Body Builders: Training the Church to Full Strength

Welcome

Survey Results - having the sermon at the beginning: positive, but also a request to discern and consider how to prepare ourselves for our gathering. I received that, and as you can see, trialling ways we can honour that feedback. Can I also request that we come into the space prepared, start at home. If this is a barrier for you, let's work from both ends to prepare ourselves to come ready to be encouraged, inspired, encounter the holy Spirit, challenged and to serve one another.

Equipped to Build

Recap of Foundations of faith - Old Testament - building a community to be a blessing to all nations

Abraham - Followed God into the unknown and credited righteousness because of his belief that God could bring the dead to life and make something of Nothing.

Moses - Didn’t just follow alone and like Abraham had people with him. His father-in-Law taught him who Yahweh was, and Moses humbled himself from doing things his way to God’s way.

The Ten Commandments not just show us the best way to live but help us know God better. They show us the Character of God and confront us with the parts of our lives we are not honouring God with and need to repent.

The Wilderness is a time of testing and refining us into the character of God. The Prodigal Son and God who gets undignified to be with his people and show radical grace and forgiveness to those who humble themselves.

Last week, Joshua had the batten passed after 40 years of observing and being a witness to divine and community-shaping events. He took them out of the wilderness and into the promised land.

If I could sum all this up for Newstead, what does this teach us as we step out of the wilderness and into the promises of God? To move forward with faithfulness, be bold and courageous, fixing our eyes on the one we know, God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We are now taking that next step with this series, as it is the meat in this sandwich.

We will come back to the lessons learnt in the Judges and Kings about the foundations of faith and building community.

Now I want to double down on Building Jesus Church, and I might have gone a bit too far with the analogy.

Body Builders: Training the Church to Full Strength

Over the next 5 weeks, we are going to unpack each of the builders of the body of the church, using both the metaphor of training a healthy body and the invitation that we all have a role in building the church.

Today, we are diving into the passage on the roles that Paul says every church needs.

Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Prayer

Today, we are going to cover

The difference between Spiritual gifts and ministry roles to build the church

An overview of the 5 ministry roles in this passage’

What role might God be calling you into to be part of the body of the church

Before we unpack this passage, first, the context, not just of these roles defined, but also other lists included for what a church needs.

There are a few New Testament passages that speak of the gifts for the church: 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, 1 Peter 4, and Ephesians 4.

You see, both 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 contain a list of gifts as tools to complete the job in Corinth and Rome. What is often overlooked is that Paul wrote these letters to different churches facing different problems. He wrote to each of these bodies to teach them about grace and how to apply it to their particular situations.

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to address conflict and issues arising from these church’s gatherings. Paul was teaching the Corinthians what their corporate worship should look like. In Chapter 12, he explains that they should expect the Holy Spirit to be present in power and to welcome the Holy Spirit in a certain way when they gather.

1 Corinthians 12:7–9 NIV

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

and so on.

Anyone can receive any of the manifestations, like what we read here. At Newstead, we too want to welcome the Holy Spirit to exercise these gifts in our gatherings and can use 1 Corinthians 12 as a guide, but seek together how God is at work here and now.

Similarly, Romans 12 must be examined within the context of the passage Paul was intending for the church in Rome. Paul was trying to help the church in Rome get past the growing rivalry and division that existed between Jews and Gentiles. The Church was struggling with ethnic division and, because of this, was not functioning as a single united church. Paul pleads with them, in view of everything he has shown them about God's mercy and grace, to live sacrificial lives. He wants them to stop arguing and start living their lives for one another. Sacrifice and service are the context of this passage. Paul gives some practical examples (v6-8): if your gift is teaching, stick to teaching. If your gift is to give aid to those in need, keep your eyes peeled for opportunities. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of roles within the church, merely a few examples to make a point, and that is that all are to exercise their spiritual gifting when they gather.

Both Romans and 1 Corinthians were written to specific churches facing specific issues and circumstances. The book of Ephesians, though, was not written to just one church for a special moment in time, but for all the churches in Asia Minor. It is considered a circular letter like Colossians that we looked at last year, Revelations that address seven churches, 1 Peter addressed to scattered believers across five Roman provinces and James that is considered Wisdom-style teaching for a wide audience.

Ephesians is a memo of sorts to many churches. It doesn’t address specific problems but outlines foundational teachings for how the church should function. In this letter, Paul shares what the roles of all believers are to be within the church.

Ephesians 4:1–7 NIV

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Ephesians 4:11–16 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

So, to highlight these key verses, with the importance of reliance on the Holy Spirit to move us to maturity.

...

