We have a good friend and leader joining us this weekend, Craig Clark. Craig and Andy lead the Urban Life family of churches that currently meet in 3 locations across Midrand and Pretoria. After planting and leading Urban Life church since 1994, Craig also runs a business with his brother which operates in White River.
Andy, recently named as one of the 3 candidates for The Clarins Most Dynamic Woman Award, is a director in Botshabelo and a pioneer in “Generous Justice”.
Together, this couple are an amazing gift to the church and it is our great privilege to have Craig minister at Life Changers this Sunday.
ONE BIG REASON YOU SHOULD BE THERE
Ephesians 4 v 11 – 13
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, 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.”
The Apostle Paul tells us that God gives certain people as gifts to the church to do a number of key things:
- TO EQUIP: No believer is a passenger in the Gospel story. We all have kingdom mandates that God has designed for us, and we need equipping for us to be able to fulfil this mandate.
The word “equipping” originates from the Greek word, “katartismon”. This is the word from which we get our English word “artisan” – an artist or craftsman, someone who works with his hands to make or build things. This word first appears in the New Testament in connection with the calling of the disciples.
As Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two pairs of brothers, Peter and Andrew, and James and John, sitting in a boat busily working. What were they doing? They were mending their nets. The word “mending” is the word translated in Ephesians 4 as “equipping.” They were equipping their nets by mending them. They were fixing their nets, making them strong, preparing them for service, getting them ready for action!
God gives gifts to the church to get us READY FOR ACTION!
EQUIPPED FOR WHAT?
- “So that the body of Christ (The church) may be built up”
The human body requires hard work to be equipped for heavy-lifting. The church is described in 1 Corinthians 12 v 12 as a body, and likewise requires to be built up for the mission that God has for her.
- “Reach unity of the faith”
Unity is a big thing in the Kingdom of God. Part of the Ephesians 4 “craftsmanship” is enabling the church to keep moving forward in this area.
- “Knowledge of the Son of God”
There’s no greater equipping than “knowing God”.
- “Become Mature”
Immaturity keeps Christians from stepping into the more of God, and seeing the Kingdom advanced. Every believer is on a consistent “maturity journey”, and the Bible suggests that we require input for Ephesians 4 gifts to the church, to advance our journey in this regard.
So, it’s not JUST ANOTHER SUNDAY! Come ready to be EQUIPPED for the big story of the Gospel that God wants to fulfill in and through your life. See you Sunday!