5-Fold Ministry

A Body of Enormous Potential

Since the earliest church, man has been able to split the atom, develop materials stronger than steel, and put a man on the moon; seriously, isn’t the ministry of the church outdated?

The human body is an amazing creation (think amazing things people do).

Christ’s Gifts to Energize the Body

The Apostle Paul lays out for us what the body of Christ should be – fully mature. And, he explains the gifts God gives to prepare the Church.

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.

Paul’s lays down some very clear facts for us to understand:

1. These gifts come from Christ Himself

2. These gifts include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers

3. The purpose of these gifts is to equip the Body of Christ for works of service

4. The goal of the Body of Christ is to reach unity in faith and knowledge

5. The focus of the gifts is to mature the Body of Christ into the fullness of Christ

Those are simply what the Bible says. Our bodies need certain things for us to become healthy and mature. Maslow is probably the most well-known psychologist with a list of needs. He says we have physical survival needs, physical safety needs, love and belonging needs, self-esteem needs, and self-fulfilled needs. In his self-fulfilled needs, he would include spirituality.

What Paul is telling us is that we need these ministries within the Church to bring health and maturity. The truth is that sometimes we have an aversion to ministers like prophets and evangelists because they can make us feel uncomfortable.

What Benefits are These Gifts to the Body?

The Bible demonstrates that when we talk about ministry there are generally 2 different realms. One is a minister whose calling seems to be to the whole church and they share with many congregations. We have had many evangelists speak at our church: Rod Vincent, Joe Oden, Gene Smart, Lee Williams, Dave Roever, Matt Roever, and more. We’ve had Leon Price, a prophet speak before he passed away years ago. We’ve had teachers and missionaries (evangelists). These are all gifts to the Body of Christ. Many of these ministers not only spoke an encouraging or corrective word but God used them with supernatural manifestations.

A second realm of ministerial gifts is in the area of local ministry. These ministers, like myself, stay in one place. Usually they are elected according to qualifications given by the apostles to the churches:

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NIV

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Cindy and I once attended a church where the character of the pastor was called into question. There were several areas of his life that seemed inconsistent with the description in Timothy. I remember calling Cindy’s dad, the founder of this church, and asked his opinion. He said, “Well, you have seen my behavior as a pastor. Does his behavior reflect mine?” The answer was “no” and we soon left the church for another.

God Designed the Church to Be Amazing as Well

Jesus takes care of His Church. Just like the body when the heart and lungs are working together – muscles are getting the energy they need – lungs are inhaling the oxygen needed to fill the blood stream and exhaling the carbon dioxide that would suffocate – the brain is telling us what to do. We are able to do amazing things (build a home, score a touchdown, finish a race). The 5-Fold ministry is designed to (1) equip the Body of Christ for works of service, (2) reach unity in faith and knowledge, and (3) mature the Body of Christ into the fullness of Christ.

Let’s briefly define these ministries

Apostles

The apostolic ministry had three distinct features. First, the apostles were commissioned by the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 1:2) and were first-hand witnesses to the teachings and resurrection of Jesus. Second, the apostles had the unique role of establishing the Church and producing Scripture. This role could not be duplicated after their death, since it was limited to those who had heard Jesus or were able to talk to those who had heard Jesus.7 The third feature, however, is an apostolic ministry (not office) of signs and wonders applicable to all ages (2 Cor. 12:12). This ministry was involved in the planting of churches. That apostolic function is similar to the task of the pioneer missionary today (2 Cor. 10:16). Paul’s journeys supply a vivid and practical pattern for our missionary enterprise.[1]

Prophets

Prophets were those in the Apostolic Church who had a special ministry of inspired utterance. While the apostles and evangelists took the gospel to the unregenerate world, the prophets exercised an edifying ministry to the various churches. For example, “Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers” (Acts 15:32). Their messages, however, were not to be taken as infallible, but were to be judged, or evaluated, by the other members of the local church (1 Cor. 14:29–33; 1 John 4:1).[2]

Evangelists

The ministry of evangelist in a very real sense overlapped the ministries of apostles and pastors in the New Testament. The function of the evangelist was to be the first to bring the gospel to those who had not yet been heard. In this pioneer sense the function of the evangelist seemed to overlap that of the apostle, who also served in new territory, at the edge of the already evangelized field. The pastor in the New Testament was also exhorted to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). The term was also applied to a layman in the church, the deacon Philip, who exercised the ministry of evangelism and was called “Philip the evangelist” (Acts 21:8). His preaching of the good news was accompanied by miracles, healings, and deliverance from demons. Many in his audiences were saved, baptized in water, and filled with joy (Acts 8:6–8).[3]

