Category Archives: Miscellaneous

We live in a world too often filled with hateful and divisive words — not very loving. Is the Church any different? We should be.

Yes, we must stand for truth. We should uphold God’s holy standards. As we’ve noted in the last couple of posts, holiness and truth should characterize us to the core of our being and not merely form a verbal code of ethics. But, when that happens, we will also be people who love.

Bible Verses That Couple Holiness and Love

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col. 3:12)

The qualities mentioned in this verse characterize love (1 Cor. 13) and promote acceptance and unity, not condemnation and divisiveness. Clothing ourselves takes an intentional effort. We put thought into what we wear on our physical bodies. Why wouldn’t we do the same spiritually?

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:17-19)

Notice how Ephesians 3:17-19 identifies “all the Lord’s holy people” as “being rooted and established in love” but needing an even better grasp of the Lord’s love. We have a holy God who makes us holy in Christ Jesus but that’s not enough. To be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” we need to know and rely on His great, immeasurable love more and more — to lay hold of His love so as to appropriate it to our own lives.

Churches Characterized as Loving and Unified As Well as Holy and Filled with Truth Stick Out

When holiness and truth coupled with love characterize a church, our bonds with one another in Him become strong enough to withstand differences of opinions. We work through potentially divisive situations, unified because of who we are in Him. Because He is the Standard, we seek to get on page with Him, not push our personal agendas.

This kind of church stands out. It demonstrates the fullness of God’s character. This is a church with some appeal.

Think about it: If the Church can’t lovingly work with one another, how will those on the outside think they will be valued, loved, and not simply condemned?

Would God characterize your church as holy and full of truth or morally compromising and wavering? As mentioned in the previous post, we need to measure ourselves against Him, not what we or the world defines as truth and holiness.

God’s character provides the standard for what is holy and true.

How interesting that Revelation 6:10 combines holiness and truth with sovereignty. — “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge …” The Sovereign One, the One who has the right to bring judgment on people, is characterized as holy and true. And so, “just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Pet. 1:15). Let’s remember that it’s not up to us to define holiness … what is right and pure. God has already done that based on His own holy character.

Implication: We need to get to know this God in the fullness of who He is. — “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10)

Check out the Steering the Church Toward Christ-like Character Leadership Guide for more about God’s desire for us to be a Holy Church and indications that let us know if we’re headed in that direction.

Many people feel disillusioned with the Church today. People without church backgrounds as well as those who grew up in the church are among the unchurched. Is it just that they feel the church is no longer relevant or do they sense something missing?

I’d like to suggest that we as the Church start by looking at the qualities that should characterize us. We must be concerned with who we are, not just what we do. People notice when who we are doesn’t match what we say.

Qualities That Ought to Characterize the Church

1. Would people characterize the Church as holy and full of truth or morally compromising and wavering?

2. Does love and unity flow from us or do people experience condemnation and divisiveness?

(Click on the above links for more about those qualities.)

As seen in 1 Peter 1:15-16 and 1 John 4:16, we need to measure ourselves against the right standard — God, not ourselves or the world. He defines truth, holiness, and love. We, the Church, represent Him. If we aren’t presenting a God worthy of people’s devotion, why should they come worship with us?

God provides the blueprint for Church growth in Ephesians 4:16.

The first part of the verse establishes our connection to one another which will be the topic of this post.

The second part of the verse shows the purpose or outcome of following God’s design — the topic of the next post.

Exposition of Ephesians 4:16a on How We are Connected to One Another

“From Him”

“From” is a primary preposition signifying origin, the point from which something happens or proceeds.

We find the identity of “Him” within the context. Verse 15 references Christ as the Head of the Body.

As the Head, He is the control center of the Body. He has both the authority to make the decisions and power to make it happen. (Eph. 1:19-23)

As the Head, He has first place. He is preeminent. It’s all about Him. (Col. 1:17-18)

Jesus, then, as the source, is qualified to bring the effect yet to be described later in this verse.

“the whole Body”

1 Corinthians 12 likens the church to the human body … a collective whole, yet made up of many individual parts. By using the adjective “whole” we must thus conclude that this verse pertains to every member, any and every one in the Body.

Without exception, then, what is yet to be described in this verse affects and is relevant to every believer.

