However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. Ephesians 4:7

A. In the Church, no two members are alike

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.1 Corinthians 12:4-6

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10

B. God always gives us grace to go along with our gifts. 

That is why the Scriptures say, “When he ascended to the heights, he led a crowd of captives and gave gifts to his people. Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself. Ephesians 4:8-10

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. So he went and preached to the spirits in prison. 1 Peter 3:18-19

A. Jesus paid the infinite price on our behalf.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Ephesians 4:11

A. Gifts for the Formation of the Church

Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:12

B. Gifts for the Function of the Church

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians 4:13

A. Unity in our faith

B. Intimacy

C. Maturity

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Ephesians 4:14

D. Stability

Instead, 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 4:15

E. Authenticity

He 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

A. How does a local church grow? From the inside.