Neil Cole: Ephesians 4:11
Originally uploaded by yafflickr.Neil Cole
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Ephesians 4:11-12
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
- These are gifts/people given to the church. They have spiritual enablements.
- He gave the gifts for them to equip others to do the work.
- Not all have these gifts. (I Cor. 12:29-30)
- You will find that if you do not have these gifts, you probably operate better under someone who has one of these gifts.
- These Leadership functions are more regional and broader in influence than the elder/deacon roles found in each expression of simple church.
There is not much information about these functions...
Examples of believers
Apostle: A sent one to lay a foundation for the expansion of the church with a specific God given assignment
- a sent on (apostlos) is often looking for new places and people to spread the kingdom of God.
- Lays a foundation in a given region or movement (Ephesians 2:19-22) and does not build on another's foundation (Rom 15:20-21.
- Often unappreciated by contemporaries ( 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 12:15), but looked upon favorably by history (Heb. 13:7-8).
- Identifies/ empowers leaders quickly, and is often the one who will call out the other 4/11 leaders
- They are good at reading culture and sees open doors for teh message (1 Cor. 9:19-23, 16:7-9, 2 Cor. 2:12)
- They see opportunities where others see closed doors.
- Passionate for the churches (2 Cor. 11:28; 1 Thess 2:7-12)
- But is driven by concern for the captives ( 1 Cor. 9:18, 23; Rom 10:1
- Has a patriarchal authority rather than positional (1 Cor. 9:1-2; 2 Cor. 3:1-3; Philemon 9, 1 Thess. 2:11; 1 Tim. 1:22)
Romans 16:7 Junias (Woman's names)
1Cor. 15:3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (Note: That apostles are after the "A" Apostles)
(Showed clip from Big Wave Surfing) Application: Apostles go places that people dare to go. They start trends.
Task is bigger than a one man job.
Willing to go somewhere where no one has ever been before.
Willing to experiement in different ways
Willing to risk it all/ loose his life.
He relied on the others to see what he could see.
Rom. 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God
*He was first a servant not a prophet. Don't go around
Prophet: One who hears and speaks a specific word from God to a distinct persn or persons.
- Rules have changed since the days of the OT prophet (Heb. 1:1-3)
- Encourager, comforter, strengthener (1 Cor 14:3)
- Messenger (14:4)
- Often unappreciated (James 5:10-11)
- Speaks for God (1Cor. 14:25, 30-33)
- Speaks of the future (1 tim. 4:14; Acts 20:23; 21:10-11)
- Tells teh truth with out fear of consequence
- Subject to the other prophets for verification (1 Cor. 14:32)
In the health of the simple and organic church, it is healthier because there is a open church type of format.
Apostles adn Prophets are the foundation of the church. They function as a start up team that can initiate the momentum and get down all teh needed parts for self perpetuation and self progagation aof the churches (eph 2:19-22)
This team is especially designed by God to start a movement of church multiplication - identifying good soul, reading teh culture, discovering open doors, finding person's of peace, calling the church to holiness, establishing elders.
- Giving instruction on how to proceed
- Apostle needs the prophet. However the Prophet is there to help the apostle move forward.
Evangelist: One who is called to passionately seek out opportunities to share the gospel with others and lead them toward accceptance of Christ.
- Good News teller ("euangelistes")
Driven to share the gospel (2 Tim 3:1-5; 1 Cor. 9:16-18).
Often more comfortable with lost than found (1 Cor. 9;19-23)
Makes opportunities happen ( Col 4:5-6; Acts 8:40
Contagine in the church
Shepherd: One who has an overwhelming concern for the continuing care for a specific community.
Protects and cares for the flock acts 20:28-131; John 10:11-13
Makes sure they are well fed psalm 23:1-3
Stengthens the weak and searches for the lost sheep
Values inteimancy
Ledas by example, not for personal gain, and is trusted by the flock because he/she has relational authority not positional (John 10:4=5, 27; 1 Petter 5:1-3)
Teacher: One responsible for progressive growth in understanding and application of turth
gift of teaching (Rom 12:7P
facilitates learning of truth and a kingdom lifestyle
mentors on a personal level
Aim people in correct direction
Instruts, corrects, trains in righteousness
teachers by exmaple under a fear of God
Ther is not a need for many teachers
Continuning to expose false assumptions and reveal actual truth
Authority comes from the truth of the scritpture
DNA
Divine Truth
Nurturing Relationships
Apostolic
Evangelist, shepherds & Teachers function as the set-up team that builds up the body for ongoing growth, health and direction.
Notice that each team (Start-up and set up) starts with a gift dedicated to out reach. Notcie that the DNA is present in the set-up Team:
D-Teaching
N-Shepherding
A-evangelizing
The apostleff unctions like a glandular system in that it instills in the body what is needed to dictate the development, mood and reproduction of the body.
Prophet central nervous system
Evangelist - Functions like the muscular/skelital system
Shephard - circulator system, oxygen gets spread out
Teacher - Digestive system, energy to the life of the church, eliminates the waste.
Apostle - Thumb
Prophet - Fourth finger
Evangelist - middle finger reaches out further/likely to offend
Shepherd - LIke a ring finger/ committed to this relationhip until death do us part
Teacher - pinky, picks things apart
There seems to be a magic number of 15 in a network.
15 houses per network
That will be our goal for the central coast. A network of 15 house churches.
