Rooted in Ephesians 4:1–7, 11–16
This Sunday, we begin Rise Together, a new season in the life of our church. It’s more than a campaign; it’s a calling to move forward together in faith, unity, and love. Before continuing with this devotional and in preparation for Pastor Rachels’ sermon on Sunday, please read Ephesians 4 now.
We begin with these words from Ephesians 4, where Paul urges the church in Ephesus to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” He was writing to a diverse, often divided community. Ephesus was a bustling, multicultural city. The early church was made up of Jews and Gentiles, people from different backgrounds, cultures, and convictions. Unity wasn’t easy. It took effort. It still does.
Paul goes on to say, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Every effort.
Not to create uniformity. Not to erase differences. But to remember that we belong to one another in Christ. We are called to something deeper than agreement, we are called to love one another.
As Rise Together begins, we recognize that we are not all the same. We come from different life experiences. We have different passions, perspectives, and resources. Some of us go to the contemporary service and some of us attend the traditional service. Some focus on a certain Bible Study class while others focus on a mission or ministry of the church. And yet, we are one body.
This campaign is about more than raising financial commitments. It’s about rising in our calling to be the Church: a community of grace, generosity, and growth. A people rooted in love, joined and held together, building one another up.
This Sunday, is going to be a very special Sunday and we hope you will make “every effort” to be in Worship with us. We invite you to come ready. Ready to listen. Ready to hope. Ready to rise.
Let’s pray:
God of unity and grace, prepare our hearts as we enter this new season. Teach us how to grow together in love. Let our giving be generous, our spirits be open, and our eyes fixed on Christ, who is building us into one body. Amen.
Reflection Questions: What stands out to you from Ephesians 4? Where do you see signs of “unity in diversity” in our church?