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 men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into 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.

Paul’s message to the maturing Ephesian church is, essentially, for the members to take responsibility to mature individually and as a group. Last week we talked about unity and, just before this passage, Paul talks about the offices of the church, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, sent to promote unity in the faith and maturity in our walk. It sounds like some of the folks in Ephesus were stuck in their own stuff and causing dissension and disunity.

Interestingly, in some ways were in a similar place at Desert Oasis Chapel. We have passed into our 8^th year and are a maturing body, in many ways. We’ve had challenges and disappointments but, for the most part, it has been a genuine blessing. We’ve had some dissension, too – kind of inevitable in any group. Now we are called to re-focus on the ministry and impact we want to make here. The biblical message is not the norm in our community, it grates on those who want to believe whatever they have decided or created because it demands a response to God’s teaching. Paul warned the Ephesians about getting caught up in foolish philosophies and endless arguments, he called it “the futility of their own thinking.” I don’t know about you but I hear ideas in this valley and from guys in this community that range from irrelevant to preposterous. It’s not my job to correct them but it is my job, as the pastor of this church, to give clear pointers to our people about how to avoid that stuff. God’s word calls on us to become new in our thinking, thoughtful, not foolish, discerning and grounded in God’s truth. Good debate is useful but we all need to get informed about what God’s word says so that we can see these ideas, errors, heresies and superstitions for what they are.

Paul tells the Ephesian church to start this by being truthful, stop lying to each other. He tells them next to avoid letting their anger get control of them. Make a note that he doesn’t tell them not to get angry, just not to sin and do not go to bed angry. Anger can be useful but it can be vicious, allowing the angry person to justify any kind of thought or action – Paul tells us to not give the devil this foothold. Next time you’re really angry, give it some time and see if you’re right. Then decide what to do about it. Then he tells them not to steal – I don’t know that this applies to folks here but Paul is also saying that each member of the body needs to be productive – do something, be active in the society and in the church. Christian faith is sick and weak when it’s a spectator sport. We are all called to serve in some way. How can you serve? Do you need to be asked, if so tell us so we can ask you. Where are your talents, abilities, what do you like or love to do? We need teachers, seriously, we need folks to teach home classes and bible studies if we are going to grow and reach out. We need other preachers, Roi and I and John and John have preached but would you like to? If I trust your doctrine, I will give you a chance, really. We need helpers, already have some, thank God. We need more. We need drug counselors, those who can reach out to speak to the guys in this drug-riddled community and offer them what is, I tell you, the only real hope for their life and survival – God’s redeeming love. We need hospitality folks, not just food preparers but those who greet new folks, those who call them after they visit, those who call folks who have been away. If Roi and I and other members of the Leadership Team call on you to do some of these things, please open a willing ear. By the way, we really need sound board folks, it takes a few lessons but you can do this – not every week, just on appointed Sundays.

Above all, I want this to be a safe and honorable place. Whatever you say or do, I want you to do it with an ear open to God and an eye open to the community. If you speak or behave in a certain way to a person and he or she comes to this church the following Sunday, will you feel good and right and honorable about that? This is not to lay any guilt on anybody, it’s just basic Christianity. We are called to heal, not hurt. And please, brothers and sisters, do not bad-mouth anybody in the church or, really, anywhere. Paul says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

So that’s it, folks. If we do not grow, we’re slowly dying. I don’t mean only in numbers but that is part of it. Also, we have to grow in our outreach, our follow-up, our support of each other. And, frankly, if we aren’t growing in our faith and maturing in our behavior, we are going the wrong way. Let’s get it right, help us with this, help yourself, too. Life will become more meaningful to you, more vital.