… we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 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. (Ephesians 4:15-16)

We’ve spent the last few weeks considering what is not true about us:  we are not to allow ourselves to be defined by the Lies of Performance, Possessions, or People-pleasing.  Now it’s time to consider who we are, and how we are to live our way into that reality.

On our church website, we say that Chatham Community Church seeks to be a church that is Gospel-centered, Biblically-guided, relationally-connected, generous-hearted and outwardly-focused.  Over the next several weeks of our Inner Strength series, we’ll spend time looking at each of these core values, beginning this week with relationally-connected.

This week’s passage (please read Ephesians 4:1-16) is both rich and dense.  Sometimes it’s good to take a look at where Paul is heading – with the end in mind, it’s easier to follow his thinking.

Where’s Paul headed?  Towards a Christian community that is mature, alive, thriving, fully grown.  A community that functions like a body, each and every part essential, each and every part with a needed contribution, each and every part connected to all the others.  A body-community that represents Jesus well, that fleshes out faithfully what life looks like under the Lordship of Christ.

A whole, healthy, active, flourishing body!  And each and every member, growing, thriving, maturing, contributing!  That’s what relationally-connected looks like.

What a goal!  What a prize!  Well worth working towards, yes?

So, with the end in mind, note the commands throughout this passage.  Commands like live a life worthy of the calling we have received in Christ; make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit; be humble, gentle, patient; bear with one another in love; speak the truth in love; grow up, become mature.  The goal doesn’t come automatically, the prize can’t be received without participating.

And note that we cannot do any of this in isolation, all by ourselves.  And note that we can’t do any of it only in an hour or so on Sunday mornings!

The goal is worth the effort, the prize is worth the price!

What are some ways you could deepen your “connectedness” in and to the community of Chatham Church – deepen friendships, develop new relationships, get to know others better and be better known by them?  What’s one or two steps in that direction you could take this month?