If I had to give a Scripture verse defining why I do what I do as director of Ministry Tools Resource Center, I would choose Ephesians 4:16. That one verse says it all about God’s intent and design for His Church. It has long been the passion of my heart to see the Body of Christ line up with God’s purpose and objective for the Church and to get there following His design.
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.
How Ephesians 4:16, Just One Verse Says It All About God’s Intent for Church Life
This verse sums up God’s intent for the Church and how we need to function in accordance with His design:
1) The Church’s Identity: the Body of Christ (“from him the whole body”)
The church is a living organism made up of many different parts under the leadership of the Head, Jesus Christ. Out of this diversity comes unity. We are one in Him.
—So, I had to develop a section just on Body Life.
2) The Church’s Objective: “grows and builds itself up”
The Church should be growing numerically through new converts and qualitatively with one another –reaching out but also building one another up …. both, not either/or.
—So, I knew ministry training had to include outreach ministry but also shepherding, prayer, worship, teaching, and more.
3) The Church’s Purpose: “in love”
Love, the greatest commandment according to Jesus, unites us (Col.2:2) and so over all the different virtues we can and should exhibit in our lives we must “put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col. 3:14). We “live a life of love, just as Christ loved us” (Eph. 5:1-2). We “do everything in love” (1 Cor. 16:14). We “serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13) and “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). Above all, we are to “love each other deeply” (1 Peter. 4:8) and “increase and overflow” in that love (1 Thess. 3:12).
—So, I wanted a section devoted solely to the Church’s Purpose to love God and love people out of which the church ministries would flow.
4) The Church’s Design: “as each part does its work”
The Church was made to best function as an interdependent unit. All parts are needed (1 Cor. 12:21-26). Every believer has something to contribute (1 Cor. 12:7).
—So, with everybody doing their part as the means through which this all happens, I had to make teaching on Spiritual Gifts a core value around which the site would be built.
Here are some other articles on the MinTools.com site on Ephesians 4:16. Isn’t it amazing how much can come out of just one verse?
I told you — this one verse says it all. Now, may the Church be the Church!
I’m currently reading Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven Life”, and have a huge interest in my S.H.A.P.E. so I came across your web site with an interest in my spiritual gifts and abilities. Rick Warren warns that some of the spiritual gift tests are doctrinally biased. I don’t know what that means yet, but i appreciate your test so I might have a feel for what he’s talking about. Thank you and I would appreciate a return email to my comment. -Tim
How good that you desire to gain a better understanding of God’s design for your life, Tim. I’m glad you found the MinTools.com site to add more input into what God has already been teaching you. All of the parts of our being represented in S.H.A.P.E. should be brought into consideration when determining our best fit in ministry.
I can’t speak for Rick Warren but his warning could possibly tie in to which gifts are included on tests and which aren’t. But, even more, I would think it could pertain to the wording of the statements. They will tend to reflect the way the designer of the test defines the gifts. As in any doctrinal topic, the best way to arrive at a definition is to interpret Scripture against Scripture. For example, what is the original Greek word used for each of the spiritual gifts? And, how do you see that term used in other places of Scripture? We must look at the full teaching of Scripture on issues to better arrive at God’s intent. Bias is more likely when we pick and choose Scripture on which to define doctrinal positions. Truth must be based on God and His intent not my opinions or experience. Since we are finite beings seeking to understand an infinite God and His ways, we will undoubtedly not always arrive at God’s intent but that should be our goal.
It’s amazing to realize that the word of God revolves around our Lord Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice by giving his life to save us. Although I’m not familiar with Rick Warren, I do trust the biblical teachings, particularly Ephesians 4:16, which emphasizes the importance of God’s word. It is also my understanding that the Lord has commanded us to love our neighbors with the same love we have for ourselves. According to Ephesians 5:1-2, we are called to live a life of love, and each individual has a unique contribution to make. The idea that the word of God is biased is inconceivable to me, and I disagree with mini tools. I accept the authority of God’s word, but I may have differing opinions on reworded or misinterpreted versions.
Greetings, Gertrude. This ministry would be in agreement with what you wrote. If you re-read the reply from MinTools, you’ll see that it’s putting the bias on people’s interpretation of the Word, not on the Word itself. Here are the sentences from that reply: “Bias is more likely when we pick and choose Scripture on which to define doctrinal positions. Truth must be based on God and His intent not my opinions or experience.” I hope that helps. Ministry Tools Resource holds strongly to the God-inspired full authority of God’s Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17).