s Word with them! Imagine how we could each build one another up! Imagine how it would be—if more and more people taught Sunday School. If men would seize the opportunity to teach God’s Word—to teach law and gospel—to the children of our congregation. If so many people wanted to teach Sunday School that you had to take turns! That you couldn’t “hog it”—teaching for 10 or 15 or 20 years. If you could only teach for a year or two—and then you had to give someone else a chance. That you could substitute teach right along—but you had to give other people the precious opportunity to teach these little people God’s Word! Works of service—means we read and study God’s Word—so that we will be evangelists/missionaries—sharing God’s Word as God gives us opportunities.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. People of God need to grow up. We need to grow up through reading our Bible—studying and meditating on law and gospel! It is sad to realize all the different words the Bible has for sin. There are words for sin which mean missing the mark—shooting our arrows and bullets far from the bull’s eye. Sometimes—even when you try really hard—you miss. And some times—I don’t think we are aiming at all—saying whatever pops into our head—without thinking things through. Sometimes when young people do something really self-destructive—parents and teachers are tempted to ask, “What were you thinking?” More often than not—it’s a waste of time to ask—what were you thinking—because they weren’t! If they had been thinking it through—action/reaction—action—consequence—they wouldn’t have done it! There is a word for sin which means transgressing a line. It’s like when you go on a date—and you really had a wonderful time—and you feel very close to the person who you went out with—you want to give them a little kiss. That could be nice. But there is a line. And you know for a fact you have crossed that line—when you think back on it—and you feel embarrassment and shame! You have crossed that line—when you have beers on Friday night—and you are hung over on Saturday morning. There is the sin that is the disobedience to a voice—when your parents or your teacher or your boss or a customer tells you something—and you act as if they didn’t. It’s a sin when your mom says supper’s ready—and you keep doing whatever you are doing—instead of hurrying to wash your hands and come to the supper table. It’s a sin—when your mom says clean up your room—and you don’t. There’s the sin that comes from falling when you should have stood upright—when you stumble in the potholes of sin and fall flat on your face. There’s the sin of ignorance of what one ought to have known—like when you get pulled over for speeding—and the police officer asks you—do you know how fast you were going—and you don’t. Or when the police officer asks you—do you know what the speed limit is—and you don’t. Is it a sin—when God has given us his Holy Word—and we dust our Bible—but don’t read it? Is it a sin—when we have God’s Word—but we make time every day to read all our e-mails and to read the Newspaper and to surf the Internet—and watch sports—but don’t make time to read even a chapter of God’s Word? There is a word for sin which means doing less than the full measure that’s required. I have sinned—and only Jesus can take that sin away!

From him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. I read about a Japanese man named Seiji. He was paralyzed from the neck down in a traffic accident some 20 years ago. Where was Seiji the other day? Going up an almost 14,000-foot Swiss mountain. How is this possible? Seiji has a friend—who wears a robotic suit—that makes him strong enough to carry his paralyzed friend—on his back—up the mountain! What a wonderful friend is that? Jesus did much much more than that. Jesus carried all our sins—the guilt and shame and blame for all our mistakes. Jesus carried that burden to the cross—and died—to take that burden that was crushing us away. Because we are forgiven—we are all part of the body of Christ. That body will hold together—growing closer and growing stronger day by day. Amen!

To God alone all glory!

Rev. Anthony E. Schultz



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