This verse 11 naming the ministry roles in the church has been traditionally called the fivefold ministries and mostly taught to be five roles for leaders in the church. But that is not what the verse says. To each one refers to every member of the church, not just the leaders. What the bible says is that each one of us has received a portion of grace in one of five roles. That grace has come to us in the form of a call to be one of five types of people. There is no mention of leadership in this passage, so we can see that this is not just for those who have been ordained or have been through theological training. The fivefold ministries in Ephesians 4 are for “each one of us.”

We are each equipped and empowered by the grace of Jesus to serve one another. To build a body that speaks the truth in love to each other, to grow and become in every respect the mature body with Christ the head, the centre point. We in these roles are the supporting ligament to work together.

As we journey together on this and understand our calling into a role to build the church, it is important to understand this dynamic of truth and love. I tend to view it as an invitation and a challenge. The invitation is to come as you are and sit at the feet of Jesus, learn from him, be coached by his teaching and live your life in the freedom as an overflow of the Love God has for you. The challenge is to address the rebellion in your heart, the areas of your life that you give greater priority to than God and need to know God’s truth and challenge.

If we are all invitation and love and no truth, it is harmful; we get comfortable living as infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.

Yet if we are all challenge and only truth, with no love, that too is harmful. All we do is stress and discourage people, and we isolate people and ourselves from being relational with one another, which actually allows us to speak truth that will be heard. So we are to be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Jesus modelled this balance of truth and love beautifully and asked us as his disciples to do likewise.

Paul, after spending 2 years discipling those in Ephesus, coaching, loving and guiding them to become the church and go into the surrounding area, challenges them and invites them with Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:1–10 NIV

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We need to repent, turn away from the comforts that lead to death, the things that do nothing for us and accept the invitation to be God’s handiwork.

Five-Fold Ministry for Everyday Believers

Apostle - Starter & Visionary: You help launch new ministries, connect people, and bring fresh ideas to grow the church. You’re the “let’s build something new” kind of person.

Prophet - Truth-Teller & Encourager: You sense what God is saying and help others stay aligned with His heart. You might share a word, a Scripture, or a timely encouragement that brings clarity.

Evangelist - Story-Sharer & Inviter: You love talking about Jesus and helping others meet Him. Whether it’s through Alpha, a coffee chat, or your testimony—your joy is contagious.

Pastor - Carer & Connector: You notice when someone’s missing, hurting, or needs a friend. You create safe spaces, listen well, and help people feel loved and supported.

Teacher - Explainer & Guide: You make truth simple and practical. Whether leading a Bible Discovery session or sharing insights in a LifeGroup, you help others grow in understanding.

These aren’t just titles—they’re functions. Every believer can grow in one or more of these areas. The goal isn’t hierarchy, but equipping the whole church to reflect Jesus in different ways.

We are going to spend the next 5 weeks more in-depth on these functions and how we can get trained in them.

Finally, what role might God be calling you into to be part of the body of the church here at Newstead?

We have a big year ahead, and I need everyone's help to follow Jesus into an aspect of these roles to build the church.

Over the last fortnight, I went to 10 lifegroups, 8 of them all different. Now I love that I get to do that, and you would think I would get tired, but God always had a revelation for me, or I was greatly encouraged by a testimony in the group of transformation and witness. Yet, I know this is not sustainable for me.

Look around you. In the last 3 years, we have been blessed with new family members here at Newstead Baptist, and we all need to step into an appropriate role or function to serve the building of the body.

Here is what I am proposing:

Do the FiveFold Ministry Test

Submit or share your results

Step into the ministry role at an appropriate level

That is why I would love you to seriously consider the following. You would see or have seen a QR code that takes you to a questionnaire on the fivefold Ministry (there is a full version or an express) to complete. Can I ask you to complete that? We also have paper options available. Then I would love to invite you to share your results with me or identify yourself with the week that we go into more depth with that role. I have also asked our life groups this week to discuss the results.

Finally, we are going to call people to be trained and practice in these ministry functions, praying and finding appropriate next steps. I think you know me well enough now that if you say Hey, I am interested in teaching or I feel I have the spirit of an apostle. Great, you are now the team leader of our teaching team or community outreach. Rather, I want to challenge in love those who have experience in these fields to be prepared to mentor and give time to assisting others as they explore God’s gifting in this area. For example, in October, Di Hooley will be offering a course on Prophesy.

Invite the band.

Interestingly enough, I did the test and got:

teacher - 22%

pastor - 21%

apostle - 20%

evangelist - 19%

prophet - 17%

Personally, I resonate with apostles - help launch new ministries, connect people, and bring fresh ideas to grow the church.

Yet right now, the Holy Spirit is helping me teach and pastor.

This is just a tool, not to put us into a box, but to open a door to a very serious and biblical model of roles and functions needed in the church to grow and mature in Jesus in His church.