Scripture References: Ephesians 4:7-16; Romans 8:29; 1 Peter 2:9 (implied); 2 Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 3:1
Intro: We continue our Ephesians series, moving from our Position in Christ (Ch 1-3) to our Practice (Ch 4-6). Last week discussed our general calling: to be conformed to Christ's likeness (Rom 8:29), a process applicable in all circumstances. Today, we get more specific, focusing on Ephesians 4 and your call to ministry. Statistics suggest 99% of Christians aren't actively engaged in ministry, partly due to church structures overemphasizing Pastor/Teacher roles. Ephesians 4 reveals Jesus gives diverse leaders to equip all believers for service.
Key Points:
- Jesus Gives Leaders as Gifts (Eph 4:7-11):
- When Christ ascended, He gave gifts to His church in the form of specific leadership roles: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.
- Leaders Reflect Jesus: These roles mirror aspects of Jesus' own ministry (He was the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher - Heb 3:1).
- Focus on Function, Not Just Office:
- Debate exists on whether offices like Apostle/Prophet continue. We can focus on the essential functions these roles represent, which are still needed:
- Apostolic: Pioneering, establishing new works, guarding church DNA.
- Prophetic: Discerning and speaking God's timely word, challenging status quo.
- Evangelistic: Recruiting, communicating the gospel effectively to unbelievers.
- Pastoral: Shepherding, nurturing, caring for, protecting God's people.
- Teaching: Grounding believers in truth, clarifying God's wisdom.
- A healthy church needs all five functions operating in tension and synergy.
- Debate exists on whether offices like Apostle/Prophet continue. We can focus on the essential functions these roles represent, which are still needed:
- The Purpose: Equipping Saints for Ministry (Eph 4:12a):
- These leaders are given "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry."
- Leaders don't do all the ministry; they equip you (the saints) to do your ministry. This is the principle of "every member ministry."
- The Goal: A Mature Body (Eph 4:12b-16):
- The outcome of equipped saints doing ministry is:
- Building up the body of Christ.
- Unity in faith and knowledge of Jesus.
- Maturity: Becoming like Christ, no longer spiritual children.
- Stability: Not easily swayed by false teaching.
- Integrity: Speaking truth in love.
- Growth: The entire body grows healthily as every part does its work.
- The outcome of equipped saints doing ministry is:
Conclusion: Jesus gifts the church with diverse leaders reflecting Himself, not to centralize ministry, but to equip every believer for service. Every Christian has a ministry calling, likely aligned with one of these five functions. When all parts function, the whole body matures, becomes stable, unified, and effectively represents Christ.
Call to Action: Recognize that you have a ministry calling. Identify which of the five functions (Apostolic, Prophetic, Evangelistic, Pastoral, Teaching) resonates most with how God has gifted you. Use the definitions provided (or consider them). Then, take two steps:
- Ask God to help you "fan into flame" (2 Tim 1:6) the gift He's given you.
- Identify someone else and affirm the gifting you see in them. Speak life and encouragement, fanning their gift into flame. Let's activate the ministry potential in this body! Pray for gift activation and courage to step into ministry.
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