Bible Studies for Life: October 4

God Speaks Through His Church • Ephesians 4:11-16, 25-29

By Don Hicks

The introduction for this week’s lesson states: “A key part of developing a biblical lens is an understanding of the church. Just as God’s Spirit works in us and through us, He also works through other believers. God will use the church body to help us see and affirm the plan God has for us.”

The fourth and fifth chapters of Ephesians should be read and studied before the shorter focal passage selected for today’s lesson. Both of these chapters include biblical context, setting and background for our focal passage.

As the Apostle Paul explains, God works though His church in Ephesus: “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11-12 CSB.)

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He adds us immediately to His universal church. We need to follow His teachings and command to be baptized by immersion in water. Baptism is a personal testimony that we have died to sin and been raised to new, everlasting life in Jesus Christ. Baptism does not save, but it is a pictorial way for the new Christian to bear witness to his new faith in Christ Jesus.

Jesus promised in Matthew 18:19-20 (AMP), “Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”

To effectively gather regularly with other members of my church, I have to live fairly close to where they meet weekly (or more often). Twelve times since I became a Christian on October 16, 1955, I have moved my membership to another local church close to my new residence. Each of these churches has been Southern Baptist. All of them loved me and my family. These churches have spoken to me in ways that I could not have heard if they were not close to where my family lived.

My family and I are now active members of Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl, Mississippi. Park Place is about five miles from our house in Brandon. Are there people you know about who need to be a member of your church and maybe even your Sunday School class?

Next week’s lesson is the end of our unit on “How God Speaks.” It will be a challenge to apply the truths we have studied in this unit. The title is, “God Speaks and We Respond.” Has God spoken to you or even challenged you to respond to Him? If He has spoken to you, He will help you respond to His challenges and help you grow spiritually, if you pray and ask Him.

Notice how closely related each of the lesson titles are in this unit:

God Speaks —

to His People
through the Bible
through His Holy Spirit
through Circumstances
through His Church
and We Respond

Also look at how closely related the scripture truths are:

Matthew 18:20 (CSB): “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” This is true for His People and His Church.

Psalm 19:7 (CSB): “The instruction of the LORD is perfect.” This is true for the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

Did you notice that most of these truths also apply to Christian marriage and Christian family? Matthew 18:20 CSB: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” Christian Marriage gathers two people together. Jesus said it this way: “’Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that he who created them in the beginning made them male and female,” and he also said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?'” (Matthew 19:4-5 CSB) The words of Joshua remind us of a strong commitment, “As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD,” (Joshua 24:15 CSB). Is this your commitment?

Hicks is a member of Park Place Baptist Church, Pearl.