“joined and held together”

Being “joined” together is more of a building concept, similar to framing a structure together. Ephesians 2:11-22 describes the institution of the church as “being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” When we are in Christ, we are no longer isolated entities. We belong to something bigger than ourselves. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body … and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor. 12:12-13). Our identity shifts from “me” to “we” as we are one in Him, “fitly framed” together as translated in the ASV.

Being “held together” suggests that this joining together is meant to last. We are “knit together” (ASV) signifying such an intertwining that what affects one, affects the others (1 Cor. 12:24-26).

“by every supporting ligament”

The word “by” lets us know that we are going to be given the means through which we are joined and held together.

“Every” is the same Greek word used earlier translated “whole.” So, again, we must conclude that this affects any and every member of the Body.

The NIV use of “supporting ligament” fails to adequately communicate its meaning. Most other translations help us better understand by wording it as that which every joint supplies. These are connection points, the junction at which the parts are fastened or bonded together … the points where we connect one to the other.

Though every part doesn’t connect to all parts, by virtue of the point at which it does, it now belongs to the whole. Using the analogy of the human body, we would acknowledge that the arm is not directly connected to the leg. Yet, they are members of the same body. Where one goes, the other goes.

Certainly we must conclude that in Christ we are connected to one another, but for what purpose? — The topic of the next post: Connected for a Purpose

We can be very busy in church and ministry doing lots of things, even good things, but be far from reaching maximum effectiveness. Perhaps it’s because we aren’t using God’s standard of measurement. If you haven’t already done so, read the previous post before continuing on: Measuring Maximum Effectiveness

God not only defines maximum effectiveness,

… 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 … (Eph. 4:12-14)

but He also lets us know the means of getting there.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of 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. (Eph. 4:15-16)

Maximum effectiveness in the Church can only be reached by maximizing the means He designed to get us there.

1) Maximize Reliance on God.

Depend on Him to equip (Eph. 4:11-12) and empower you to reach this measure of effectiveness.

Read: 2 Corinthians 9:8, Hebrews 13:20-21, and 2 Peter 1:3-8

Ask: How is the prayer ministry in your church?

Get Help:

• online prayer ministry training
• Prayer Ministry Manual

2) Maximize Christ-likeness in all you do.

Yield to the work of the Holy Spirit so you reflect more and more of the character of Jesus, with love being the ultimate reflection.

Read: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Galatians 5:16-26 and 2 Peter 1:5-9

Ask: Does your church purpose reflect the need to love as He loves?

Get Help:

• online training about the church’s purpose
• Church Purpose Manual

3) Maximize Involvement in the Church.

Encourage everybody to do their part.

Read: Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31, and Ephesians 4:11-16

Ask: Are you teaching about and following God’s design for the Body?

Get Help:

• online training about Body Life
• Body Life Ministry Manual

Is your church or ministry reaching maximum effectiveness? Your answer to that question depends on how you define and measure effectiveness.

How Some Churches & Ministries Measure Maximum Effectiveness

• If based on the number of members and/or attendees, some churches might seem like they’ve arrived.
• If evaluated in terms of efficient administrative organization, some churches might seem effective.
• If measured for excellent media and technological prowess, some churches might appear to have it all.
• If gauged by the number of programs offered, some churches might feel pretty good about themselves.
• If determined by the size of the pastoral staff, some churches might surpass others.

How God Measures Maximum Effectiveness

Certainly God values numeric growth, efficiency, and excellence. And, our programs and pastoral staff can be used by Him to accomplish what He wants us to do. Yet, if we read Ephesians 4:12-13, we learn that we haven’t arrived 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.

Ephesians 4:15-16 continues to speak about growing 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.”

Questions to Ask to Determine if We are Reaching Maximum Effectiveness

Instead of asking how many members, staff, or programs we have, or to what level of efficiency or excellence we have obtained, let’s first ask questions that line up with God’s standard of measurement as found in Ephesians 4:12-13.

• How well are we getting along in our church?
• How well do we handle disagreements and differences?
• Where are people in their walk with God?
• To what extent are we discipling people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ?
• How much are we looking to Christ as the Head of the Church?
• How Christ-like are we?
• How important is Christ-like character to us?

Once we can satisfactorily answer these questions, then we might find answers to the other types of questions we often ask to measure effectiveness more useful.

But, it’s also important to ask how God intends for us to reach His standard of maximum effectiveness.