HOW TO AGE WELL: SIT, WALK, STAND WEEK 3 – JEAN GERBER
Scriptures:
Ephesians 4:1-7 NIV
Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG
Psalm 23:5 NIV
Peter 1:13-16 MSG
Points:
1: Make Every Effort
2: Small Part, Bigger Story
3. Return to the Table
Paul, who established the church in Ephesus, writes his letters as a raw expression of the Father’s heart, and Ephesians, in particular, focuses on the glory of Christ and the establishment of the Glorious church. Paul writes the letter to the Ephesians from prison. The invitation is to take a seat and hear the whisper of Heaven’s heart – that the Glorious father is establishing a glorious church through His bride, not the other way around.
Chapters 1-3: Sit (position)
Chapters 4-6: Walk + Stand (practice)
(Seated in Christ; walking worthy of the calling; standing against the devil.)
Ephesians 4:1-16
Ephesians 4 NIV: Some things that stand out when reading from chapter 4:
– V3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
– V12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
– V13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature
– V14 Then we will no longer be infants
– V15 we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
HOW TO AGE WELL:
We cannot have one without the other. We need both Unity and Maturity, that works in consonance with one another.
Maturity does not necessarily come with age. Maturity, according to Paul in the book of Ephesians, comes from being seated, and helping others be seated with the Father to have a meal called the word. Matthew 4:4 – “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God””
This meal transforms us and strengthens our faith to the point where we can throw off our old life and put on a new way of life – to walk out our purpose in unity and maturity.
Being part of the BODY of Christ is not a weekend check-in – it’s a sanctuary. A body that we all belong to, a place where our gifts are discovered, built and put into action which strengthens our walk with God and man.
1. Make Every Effort
Ephesians 4:1-7 NIV Says: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Unity, according to Paul, is given by God and it’s our responsibility to protect it.
Maintaining unity requires conscious action. Why? Because our flesh is not naturally humble, gentle or patient.
So if Paul is encouraging us to WALK in this NEW way of living, WHAT is that NEW way? This is what it looks like to Age well:
1. Walk in love
2. Walk in Wisdom
3. Walk in Light
4. Walk in purity
5. Walk in the Spirit
6. Walk in Faith
7. Walk in Obedience
8. Walk in Prayer
Make every effort to walk in this way. Because it is our new self.
2. Small Part, Bigger Story
THE STORY I’M PART OF IS BIGGER THAN THE PART I PLAY.
Ephesians 2:19-22 MSG Says: “That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.”
You’ve got a position in Christ, and a position in the church.
When you are in position, aging well says: I’ll take responsibility for my share of the Church. That’s why we don’t believe in being members of the church. We believe in being a family in the church utilizing our gifts (time, talent and treasure) to WALK out our new way of life, leaving our grave clothes behind.
3. Return to the Table
Psalm 23:5 NIV Says: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
What if we go out there and I fail again? What if we can’t walk the way you’ve called us to? What if we feel like we’ve failed as parents or spouses again? What if this walk that He’s called us to is too difficult for us?
We need to know this, and know it deeply:
1 – Our sins have been forgiven.
2 – Our guilt & shame and failures have been buried in the tomb.
3 – we can simply Return to the table.
If you’ve failed. Simply return to the table. If you’re struggling with sin, simply return back to the table. If you’re struggling to forgive someone, return to the table. Because it is at the table where your Father looks into your eyes, and reminds you of what’s been finished, gives you a meal for today, and tells you to GO!
Peter 1:13-16 MSG Says: “So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”“
The only way we will be holy is if we continuously sit in the presence of the Holy One and hear what the Father is saying: feed off of every word, and put on the armor of God to stand against the enemy. And when we fail… Return to the table! And when we succeed… return to the table. And when we win… return to the table. And when we lose… return to the table.
That is how you age well.
Discussion Questions
1. Reflection on Ephesians 4:1-7: What does it mean to live a life worthy of the calling we have received? How does humility, gentleness, and patience contribute to maintaining unity in the body of Christ?
2. The Relationship Between Unity and Maturity: How does maturity, as described in Ephesians, relate to being seated with the Father and partaking in the Word? Share instances where you’ve witnessed maturity not necessarily correlating with age. What factors contribute to spiritual maturity?
3. Understanding Our Position in Christ and the Church: What significance does Ephesians 2:19-22 hold for you personally regarding your position in Christ and the church? Discuss the difference between merely being members of a church versus being actively involved in the family of God. How does this perspective shape our responsibilities within the church? How can we actively utilize our gifts (time, talent, and treasure) to contribute to the building of the church as described in Ephesians 2:19-22?
4. The Concept of Returning to the Table: Reflect on Psalm 23:5 and its implications for finding solace and strength in God’s presence, especially in times of failure or struggle. How does the imagery of returning to the table resonate with you personally in moments of difficulty or doubt? Discuss practical ways we can encourage one another to consistently return to the table, both individually and as a community.
5. Living a Life Shaped by God’s Holiness: Explore Peter 1:13-16 and its call to actively engage in a life shaped by God’s holiness. What does this look like practically? How can we maintain a continuous posture of sitting in the presence of God and listening to His voice amidst the busyness of life? Share examples of how returning to the table has impacted your spiritual journey and growth in holiness.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word and the insights shared today. Help us embody unity, maturity, and active participation in Your church. Grant us humility, patience, and a commitment to peace. Remind us of our position in Christ and our responsibilities within Your family. In times of struggle, may we find solace at Your table. Guide our Group time and deepen our understanding of You. Amen.
** Catch “The Wrap”: post-service conversation on our Youtube channel now!
THE LINC COLLECTIVE 
Leave a comment