Paul Outlines How a Good Church Works

Text: Ephesians 4:1-16

Reflection and Question: The apostle Paul was all about church-building; that is, nurturing communities based upon faith in Jesus Christ as the beloved Son of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. He uses this same image of the one body for the church in the first letter to the Corinthians. It is clear that he likes this analogy because the body is such a good example of being one and many at the same time. Gifts and people vary in a host of different ways but still come together to build up the body of Christ. Holding all the parts of the church together is love. How does our church today embody the vision of love and unity Paul describes?

Prayer: Holy Spirit, instill in us the humility, gentleness, patience, hope, faith and maturity needed to lead a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called. May we meet the measure of the full stature of Christ, building Your church in love. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 2 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).