Marching bands have always amazed me. If you ever played in band or orchestra in school, you know what I mean. The trumpet music I played in mid school never sounded pretty on its own (some might debate that it ever sounded pretty), but if everyone played their individual part, the audience would hear something pretty good. But then marching bands add in the element of coordinated movement – so instead of just individual musicians and sections playing different components of the whole symphony, you also have individual musicians broken into different chunks moving in different directions. And when it all comes together, when the band can play and walk in unity, it’s a thing of beauty.
This is the basic idea that Paul is getting at in Ephesians 4, I think.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Paul is describing what the church should look like: walking in unity, setting aside individual agendas for the good of the body. We are members of a single body, joined by a single Spirit under one Lord, one baptism, one faith… But there’s a point that’s key here: Paul assumes the significance of individual contributions. He’ll get into it more explicitly in the next section, but here, the focus is on a group of individuals – with individual personalities, gifts, and talents – walking together in unison.
This is what it will be like in Heaven, of course. Have you ever thought of that? When Christ returns and brings heaven with Him to earth, He will redeem all of Creation and bring peace and unity. And we’ll all share the same kind of perfect community that God the Father, Son and Spirit have shared for all eternity. Jesus taught us to pray, “thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” I think He had something like that perfect relationship in mind.
As the Church, we are Christ’s body on earth. We – you and me, all of us, together – are the living, breathing representation of Him until He returns. And when we use our individual personalities, gifts and talents as parts of a greater symphony, the world can’t help but stop and take notice.
On the other hand, it only takes one band member off key or out of step – playing or marching to their own beat – to turn something beautiful into chaos. So Paul urges the Ephesians – and us – to walk as one unit… just as God the Father, Son and Spirit have been doing for all eternity. How close will we as the body resemble our God?
1. If we all have a part, what is your part or contribution?
2. When you do things that are out of step and turn unity into chaos, what are the best approaches someone can use to help you get back “in step.”
3. How do you feel when you see someone who is out of step and won’t make the effort to correct themselves? Write about the most effective way you have seen someone accomplish this task and share it with your home group.
4. Is there a part in the church you have always wanted to play? Which part and why?
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