Growing Pains: Commitment, Community, and Care
…we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
Ephesians 4:15b NLT
[Christ] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:16 NLT
Ephesians 4:15b NLT
[Christ] makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:16 NLT
COMMITTED CARE IS. . .
1. CREATING SPACE.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV
Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV
2. CONSISTENTLY SHOWING UP.
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
Ephesians 2:20 NLT
In [Christ] the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:21–22 NIV
Ephesians 2:20 NLT
In [Christ] the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 2:21–22 NIV
3. COMMUNICATING CLEARLY.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25 NIV
Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you. . .
James 5:14a NLT
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
James 5:16a NLT
Ephesians 4:25 NIV
Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you. . .
James 5:14a NLT
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
James 5:16a NLT
4. CONFRONTING CONFLICT CONSTRUCTIVELY.
“Don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26–27 NLT
For Christ himself has brought peace to us…in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us… Together as one body, Christ reconciled both to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
Ephesians 2:14a,c &16 NLT
Ephesians 4:26–27 NLT
For Christ himself has brought peace to us…in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us… Together as one body, Christ reconciled both to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
Ephesians 2:14a,c &16 NLT