The document explores the theme of unity within diversity as outlined in Ephesians 4:7-16, emphasizing that unity does not conflict with diversity. It underscores that Christ has distributed various gifts to individuals for the purpose of equipping the church, enabling it to grow and mature in faith. The text highlights the need for believers to mature spiritually, moving away from childish behavior and towards a unified body of Christ that operates in love.

1. Growth Thru Diversity
Ephesians 4:7-16

2. Review
Ephesians 1-3 defines the graces we have all
received from God in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV) I therefore, a prisoner for
the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy
of the calling to which you have been called,
2 with all humility and gentleness, with
patience, bearing with one another in love,
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace.

3. Recognize Diversity within Unity
• Unity doesn’t mean unanimity or uniformity.
• Unity is not in conflict with diversity.
• God uses diversity to build unity.
• Examples:
– Automobile
– Human body

4. Ephesians 4:7–16 (ESV)
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to
the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of
captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but
that he had also descended into the lower regions,
the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also
ascended far above all the heavens, that he might
fill all things.)

5. 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to
equip the saints for the work of ministry, for
building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all
attain to the unity of the faith and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to mature
manhood, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ,

6. 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed
to and fro by the waves and carried about by
every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by
craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather,
speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
16 from whom the whole body, joined and held
together by every joint with which it is
equipped, when each part is working properly,
makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in
love.

7. Christ Distributed gifts
7 But grace was given to
each one of us according
to the measure of Christ’s
gift.
• Christ gave gifts to all of
us (general gifts
chapters 1-3).
• Christ has given specific
gifts to each of us.
• Christ determined to
whom and in what
measure the gifts were
given.

8. Christ has the authority to give
8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended
on high he led a host of
captives, and he gave gifts
to men.”
Psalm 68:18 (ESV)
“You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives
in your train and receiving
gifts among men, even
among the rebellious, that
the LORD God may dwell
there.”

9. Paul the Jewish Scholar
8 Therefore it says,
“When he ascended
on high he led a host of
captives, and he gave gifts
to men.”
Paul apparently followed the
Jewish interpretation of the
day (the Targum), which
paraphrased this verse as
follows: “You did ascend to
the firmament, O Prophet
Moses! You led captivity
captive; you taught the
words of the Law; you gave
[not received, ‘ as in the
Heb.] gifts to the sons of
men.” Bible Knowledge
Commentary

10. Numbers 8:14–19 (ESV)
14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of
Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that the Levites
shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed
them and offered them as a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly
given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who
open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have
taken them for myself. 17 For all the firstborn among the people of
Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck
down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for
myself, 18 and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn
among the people of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift
to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the
service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make
atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague
among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near
the sanctuary.”

11. His Accent shows authority
9 (In saying, “He
ascended,” what does it
mean but that he had also
descended into the lower
regions, the earth? 10 He
who descended is the one
who also ascended far
above all the heavens,
that he might fill all
things.)
• Descended:
– Into Hell?
– Into the Grave?
– Lower regions means
simply under the
heavens and refers to
Earth. Can refer to the
incarnation or his return
at Pentecost to
distribute gifts.

12. God gives gifts to people to serve
• He gave the Levites to Israel to serve in the
temple
• Christ has given certain people to the body of
Christ to equip his children for service.

13. He gave certain people as gifts
11 And he gave the
apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the
shepherds and teachers,
• He gave
– Apostles
– Prophets
– Evangelists
– Shepherd/teachers
New Testament prophets were gifts to the church to
provide edification, exhortation, and comfort : 1
Corinthians 14:3 On the other hand, the one who
prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and
encouragement and consolation.

14. The Purpose of the gift
12 to equip the saints for
the work of ministry, for
building up the body of
Christ,
• To equip the saints
– For the work of ministry
– For building up the body
of Christ

15. “Already”, “Not Yet”
13 until we all attain to the
unity of the faith and of
the knowledge of the Son
of God, to mature
manhood, to the measure
of the stature of the
fullness of Christ,
• We have it, but not yet.
– We all attain to the unity
of the faith
– We all attain the
knowledge of the Son of
God.
– We all mature to
adulthood
– We measure up to the
stature of the fullness of
Christ

16. Don’t be like children
14 so that we may no
longer be children, tossed
to and fro by the waves
and carried about by
every wind of doctrine, by
human cunning, by
craftiness in deceitful
schemes.
• We stop being children
– Tossed to fro by the
waves and carried about
by every wind of
doctrine
– By human cunning
– By craftiness in deceitful
schemes.

17. Maturity is Conformity to Christ
15 Rather, speaking the
truth in love, we are to
grow up in every way into
him who is the head, into
Christ,
• Speak the truth in love
• We are to grow up in
every way into him who
is the head - Christ

18. Result of the body being like the head
16 from whom the whole
body, joined and held
together by every joint
with which it is equipped,
when each part is working
properly, makes the body
grow so that it builds itself
up in love.
• The body will be joined
together as unit.
• The body will be
equipped to function
properly.
• The body will grow and
build itself up in love.