Ephesians 4
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 4:15-16
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In Numbers chapters 1 and 2, we see a very ordered picture: the twelve tribes of Israel each camp in their assigned places, with the tabernacle right at the center. This is one of the clearest Old Testament pictures of what it means to be God-centered. God’s dwelling is in the midst of His people, and the people live and move around Him. What Israel had to learn was to listen to God and not live according to their own desires.
When we come to Ephesians chapter 4, Paul brings this picture into the New Testament church. But this time, the center is no longer the tabernacle—it is Jesus Christ himself. Jesus has come, given his life, and risen again, making us his body. For the church today, being God-centered essentially means being Christ-centered.
And yet, we often drift away from that center. Our problem is usually not a lack of passion, but that we so easily become self-centered. We hold tightly to our own opinions and habits. We focus on our own ministries and feelings. When these things are challenged, conflict begins to surface. It may be a comment that rubs us the wrong way, a ministry role that feels unfair, or the sense that “my efforts are not being noticed.” Slowly, instead of gathering around Christ, we begin to stand against one another.
Paul reminds us that the church must first “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Unity does not mean everyone is the same. It means turning together toward the same Lord. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” is not just a slogan—it is the foundation of the Church. We are all sinners saved by the same Savior, and the true center of the church is Jesus Christ alone.
Paul then moves on to talk about gifts and growth. Christ gives different gifts to different people, not so that we compare ourselves with one another, but “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). This reshapes how we approach church life. Instead of asking, “Can I do things my way?” we learn to ask, “Does this help the church become more like Christ?”
Finally, Paul brings everything together with the call to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). Here, “truth” points us to the truth revealed in Christ Jesus. In the church, we do not hold relationships together by personal preference, nor do we rely on silence or avoidance to keep surface-level peace. Instead, we allow truth to build one another up in love.
The truth of the gospel reminds us of who we are—people saved by grace. It also shows us where we are going—to grow together into the fullness of Christ. In Christ’s love, we learn to exhort one another and to forgive one another, because we know that God has first forgiven us in Christ (see Eph. 4:32). When a church lives this way, the gospel is not only proclaimed—it is visibly lived out, transforming lives from the inside out.
Reflection:
In your relationships with brothers and sisters in church, have you ever unknowingly placed yourself at the center? What is one concrete step you can take today to help your community realign itself around Jesus Christ?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we confess that although we often say we want you to be at the center, our hearts still revolve around ourselves. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us and made us one body. By your Spirit, expose and heal our pride and self-centeredness. Teach us humility and patience, so that we may build one another up in love and truth. May our church truly be Christ-centered and live out the gospel we proclaim. We pray all this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Click to read the passage
In Numbers chapters 1 and 2, we see a very ordered picture: the twelve tribes of Israel each camp in their assigned places, with the tabernacle right at the center. This is one of the clearest Old Testament pictures of what it means to be God-centered. God’s dwelling is in the midst of His people, and the people live and move around Him. What Israel had to learn was to listen to God and not live according to their own desires.
When we come to Ephesians chapter 4, Paul brings this picture into the New Testament church. But this time, the center is no longer the tabernacle—it is Jesus Christ himself. Jesus has come, given his life, and risen again, making us his body. For the church today, being God-centered essentially means being Christ-centered.
And yet, we often drift away from that center. Our problem is usually not a lack of passion, but that we so easily become self-centered. We hold tightly to our own opinions and habits. We focus on our own ministries and feelings. When these things are challenged, conflict begins to surface. It may be a comment that rubs us the wrong way, a ministry role that feels unfair, or the sense that “my efforts are not being noticed.” Slowly, instead of gathering around Christ, we begin to stand against one another.
Paul reminds us that the church must first “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Unity does not mean everyone is the same. It means turning together toward the same Lord. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” is not just a slogan—it is the foundation of the Church. We are all sinners saved by the same Savior, and the true center of the church is Jesus Christ alone.
Paul then moves on to talk about gifts and growth. Christ gives different gifts to different people, not so that we compare ourselves with one another, but “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). This reshapes how we approach church life. Instead of asking, “Can I do things my way?” we learn to ask, “Does this help the church become more like Christ?”
Finally, Paul brings everything together with the call to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). Here, “truth” points us to the truth revealed in Christ Jesus. In the church, we do not hold relationships together by personal preference, nor do we rely on silence or avoidance to keep surface-level peace. Instead, we allow truth to build one another up in love.
The truth of the gospel reminds us of who we are—people saved by grace. It also shows us where we are going—to grow together into the fullness of Christ. In Christ’s love, we learn to exhort one another and to forgive one another, because we know that God has first forgiven us in Christ (see Eph. 4:32). When a church lives this way, the gospel is not only proclaimed—it is visibly lived out, transforming lives from the inside out.
Reflection:
In your relationships with brothers and sisters in church, have you ever unknowingly placed yourself at the center? What is one concrete step you can take today to help your community realign itself around Jesus Christ?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we confess that although we often say we want you to be at the center, our hearts still revolve around ourselves. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us and made us one body. By your Spirit, expose and heal our pride and self-centeredness. Teach us humility and patience, so that we may build one another up in love and truth. May our church truly be Christ-centered and live out the gospel we proclaim. We pray all this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.