Leadership Gifts: Apostles
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I. Welcome
A. Dustin
II. Opening Prayer
A. Grace Suberu
III. Worship
A. Song B4 Prayer: “Come Into the Holy of Holies”
B. Song B4 Offering: “Revelation Song”
C. Offering:
IV. Transition
A. Pray over Kids
B. Announcements
V. Sermon
-Sermon
I. INTRO
A. Where We’ve Been
a. Leadership gifts
B. Where We’re Going
b. Next 5 weeks we r going 2 define some o those gifts
1. These leadership gifts r found (among other texts) in...
C. Main Text
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
D. Prayer
E. Context
a. Before we get started, lets remember not to get to caught up about titles
1. God rewards faithfulness. He doesn’t reward offices.
b. The purpose o these leadership gifts isn’t 2 Lord over the church...
1. Paul says he was appointed to 3 leadership gifts/ministries
11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,
2. Tim, a pastor, was instructed to do the work o an evangelist
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,
3. It has been said o me that I am an “Apostolic Pastor”
c. The purpose of these leadership gifts isn’t to Lord over the church...
1. But 2 equip the saints 4 the work o the min & building up the church!
c. We’re not all called to Apostleship
1. Hey, we’re not all called to church leadership!!
i. But we r all called to function as part o the body
ii. Ea. o us working 2gether to fulfill the Mission o God
-Good news: Jesus promised he’d b w/us 2 the ends o the age
d. Has God called u 2 a Leadership gift?
1. if God’s called u, he’ll place u in the office
2. Remember how long btwn David’s anointing as king & the day he took the office?
3. When I was called to Pastoral ministry I was a freshly minted sailor.
i. I waited & worked 12yrs b4 I stepped in as a lead pastor.
-Let’s talk about...
Hagin, Kenneth E. The Ministry Gifts . Faith Library Publications. Kindle Edition.
II. BODY
A. The Spiritual Leadership Gift of Apostles
a. The Supernatural empowering by the Holy Spirit with the authority , power , & commission of Jesus for the forging & continued growth of new Jesus communities
1. Jesus commissions apostles early on in his min.
14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
15 and have authority to cast out demons.
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
i. So often we think the 12 became apostles at the end o the Gospel narrative
Acts 1:21-22
-but actually, Jesus commissions them even b4 they’re qualified
-That means, that Judas the betrayer was commissioned w/the authority & pwr o Jesus too
*So, what’s an apostle again?
2. Literally apostle means sent out / representative w/ full weight o authority
i. The implication is that the apostle represents Jesus w/all His pwr & authority
ii. Much like a pwr o attorney
iii.
2. An apostle, then, is sent out by God 2 do God’s work in the power of the H.S.
i. This means that Apostles don't act on their own / does as THEY please, but only what they r given 2 do!
-How many know that if God called u to it, the work is bigger than they can handle
*God’s work requires empowering by God’s Spirit!
b. The apostle is a special Appointment from God
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
1. Man didn’t appoint the apostle (or any leader 4 that matter) & so man cannot take it away!
i. The church can appoint people 2 diff. work & functions, but unless God appointed ‘em, they have the gifts of the Spirit, & therefore r themselves the gifts of Christ to his church, their appointment is valueless
For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you & encouraged you & charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom & glory.
e. Apostles assisted in major that affected the entirety of the Jesus movement
& after Paul & Barnabas had no small dissension & debate with them, Paul & Barnabas & some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles & the elders about this question.
Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
The church may appoint people to different work and functions, but unless they have the gifts of the Spirit, and therefore are themselves the gifts of Christ to his church, their appointment is valueless
C. Apostles
a. Practically today apostles are broken up into roles
1. church
2. leaders
2. The first apostles were required to have walked with Jesus through his entire earthly ministry
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.
12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
3. The first apostles were required to have walked with Jesus through his entire earthly ministry
?????
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
acts 1:21
i. Because o this vs, we often think that there was only 13 apostles in the church & apostleship died out w/them
-That is, 12 - Judas + Matthias + Paul = 13
-What the church found was that the need 4 apostles grew, not decreased even though the pre-req o walking w/Jesus his whole earthly ministry became more & more impossible 2 meet
*What happened?
~maybe there were classes o Apostles & so this kind o class “the original 12” ceased 2 exist
~maybe the pre-req changed w/the times
~either way...
