M401: Lesson 6; Ministry Gifts

Ministry Gifts

Key Verse: “There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 (NKJV)

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple recognize and understand the various ministry gifts given by Christ to His Church.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He gave MINISTRY gifts to His Church.

Ephesians 4:7–8 (NKJV) “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: ‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.’”

Jesus gave APOSTLES, PROPHETS, EVANGELISTS, PASTORS, and TEACHERS.

Ephesians 4:11–12 (NKJV) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”

These “five” specific ministry gifts to the Church are often referred collectively as the FIVE-FOLD Ministries or EQUIPPING Ministries.

The purpose of the Five-Fold Ministries is to EQUIP (complete, perfect) the saints (believers, members of the body of Christ) to fulfill the WORK of ministry (service) for the EDIFYING (building up) of the body of Christ.

The Five-Fold Ministries are like COACHES and TRAINERS.

The members of the body of Christ are Christ’s MINISTERS. Every member called to full-time ministry regardless of how they make a living.

The members must be properly trained for the WORK they are called to do.

The Five-Fold Ministries function as follows:

Apostles concern themselves with laying FOUNDATION of Truth.

Apostles are ambassadors of Christ, sent by Him into key regions to declare Christ’s kingdom and to birth new churches where its message is received. Thus, they are often regarded as spiritual fathers. They establish, secure, and maintain the foundations of the Truth. They train and appoint pastors and elders to oversee these new local churches.

Prophets concern themselves with the SPIRIT of Truth.

Prophets are watchmen in the body of Christ. Their ministry may be localized or extended to the larger body of Christ. They possess more than the simple motivational gift of prophecy (Romans 12:6-8). They declare what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the churches. They “watch” in prayer to see and prepare God’s people for the approaching move of God, and to warn of them of the evil schemes and infiltration of the enemy.

Evangelists concern themselves with the PROCLAMATION of Truth.

Evangelists are God’s firemen. They run with the gospel into the fiery darkness of this world to rescue lost souls from the grip of Hell.

Teachers concern themselves with the INSTRUCTION of truth.

Teachers are instructors in the body of Christ. These possess more than the simple motivational gift of teaching. They have been given great insight into the mysteries contained in the Word of God. The have a teaching anointing help believers know and understand the meaning and mysteries of Scripture. They help people rightly divide the word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). They break down the various parts of Scripture, connect them to other biblical passages, put them back together, and teach believers how to do the same.

Pastors concern themselves with APPLICATION of Truth.

Pastors are God’s shepherds. They are also called “Elders” and “Overseers” in the local church. They are assigned the responsibility of oversee, protect, guard, care for, comfort, disciple, and lead the flock of God.

The Five-Fold Ministries continue to be NEEDED in the church today.

Ephesians 4:13–16 (NKJV) “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

The Five-Fold Ministries will be needed until believers come to:

The unity of THE FAITH. This refers to the collective teachings of the twelve apostles of Christ to the Church. (New Testament) It specifically refers to those things that must be believed to be saved.

The unity of the KNOWLEDGE of the SON OF GOD. This refers to a correct understanding of the Person, Nature, Teachings, and Work of Jesus Christ (a true biblical Christology).

A PERFECT man: Jesus prayed that His disciples would be made perfect in one. (John 17:23) The “perfect man” means “mature man”, the conformity of the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), i.e., a mature reflection of the character and nature of Christ.

The measure of the STATURE of the FULLNESS of Christ: The imagery is of a ship that has attained to the full measure of its capacity, being fully equipped with sailors, oarsmen, soldiers, supplies, freight, merchandise, etc. So the Church is to be fully equipped to reflect the full measure of Christ.

MATURITY in the faith. The Five-Fold Ministries help bring believers to stability and maturity in the faith so that they cease to vacillate between truth and error, to be infatuated by every new and strange doctrine, and to be gullible to the tricks and plots of deceptive men.

The true balance between TRUTH and LOVE. Believers must learn to speak truth in the spirit of love. They are not to use truth to attack and destroy but to encourage, exhort, deliver, and heal. Truth without love promotes legalism. Love without truth promotes license. Truth with love promotes genuine liberty in Christ.

GROWTH of the body under the HEADSHIP of Christ. The spiritual growth of the body of Christ is measured by their mutual submission to Christ whereby the individual members become properly related to one another.

Mutual PARTICIPATION and CONTRIBUTION. The growth of the church reaches its full potential when every member is properly connected and contributing to the overall building up of the body of Christ in love.

Christ not only gives ministry gifts to the church, but He also APPOINTS the priority of these gifts in the church.

1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV) “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

Another ministry that Christ has appointed in the church is the ministry of DEACONS and DEACONESSES.

Acts 6:1–6 (NKJV) “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”

Romans 16:1–2 (NKJV) “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”

The word “Deacon” or “Deaconess” is the same Greek word as “servant”. Although every believer is to model the role of a servant, the word “Deacon” or “Deaconess” is used to identify mature, faithful, and anointed men and women who are appointed by pastors and elders to lift the burden from their shoulders in meeting the practical needs of believers.

The role of a Deacon or Deaconess are appointed by the pastor and elders to share in the ministry burden of caring for the practical needs of the people and the church.

Another ministry Christ has appointed in the church is the ministry of HELPS.

1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV) “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

The word “helps” refers to the capacity to serve in whatever capacity is needed.

The ministry of “helps” encompasses all the various areas of service needed to meet specific and practical needs in the church. Any and every member of the body of Christ can find a place to contribute within the ministry of helps. The various ministries of “helps” may stand alone or be organized into specific ministries under a leader.

Another ministry Christ has appointed in the church is the ministry of ADMINISTRATION or GOVERNMENT.

The word for “administration” or “government” refers to the ministry of leadership. The idea is that of one who steers a ship.

It refers to those who can lead ministries in the church efficiently and effectively.

Although there are differences of ministries, they are all appointed by the same LORD.

There are no greater or lesser servants when they serve the same Lord.

There are no greater or lesser assignments when they come from the same Lord.

The issue is not the nature of the assignment. It is the nature of the obedience to the One who has assigned it.