Ministry Gifts and their Purpose (Eph 4.11-16)



based on Houses that Change the World, The Return of the House Churches, Wolfgang Simson, OM publishing, 2001


The multiplier effect of the fivefold gifts. These gifts are the DNA or self-organising structure of the church. The fundamental growth principle in the NT was for each of these ministries to multiply themselves (e.g. apostles spotting and training other apostles, multiplying themselves through discipleship). An evangelist's true fruit is not converts but other evangelists; ditto for teachers (training disciples who become teachers):


1. Apostles see the big picture, look for the next kingdom venture (22 A's mentioned by name in NT). Like Paul, after Rome, let's go to Spain! Strategists, like generals in army, carrying the main burden for advancement. Apostolic ministry is a founding ministry, creating something out of nothing (entrepreneurs, opportunists, risk takers, possibility thinkers), uniting all gifts. A's are the spiritual fathers/mothers who give birth to new churches. The church is built on the 'foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus himself as the cornerstone' (Eph 2.20). Their focus is on foundation laying, so that carpenters, plumbers and electricians can build on their solid foundation. Their ministry tends to be mission-directed.


2. Prophets are more interested in discerning God's voice for a situation than listening to what people think of their ideas. Often difficult personalities with a radically different perspective, questioning everything from God's perspective. As visionaries, they are usually at odds with pastors, who want to protect the status quo and have redeemed and smooth relationships within the flock. They have a unique ability to see and hear what others do not see or hear. Their ministry tends to be Spirit-directed.


3. Evangelists have a clear aim to help people find Jesus. They introduce a healthy outward focus to church life, helping churches to become part of an evangelistic movement. They disciple new believers by reading the gospel to them. They work closely with apostles and prophets who bear the main responsibility of laying church foundations. Their ministry tends to be Gospel-directed.


4. Pastors are shepherds by nature - very loving people who can create a family atmosphere. Relationships are everything to them, so their main work is to build godly and healthy relationships in their churches. Nowhere in the NT do we find a pastor leading a congregation or house church (the word occurs only once in the NT). The elders led house churches. Pastors lose the big picture because of their preoccupation with the details of people's lives. If apostles are 'spiritual fathers', then pastors are 'spiritual uncles'. If pastors build churches, they will probably end up creating counselling centres, and being swamped by more needy people than they can handle. Their ministry tends to be need-directed.


5. Teachers hold truth at a premium and have a passion, not just to teach or preach, but to teach others to teach (cf. 2 Tim 2.2). Their greatest gift is not information, but their own spirit, caught like a virus. If a teacher builds a church, then it will develop characteristics like her own (lecture hall, bible school, preaching centre). Teachers don't generally lay foundations, though they explain them well! The mark of great teachers is the number of teachers they reproduce. Their ministry tends to be truth-directed.


Qn. What is God saying to us as members of his church through this Scripture?


~~~


Sent by a friend October 2006, with this introduction:

The attached book has its flaws, but I wonder whether part of the problem with the Christendom model is that it wrongly has pastors and teachers in charge of congregational life - instead of, as this book suggests, elders under the authority of apostles and prophets. Why don't bible and theological colleges prioritise the training of apostles, prophets, evangelists - then pastors and teachers, instead of the other way round?