Growing Together In Christ For Unity And Love

How do we grow together in Christ and build a strong church? When Paul wrote to the Ephesian Church, he offered a blueprint for spiritual maturity and unity in Christ. In this devotion, we’ll;

Unpack what it means to live as an equipped follower of Jesus.
Embrace our God-given role.
Work together as one body to reflect Christ in a divided world.

The Christian life involves growth, not stagnation. Paul reminded the church in Ephesus that Christ Himself gives the church spiritual gifts. In this epistle, he listed five unique gifts.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-12

Click on this graphic to get your free eBook

The purpose of these gifts is just as unique as the gifts themselves. God called those gifted people to equip believers, strengthen unity within the church, and build spiritual maturity.

Paul challenged every believer to step away from spiritual complacency and press forward toward growth in Him. We can only accomplish those goals as we work together in Christ.

God never intended for His people to drift through faith without direction. He provides leaders, teachers, and spiritual gifts so that the church thrives as one body.

Each of us has a specific role assigned to us by the Holy Spirit. The health of the entire body of Christ depends on each part functioning together as designated by the Lord.

The key roles Paul listed in verse eleven serve as gifts, not titles for self-promotion. Christ grants these roles to His people for their training and direction.

Christ Called Us All to Work Together

The Lord not only gave them a mission, but the apostle called it a responsibility. Christ has mandated them to equip believers for ministry and build up His body, the church.

Notice Paul didn’t say pastors or teachers perform all the ministry. Instead, they equip others to work together to fulfill the work of Christ. This truth pushes against consumer Christianity.

That mindset holds that church leaders exist to serve personal needs. The bible calls every believer into active service; it doesn’t promote Christianity as a spectator sport.

The church grows strong when each member steps into their God-given role. Where do you serve in the body of Christ, and how has God called you to build others up?

This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Ephesians 4:13

When a person goes to the gym to work out, they set goals for their own personal development. The goal of equipping in the church reaches beyond personal development.

Paul emphasized unity and maturity. Spiritual growth leads to unity in the faith and increasing knowledge of Jesus. When we focus on Christ, not personal preferences, divisions cease.

Maturity involves more than information; it reflects transformation. When working together, we strive to meet the full and complete standard of Christ, which requires our intentional growth.

That growth comes by deepening our faith, strengthening our obedience, and reflecting Jesus in our character and actions. Even though we work together in Christ, individuality continues.

It harmonizes diversity for a common purpose. Like instruments in an orchestra, Christians working together produce beauty when tuned to the same standard, Christ.

Guarding Against Deception

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Ephesians 4:14

Paul warned about spiritual immaturity. Immature believers can easily chase after trends and fall prey to deception. Their lack of discernment can cause their roots in Christ to remain shallow.

The enemy specializes in deception, which makes his clever lies sound convincing. But the truth anchored in God’s Word withstands every storm, no matter how hard the winds in life blow.

Culture offers the countless voices of social media influencers, self-proclaimed prophets, along with other motivational speakers. Unfortunately, their messages align against Scripture.

Mature believers filter these teachings through God’s truth. This requires studying God’s Word, prayer, and accountability within the body of Christ while working together within the church.

How do we respond to the deception that tries to infiltrate the church? Or maybe a better question we must answer deals with how we respond when Christians fall for deception.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15

Paul’s principle for healthy relationships in the church is to speak the truth in love. Truth without love wounds. Love without truth deceives. Followers of Christ must hold them both together.

Therefore, love should guide the tone and timing when we correct someone. When we encourage, truth should ground our words. This practice builds trust and fosters growth.

The result? We grow “in every way more and more like Christ.” Spiritual maturity reflects God’s character, combining both grace and truth.

The Body of Christ All Working Together

Christ makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16

Paul concluded with a beautiful picture of the church: a body joined together by Christ. Every part matters. Every member contributes. When one part fails to function, the whole body suffers.

When each part fulfills its role, the body thrives—healthy, growing, and full of love. With that in mind, consider this: the church cannot reach its full potential without you.

God called people to fulfill the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. He called them to equip you to fulfill your role in the church with your designed spiritual gifts.

Your obedience impacts others, and when you serve faithfully, the body grows stronger. Together, His people do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

Practical Ways to Apply These Verses in Ephesians.

Discover Your Spiritual Gifts – Pray and seek counsel to understand how God has gifted you.
Commit to Growth – Read Scripture daily, join a Bible study, and seek mentors who challenge you.
Serve Actively – Use your gifts in your local church. Whether teaching, encouraging, or helping, your role matters.
Pursue Unity – Guard against gossip and division. Focus on Christ as the unifying center.
Speak Truth in Love – Practice gentle honesty in conversations. Build others up rather than tear them down.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that spiritual growth requires community, unity, and active participation. Christ gives every believer gifts, and together they will strengthen the church.

Speak the truth in love, serve faithfully, and pursue maturity. Then the body of Christ will grow strong, healthy, and full of love. One Jesus will come to take His body, the church, home.

Lord, help me to faithfully serve in the body of Christ as I work together with other Christians. Teach me to grow in maturity, speak truth with love, and live in unity with other believers.

Together in Christ came from Ephesians. Check out these other related posts from Ephesians