And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ… (Ephesians 4:11–12, ESV)
It starts with Jesus. That was the subject of yesterday’s post. It is about what Jesus gives. Ephesians 4 tells us that he gives:
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Evangelists
- Shepherds
- Teachers
These are five different servant roles in the church.
- Apostles are visionary leaders. They go first and lead others to follow.
- Prophets speak truth. They discern how your present actions will determine your future.
- Evangelists communicate value. They help people see answers to questions they didn’t even know they were asking.
- Shepherds provide care. Another word for shepherd is pastor. They are there to pray, console, and comfort. They serve to encourage when you hit the bump in the road.
- Teachers help make complicated ideas easy to understand. They help people develop new skills and abilities.
The thing to notice is that this is not one person. It is five different people. The church needs apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers working together. A pastor may serve one of these roles, but he can’t serve all of these roles no matter how gifted he may be.
As you look at the five different roles, consider which role you most identify. Where does your gifting lie? How would God have you develop and nurture your gifting?
Reflection
- Which of the five ministry roles to you most identify?
- How can you better put your gifting to work for the kingdom of God?
Prayer
Thank you Lord for apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry and the building up of the body of Christ. Give me insight and wisdom to see my role and my gifting. Help me develop and nurture your blessing for the building up of your kingdom. Amen!
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