Constitution of Christ's Church

Functions of Gifts:

APEST Gifts given to

The Church = People Following Jesus

The Church ≠ Organization, Institution, Tradition, Place, or Structure

THEN: Gifts are given to people for people, NOT as offices or positions

“The Church is:

EVERY Follower of Jesus

EMPOWERED By the Holy Spirit

ENTRUSTED With gifts for

ESTABLISH God’s Kingdom by

EXPRESSING

EXHORT others in doing the same

The verb form used for “given” (Gk. edothe, the aorist indicative form of didomi) is an aorist indicative, a very resolute verb form perfectly suited for use in constitutions. This is because aorists reflect actions that took place in the past and as such they are once-and-for-all-time events. The effects of the past event are still felt in the present. They are historic in a similar way that the signing of the Declaration of Independence was historic—it will impact America’s self-understanding for all time. The indicative mood intensifies the aorist tense, transforming it from a significant event into a statement of identity. Aorist indicatives are, in a real sense, defining words.

Hirsch, Alan. 5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ (Kindle Locations 935-942). 100 Movements (DH). Kindle Edition.

Gifts are given to people for people, NOT as offices or positions

New Living Translation Chapter 4

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.