We quote Ephesians 4:12 regularly at Grace. Our student ministry Wednesday nights are even named 412 after it. It’s the reminder that God gives the church leaders not just to do the work of ministry, but to equip the saints for the work of ministry. But notice one of the big reasons why Paul says God does this (bold italics below).

“He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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.” (Ephesians 4:11–14)

This is why Paul is so riled up in this letter of Second Corinthians. As chapter 11 begins, his divine jealousy for the Bride of Christ has been stirred up by the threat of these “Super Apostles.” He pictures the church in Corinth like Eve, as the serpent slithers nearer whispering lies, proclaiming “another Jesus” and “a different spirit” and “a different gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4) to lead them “astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

He is sounding the alarm for them and for us, “that we would not be outwitted by Satan; [or] ignorant of his designs (2 Corinthians 2:11).” His designs often come in the form of human cunning… “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:13).” So we gather each Sunday to keep growing in the knowledge of the true Son of God and his gospel that we might easily spot all pretenders.

This Sunday Jason Oakes will be preaching 2 Corinthians 11:1-21a and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And Ephesians 4:11-14 (above) has some great prayer prompts for us to pray for one another.

In the evening, we will gather at 6pm for our Baptism Service and Family Time. We would love for you to join us.

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

 

Song Link of the Week
There Is One Gospel by CityAlight

There is one Gospel to which I cling
All else I count as loss
For there, where justice and mercy meet
He saved me on the cross
No more I boast in what I can bring
No more I carry the weight of sin
For He has brought me from death to life
I stand in the Gospel of Jesus Christ