We continue our journey through the New Testament book of Ephesians on this the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, 01 August 2021.
The main text for today is Ephesians 4:1-16 – Paul’s words to the Church in Ephesus about the importance of unity in the Church. This is as resonant for the modern Church as it was 2000 years ago and yet much of the intervening history of the Christian Church has been of fracturing and disunity.
Below you will find the main Scripture, the Order of Service for today and then the embedded YouTube video recording of the service conducted by Rev. Geoff McKee – prayers, readings, hymns and the sermon.
Main reading for today
Ephesians 4:1-16 (New International Version)
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Order of Service
Introit: Come, Now is the Time to Worship
Welcome and Intimations
Call to Worship
Praise: CH4 484 Great God, your love has called us here
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Reflection
Praise: CH4 724 Christ’s is the world in which we move
Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 & Psalm 78:23-29
Praise: MP624 Take my life, and let it be
Readings: Ephesians 4:1-16 & John 6:24-35
Sermon
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
Praise: MP201 Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah
Benediction
Video Service
Church unity is not a periphery desire. It is the gospel witness to a broken world. O that we were all to take that seriously.
rev. geoff mckee
Musical Selection
Come, Now Is The Time To Worship by Brian Doerksen.
