Building Up the Body

A Daily Thunder Series with Nathan Johnson

Building Up the Body

A Study in the Unity and Growth of the Church from Ephesians 4

The apostle Paul reminds us that in every generation, the church needs to be measured against the perfect standard of Jesus Christ. And the modern church is sorely lacking. In this series from Ephesians 4, Nathan Johnson shows that our desperate need is for unity, focus, and repentance. We in the body of Christ, must be measured and grow in our maturity that is marked by the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Part 1: The Symphony of the Saints (Ephesians 4:1–6)

The body of Christ is called to live in unity with one another—a symphony of the saints. As we dive back into Ephesians 4, Nathan uses this study as a review of Ephesians 4:1–6 to set the context for our future studies. As he reminds us, we are not called to uniformity but to true Jesus-focused unity as the Church. If you’d like to listen to Nathan’s past studies in the book of Ephesians, check out his Ephesians Bible Study podcast here.

Part 2: Your Gift of Grace for Salvation and Serving (Ephesians 4:7)

You have received the ultimate gift from Jesus Christ—His grace! While many of us think of one aspect of grace (salvation from sin), we miss what Peter calls the “manifold wonder of grace”—the many layers and characteristics of His grace. In this study, we explore Ephesians 4:7 and Paul’s declaration that every Christian has received the fullness of grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Part 3: The Humility and Exaltation of Christ (Ephesians 4:8-10)

Christ has ascended! While Christians give a lot of focus to the death and resurrection of Christ, we nod our heads at His ascension. Yet, contained in the ascension of Jesus is His exaltation, coronation, and a revelation of His majestic supremacy! Join Nathan Johnson in this study of Ephesians 4:8–10 as we examine Paul’s parenthetical statement about the majesty and preeminence of Christ Jesus in the context of Him giving gifts to the Church. He has ascended!

Part 4: A Gift to the Church (Ephesians 4:11)

Jesus has given a gift to His body—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. But what are they and how do they function today? In this study from Ephesians 4:11, Nathan explores these five areas, how they might be different today, and explains why God gave them to the Church. This message is bound to step on some toes, but will ultimately point all of us to the Giver of the gift, Christ Jesus.

Part 5: The Waiter at the Table (Ephesians 4:12)

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:12–13 that God’s desire for the Church is to grow up and be built into a body that is mature and measured by the stature of Christ. And this “building up the body” process happens, according to Paul, when every believer is equipped and in active ministry. In this message, Nathan examines Ephesians 4:12 and what it means for every Christian to be a “waiter at the table” for the work of Christ and His Kingdom.

Part 6: The Perfect Man (Ephesians 4:13)

Jesus is the perfect man and Paul writes that He is the standard of growth and maturity for the Church. In this study of Ephesians 4:13, we investigate the primary goal for the body of Christ and discover the only way it is possible to live such a life.

Part 7: One Goal and Focus (Ephesians 4:13)

There is one goal and focus for the Church—Jesus Christ Himself! In Ephesians 4:13, Paul describes the goal in three ways, but the focus is the same. In this study, Nathan Johnson dives into the passage and talks about Paul’s heart and desire for the body of Christ and how we as the Church are to be unified in the faith and grow in the full knowledge of Jesus, mature unto the perfect man, and be measured according to the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Part 8: Back and Forth, Here and There (Ephesians 4:14–15)

In contrast to the maturity and growth we as Christians are to have in Christ Jesus, Paul warns believers that they should not be immature, unstable, and gullible. In this message from Ephesians 4:14–15, Nathan Johnson talks about how easy it is to be tossed back and forth while being blown here and there, how such a life is not fitting for Christians, and the solution so that we never have to.

Part 9: The Motives and Manner of the Message (Ephesians 4:15)

Truth should mark our lives and lips as Christians. We are called to know the truth, be grounded upon the truth, and proclaim the truth. Yet, truth without love is not true truth, just as love without truth is not true love. In Ephesians 4:15, Paul declares that truth is to find its permanent residence in love—and as Christians, our lives and lips must have an accuracy of both truth and love. In short, the motives and manner is just as important as the message.

Part 10: The Growth of the Body (Ephesians 4:15-16)

There is a beautiful paradox with the body of Christ—Jesus supplies everything we need for life and godliness, yet we as the body are to build each other up in love, causing the growth of the body. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 4:15–16 that Jesus is the head of the Church, but he exhorts the body to be abundantly supplied by Christ to function, grow, and mature as the body is called to be. In this study, Nathan walks through the passage and encourages us to think and live as a community of believers, rather than as individuals that go to church together.