Welcome to a year in the Bible with daily grace. My name is Kristen and my name is Katie and we want to spend a few minutes a day with you walking through the New Testament one chapter at a time.

This year we will fix our gaze upon Christ so that we may know

him, not only with our minds but with our hearts. Together we will learn that

who Jesus is changes everything.

Welcome back to a year in the Bible with daily grace.

My name is Christian Schmucker, and we are journeying

through the New Testament one chapter at a time,

and today we are reading Ephesians 4. In this chapter Paul would urge the church in

Ephesus to live in unity in the midst of their diversity. He helps them to understand that we

walk in unity by walking in the spirit.

Though the church is made up of many different kinds of people,

we are one in Jesus Christ.

The church which is made up of many people, cultures, languages, and denominations is defined by one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. We are one family with one father. We are one family with one father. We are the same, but we are also different and unique. God has given each of us

different gifts and we have a unique and valuable role to play in the Church. Because of

this we need one another and the church does not function optimally if we do not have each person and their unique gifts contributing to the mission.

There is language here about Jesus ascending and descending that can be confusing, and there are many perspectives on this.

Some interpret dissent as descending to hell or the grave and others take it as descending to earth in the

incarnation. Regardless the message here is that Jesus rules overall with power.

Paul is communicating that Jesus gets to decide and if we envy the gifts

that he has given to others or downplay or refuse to use the gifts he has given to us, we are

ultimately questioning his authority.

Paul also demonstrates that the gifts that each believer is given are meant to equip and

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