以弗所書 Ephesians 4:1-2, 11-13

To build the church of Christ, Apostle Paul urged the church in Ephesus to walk in unity (4:1–16), in holiness (4:17–32), in love (5:1–6), in light (5:7–14), in wisdom (5:15–6:9), and to stand firm in warfare (6:10–20). These ways point towards proper conduct of Christians in order to build a healthy and vibrant church. Walking in unity is first in Paul’s order, and is thus very crucial for the maturity of the church. To preserve this unity, Christ has given the church diversified gifts, especially the gifts to articulate the gospel to unify God’s people in the knowledge of Christ and his gospel. With unity in the faith as the foundation of the church, the church in Ephesus could grow in maturity.

為了建造基督的教會，使徒保羅勸勉以弗所教會在基督身體(教會)裏合一(4:1–16)，行在聖潔中(4:17–32)，行在愛心中 (5:1–6)，行在光中(5:7–14)，行在智慧中(5:15–6:9)，並且在屬靈爭戰裡能站立的穩(6:10–20)。這些都是基督徒在建立一個健康，充滿活力的教會時所需要的行為。教會的合一是保羅所列出來的頭一項，所以當然是教會中極為關鍵的要素。為了維持教會的合一，基督賜給教會不同的恩賜，尤其在傳揚福音與教導方面，使神的子名在基督的道理與福音上合一。若有合一成為教會的基礎，以弗所教會就能成長為成熟的教會。

So to build up a mature local church, the church needs godly servant leaders with diversified gifts. No one has all the gifts, so we need each other. The church leadership team co-dependently complements one another with their unique gifts in order to serve and build up the church. This involves unity, teamwork, humble co-dependency, recognition of gifts, and the development of gifts. This whole package not only serves the church effectively but also serves as a role model for the whole church to follow. Every church member should properly use their gifts, complementing other church members for effective ministry. The metaphor Paul uses is of Christ being the head and the church being his body. When different body parts are joined together properly, under the command of the head, the whole body can function well. When church members, with their unique gifts, serve together as a team in obedience to Christ, they will become a church Christ intended them to be. The diversity of gifts serves to bring about the unity and the maturity of Christ’s people.

所以要來建造一個成熟的教會，教會需要用不同恩賜的僕人。沒有一個人能具備所有的恩賜，所以我們需要彼此的扶持。教會的領導團隊必須用他們每個人獨特的恩賜彼此依賴，彼此幫補來建造教會，在裡面所需的有: 合一，團隊合作，謙卑的彼此依賴，尊重彼此不同的恩賜，幫助個人發展不同的恩賜。這樣的一個模式不單單能服事整個教會，更能成為整個教會學效的榜樣。每一個教會的成員都應該充分的使用自己獨特的恩賜來彼此幫補，來建立有效率的教會事工。保羅比喻基督為頭，教會為身體作為比喻，當所有的身體部位一起合作，彼此支持，彼此相助，同時聽從頭的指揮，整個身體才能良好運作。當每一個教會的成員能用獨特的恩賜來一起服事，順服基督的旨意時(這時合一是必須要有的)，這個教會就能成為 神所悅的教會並做好 神要教會所作的工。所以多元的恩賜能帶出教會合一與成長。

As GBC looks for its future senior pastor, we might expect too much from the performance of the next senior pastor and forget to continue to develop a strong pastoral team with diversified gifts. We need the team members who are gifted in preaching, in teaching, in shepherding, in caring, in leading and in administrating, etc. Such a team is biblical like the one the apostle Paul described in Ephesians. Thank God for providing GBC a pastoral team with diversified gifts! However the pastoral team shall not be complacent, but will continue to grow. God is all-powerful and all-knowing and will supply all the necessary gifts to GBC. The challenge for us is this: Are we properly managing God’s gifts at GBC? So we ask you to pray for our church to invest in our existing pastoral team in developing their God-given gifts, to train the next-generation leaders and hire more ministers and pastors to complement the pastoral team, so that GBC will continue to grow in unity and maturity for the glory of God.

此時正當懷恩堂尋找未來的主任牧師，我們也許對主任牧師的表現與功能抱著太大的期待，反倒忘了我們應該繼續建立一個充滿不同恩賜的教牧同工團。這個同工團裡面的成員能彼此幫補，有講道的恩賜，有教導的恩賜，有牧養的恩賜，有關懷的恩賜，有領導的恩賜，有行政的恩賜… 如此的團隊正符合保羅在以弗所書上所寫的。感謝 神! 祂賜給懷恩堂的教牧團隊有不同的恩賜。然而我們不能夠自滿，我們必須繼續建立一個充滿不同恩賜的教牧同工團。神是全知全能的，祂能為懷恩堂預備所需要的恩賜與同工。我們前面的挑戰是: 我們是否能管理好 神所賜給懷恩堂的恩賜? 所以請為教會代禱，使我們能夠在現有的教牧同工團裡充分開發並使用現有的恩賜，訓練未來的領袖，並聘請更多的傳道人來加入並互相支持現有的教牧同工團，使懷恩堂能在合一中成長，成為一個成熟討 神喜悅的教會，成為 神榮耀的見證!

Reflection Questions

1. Of the five qualities list in verse 2 (humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love), which one needs to be developed most in your life? What relationship will profit you in developing that quality now?
2. How do you think the church can help you discover, develop, and use your gifts for God’s service in the church? Why do we need each other? Why do we need to have church life?
3. How does the diversity in gifts in church leadership bring about unity and maturity of the church?

回應問題

1. 在第以弗所書四章二節裡的五個品格中(謙卑，溫柔，忍耐，用愛心互相寬容)，哪個品格在你生命中最需要學習? 你與誰的關係 (人或 神) 能幫助你在那品格上成長?
2. 教會如何能幫助你發覺你的恩賜，發揮你的恩賜，並使用你的恩賜在服事上帝與弟兄姊妹上?為何我們需要彼此?為何我們需要教會生活?
3. 教牧團隊的多元恩賜如何能有效的帶領教會成為合一與成熟的教會?