^Apostles had a unusually pwrfl encounter & deep continued rel. w/Jesus by His Spirit
ii. There is arguably 24 Apostles in the NT (I’m not sure about that #, but I’m convinced now that it was more than 13)…here’s a list:
-James, the half brother of Jesus & leader of the Jerusalem church—
-Barnabas–
-Apollos–
-Apollos–
-Timothy and Silvanus– & 2:6 (Not so sure about this)
-Epaphroditus–.
*While the KJV translates the word as “messenger”, the Greek word is actually “apostle”.
-2 unnamed apostles– . (same greek word here 2)
These nine now make a total of 22 (13 + 9 = 22).
*could the unnamed b 2 already mentioned…maybe but the context doesn’t seem to suggest it
-Andronicus & Junia– (Not so sure about this cause o the wording)
-Who’s the final apostle? We’ll get 2that a little later????
B. An apostle’s role
a. Apostles laid the foundation of the Gospel
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Eph 2:19-21
1. Apostles were given the gospel by Jesus & were the 1st to articulate what God’s really up 2 through Jesus
2. The apostles didn’t act alone, but partnered w/the Prophets as well. (Prophets next week)
3. They laid the foundation Jesus centered communities all over the world & throughout time would b built on
i. That foundation is: Jesus paid the price 4 sin, purchasing us out o slavery o sin & ushering in a new rel. btwn God & all nations... along with the Jews!! (hens vs 19 [read again] )
b. Apostles developed new Jesus communities in unreached areas
19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;
20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Ro 15:19-20
Acts 14:21-22
1. As the apostles laid the Gospel foundation & folks accepted Jesus as king The apostle would draw the new followers of Jesus in2 communities
2. These communities were developed w/ powerful preaching & multiple powerful spiritual gifts
Acts 13:2-4
i. This is why apostles tended to operate in miracle gifts as a sign 2 affirm God’s word
ii. Apostles also seemed 2 operate in several gifts @ once…they were forging new ground
-That doesn’t mean others besides apostles can’t operate in the power gifts like miracles, healings, etc.
-where as most o us seem 2 operate in a few, apostles operated in many gifts because there wasn’t a church body setup yet, so they had 2 function w/lots o gifts @once
3. Paul went where Jesus had not been preached 2 build new Jesus centered communities
c. Apostles appointed leaders for local governing, then continued in their calling as sent out one’s
23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
1. Apostles r not pastors…they aren’t wired 4 long term boots on the ground investing!
i. Instead they would spend time raising up leaders & systems 4 long term care of the local church
-this was pastors, elders, evangelists, etc.
d. Apostles maintained care & exhortation for those churches to live a life worthy of the Gospel as needed
11 For you know how, like a father with his children,
12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
1. Apostles did not care for those churches in a local, every day sense
i. Instead Paul gave wise council & guidance as needed
ii. That is the primary purpose o the letters we read in the NT!
-We have 9 frm Paul
-4 frm Jn (including Revelation but not the gospel)
-2 frm Peter
-1 frm James
-1 to the Heb (authorship is in dispute) many attribute to Paul
-1 frm Jude (brother o James, meaning another bro o Jesus)
*18 letters exhibiting care & exhortation by apostles (some more exhortation than care [ i.e. gal])
e. Apostles assisted in major decisions that affected the entirety of the Jesus movement
1. This time they met over the Gentile problem - describe
5:
2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
i. Notice Paul & Barnabas met with apostles & elders
ii. That was James at the time
14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.
Acts 15:
19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,
20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.
acts 15:19-20
i. Who’s the most important Apostle in the NT? - Remember that 24th apostle we alluded 2…
C. Jesus is the Chief Apostle
Heb 3:1-2
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.
a. Jesus was the first sent out one
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
b. Jesus has all authority
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
c. Jesus was the first to forge community centered around his leadership
1. His community happened to travel w/him
D. Apostles today
a. Practically today apostles are broken up into two roles
1. church planters
i. These missionaries r forging new Jesus centered communities (hopefully) in un-reached reagins of the world
-u know, in like Brattleboro / Burlington…Places like that (lol).
-all kidding aside, missionaries to foreign nations r o great value
*Yet, there r places in our very backyard that have no Gospel-centered churches & desperately need teams ready to attack the darkness, armed w/Jesus love 4 the lost, broken, & un-reached.
2. Denominational leaders
i. The AG, 4 ex. , has district superintendents & national superintendents
-Their call is oversight o capital C Church steering & equipping pastors 4 boots on the ground leadership
*This is similar 2 what we read from Paul - Tim’s / Titus