Pastors

“Pastors” could also be translated “shepherds” (Gk. poimenas). Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd who gathers the flock, cares for them, knows them, rescues them when they stray, and lays down His life for them (John 10:2–16). He remains the Chief Shepherd (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 5:4). Pastors are undershepherds, having the ministry and responsibility of caring for and protecting God’s flock as well as being worthy of their imitation (1 Pet. 5:2–3).[4]

Teachers

Teachers were given a special ability to explain and interpret the truth of God’s revelation (Matt. 28:19–20; Eph. 4:11; 2 John 10). Some were itinerant, going from church to church. However, Ephesians 4:11 seems to connect pastor and teacher as a twofold ministry. The shepherd needed to feed the flock. The very word “shepherd” in the Old Testament (Heb. ro‘eh) is an active participle meaning, literally, “one who feeds.”[5]

Although these gifts are clearly shown to be gifts given by our Lord, there are times when we struggle with them. I want to show you a humorous clip that illustrates the point. The speaker is Danny Silk, author

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU0mmIaOwzg&list=WL&index=19&t=30s

I don’t know much about Danny Silk other than this short video clip, but he is right on target with these illustrations. Each of us have a drawing to one or more of the 5-Fold ministry. However, you must remember that ALL of them are given by God and we need to allow ALL of them to be working in our lives.

We have an evangelist coming in October. His name is Ty Buckingham and we will have 2 services with him on Sunday, October 11th. We are calling it the “Holy Spirit Conference”. Some of you will be like, “Alright, we have an evangelist coming! It’s gonna be awesome!” Others of you are like, “Evangelists make me uncomfortable. I’m comfortable with the way our normal service, and our normal pastor preaches. I might stay home that day.” Some would say, “Why isn’t there a prophet coming?” And others might say, “Why are we meeting in a church?” “Let’s just get out there!” ALL of the 5-Fold Ministry are gifts from God and we MUST be willing to embrace them.

Let me add one thing. Remember, always be like the church of Berea – test the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher against the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s witness in your life. Don’t allow someone to excite your personal bias.

Is God Calling You Into the 5-Fold Ministry?

I was called to missions at the age of 12, attended Bible college at the age of 17, taught and served as a principal of a small Christian school at 20. At 21 I spent 3 months in India teaching English and Harmony of the Gospels. From this point I ran from the call of God. I continued to serve as a youth pastor but struggled for the next several years (in the Army). In 1991 I came to Magnolia to help Pastor Akers pioneer Grace Chapel Assembly. In 1995 I spent 2 weeks in Provo, Utah – unable to rent a car I was trapped in my room with a book by Charles Spurgeon, Soul-Winning. I spent a week between classes reading and weeping. I returned to Grace Chapel changed. Since that time, I was reawakened to the call God had placed on me as a young 12-year-old teenager was real and fresh. I began to preach, lead worship, repair this or that – whatever needed repair. We developed a dream, to have a new facility on a main highway, which would invite people into the church. In December of 1999 the building was complete, and we moved into this sanctuary in which you are now seated. By the time Jan 1st of 2003 came around I was ready to accept simply a seat in the church while I saw my career in education being my future. I wanted to be a public-school principal, husband and father, and a contributing member to this church. I had no idea of the change that would take place that summer under the hot sun of Iraq. The Lord, once again, moved on my heart. It is now 16 years later and I’m still excited about what God is going to do in this church.

All of us are a part of the priesthood of believers. This is the universal call. Jesus calls all of us to know Him. No one stands between you and God. God hears your voice. He hears your prayer. He is no respecter of persons. But, there is a unique Call that happens in the lives of some.

I remember when I was a kid in church. It seemed like there were countless requests for people who felt the call of God on their lives to go to the altar. As a teenager it was always awkward because it seemed to me that teenagers were best qualified. Everybody else was either already busy with families, too young, or too old. As I had mentioned before, the Lord had already spoken to me, but I was careful who to share that information with.

Well, in hindsight, God has a way of preparing us. Here are some truths that will help you…

· God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.

· God doesn’t call the equipped; He equips the called.

· My call is before any of my faults, and my call is greater than any of my faults. Tom Moffatt

Are We Allowing the Gifts Room to Work in Our Lives?

Whether or not God has placed a specific call on your life to serve as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher; the 5-fold ministry is designed to bless the Church. Be open to it.

[1] Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 177). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

[2] Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (pp. 177–178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

[3] Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

[4] Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.

[5] Menzies, W. W. (1993). Bible Doctrines: A Pentecostal Perspective. (S. M. Horton, Ed.) (p. 178). Springfield, MO: Logion Press.