The document is a sermon outline from Pastor Tom at the Oregon City Evangelical Church on November 8, 2009 about Ephesians 4:1-16. The summary is: 1) The sermon discusses how Christians living out their faith in practice, not just in theory, will invest their lives and change the world. 2) It emphasizes that God has given each believer unique gifts and desires to bring forth a unified, mature church through everyone's participation. 3) Christians are called to consider how they can contribute to the unity of the body of Christ in the coming week.

1. Oregon City Evangelical Church
Application November 8, 2009
Sermon Notes
Pastor Tom
7. In the steps toward maturity outlined in the previous
question, where do you find yourself?
Ephesians 4:1-16
I. When Theory becomes Practice, Christians will Live
Out what God has Put In!
8. How do you see yourself as part of accomplishing
God’s purpose through the local church? What role
does the Holy Spirit play in this process?
II. When Theory becomes Practice, Christians will Invest
their life and change their world!
9. What one thing will you do this week to contribute to the
unity of the Body of Christ? (See Eph. 4:1-3) Not only has saving grace been lavished on us, 1:8, but
personal grace has been assigned or given to each
believer.
God’s method and God’s investment is you and me.
God desires to bring forth a unified, mature, strong,
steadfast, truth speaking, love filled Church and it takes
Prayer Corner:
every one of us!
Pray for a group of persecuted believers in our
world. Get ideas from www.opendoorsUSA.org.
Prayer Tip:
Pray on one topic at a time with several expressing
short prayers for that topic. Encourage others to
express their agreement with those who have
prayed out loud by adding their “amen”.
Growth Group Tip:
Don’t feel that you must discuss every question in
the Getting Started section. The key is to help your
group get to know each other at a personal level. What will it be for you?
In the Locker Room or In the Game?

2. Growth Group Study Guide 5. Look at the following passages to discover examples of
how God used many people to accomplish His purpose.
Week of _November 8. 2009_ What is the situation being faced? How did people work
together? What principles would be important for us to
apply in our experiences of serving together?
Getting Started a. Exodus 35:30-36:1; 36:6-7
1. Describe something that works well when all its parts
are working?
2. Tell about a time you were on a team or in a work group b. Nehemiah 2:17-18; 4:21-23; 6:9; 15-16
and you were able to get something done that you
could not have done on your own.
3. Tell about a good friend you had as a child or teenager.
What did you have in common that bonded you c. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
together?
Into the Word
4. Ephesians 4:5 gives a foundational creed that outlines
Christian points of unity- one Lord, one faith, one
6. Look at the following passage from the Sunday
baptism, one God and Father of all. How do the
message- Ephesians 4:11-16.
following verses reinforce these concepts?
a. How does unified effort contribute to maturity in our
a. John 14:6-7
lives?
b. 1 Peter 1:22-23
b. What steps toward Christian maturity are outlined in
this passage?
c. Matthew 28:18-21
c. What positive outcomes are evident as a result of
Christian maturity?
d. Hebrews 12:2