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Ephesians 4:1-16 (MSG)

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1 In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk--better yet, run!--on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I 2 And mark that you do this with humility and discipline--not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, 3 alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. 4 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. 5 You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. 7 But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. 8 The text for this is, He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people. 9 It's true, is it not, that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? 10 And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, 11 filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher 12 to train Christians in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, 13 until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. 14 No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. 15 God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. 16 He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.


This passage relates to the following topic(s):
(v. 2) Humility - Be completely humble and gentle
(v. 2) Love - Bear with one another in love
(v. 2) Gentleness - Be completely humble and gentle
(v. 3) Eagerness / Diligence / Seeking / Readiness - Make every effort to keep the unity
(v. 3) Unity - Make every effort to keep the unity
(v. 4) Baptism / Conversions - One body, one baptism, one Lord
(v. 4) Church - One body, one baptism, one Lord
(v. 5) Baptism / Conversions - One body, one baptism, one Lord
(v. 5) Church - One body, one baptism, one Lord
(v. 6) Baptism / Conversions - One body, one baptism, one Lord
(v. 6) Church - One body, one baptism, one Lord
(v. 11) Leadership - God gave some the gift of leadership
(v. 11) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 12) Leadership - God gave some the gift of leadership
(v. 12) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 13) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 14) Growth / Maturity - God has given each other to help us mature
(v. 15) Discipling / Correction - Speaking the truth in love and build each other up
(v. 15) Unity - Together to grow and build each other up in love
(v. 16) Discipling / Correction - Speaking the truth in love and build each other up
(v. 16) Unity - Together to grow and build each other up in love

This passage is referenced in the following quiet time(s):
(v. 1) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 1) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 1) One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 4) (2010-02-24)
(v. 1) Followup: Humility II (part I) (2011-09-10)
(v. 1) Day 30 - Joined Together in Love (2012-01-02)
(v. 2) One Another (part I) (2011-03-15)
(v. 2) Day 30 - Joined Together in Love (2012-01-02)
(v. 2) Followup: Humility II (part I) (2011-09-10)
(v. 2) One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 4) (2010-02-24)
(v. 2) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 2) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 3) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 3) Followup: Humility II (part I) (2011-09-10)
(v. 3) Purpose Driven Life - Protecting Your Church (2008-06-14)
(v. 3) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 3) One Another - Reconciling with One Another (part 2) (2010-02-22)
(v. 3) Kingdom First - Rapid Resolution (2010-01-11)
(v. 3) Day 30 - Joined Together in Love (2012-01-02)
(v. 3) 30 Days at the Cross - United Hearts (2008-08-24)
(v. 4) Mission - Baptizing Them (2010-11-28)
(v. 4) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 4) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 4) Followup: Humility II (part I) (2011-09-10)
(v. 5) Followup: Humility II (part I) (2011-09-10)
(v. 5) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 5) Mission - Baptizing Them (2010-11-28)
(v. 5) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 6) Mission - Baptizing Them (2010-11-28)
(v. 6) Followup: Humility II (part I) (2011-09-10)
(v. 6) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 6) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 7) One Another - One Another In Groups (part 3) (2010-03-01)
(v. 7) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 8) Waking Dead - At War (part 2) (2010-08-07)
(v. 8) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 9) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 9) Waking Dead - At War (part 2) (2010-08-07)
(v. 10) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 11) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 11) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 11) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 11) Life to the Full - In His Steps (part 2) (2010-04-19)
(v. 12) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 12) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 12) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 13) Purpose Driven Life - It Takes Time (2008-06-22)
(v. 13) You are what you eat (2010-09-13)
(v. 13) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 13) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 14) Men Leave Childhood Behind (2013-09-11)
(v. 14) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 14) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 15) Raising Awesome Kids - Openness (2009-01-13)
(v. 15) One Another - Making it Clear (2009-09-25)
(v. 15) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 15) One Another - Speaking the Truth in Love (2009-10-06)
(v. 15) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)
(v. 15) Men Leave Childhood Behind (2013-09-11)
(v. 16) Growing (part I) (2011-11-30)
(v. 16) Church (part II) (2011-01-08)

This passage is referenced in the following study note(s):
(v. 2) Devotional: Pride and Humility (2008-12-12)
(v. 11) Devotional: Leadership in the Church (2008-12-18)
(v. 12) Devotional: Leadership in the Church (2008-12-18)
(v. 13) Devotional: Leadership in the Church (2008-12-18)