January 19, 2020
Evening Service

Tonight I want to circle back around to the subject that Paul emphasized in his letter to Titus on how God has built the church to operate. Peter has affirmed to us that “everything we need to live a godly life has been given to us.” We will look at one the “Gift Chapters” in the NT (I Cor. 12 and Romans 12) that not only lists the many God given gifts (or talents) but also comes with more encouragement to use them within the church for the edification (building up) of others.  First though, let’s start in Ephesians 4 where Paul spells out the ministry that is needed within the church get things started.

Eph. 4:11-16  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,  (13)  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,  (15)  but, 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.

        We can understand this teaching by asking some very simple questions and let the passage answer the questions.

1.      What ministry is given by God for the church? 

a.     Apostles:  Men personally commissioned by Jesus Himself to preach the Word and establish churches. (The Twelve)

b.     Prophets: Spokesmen or mouthpieces of God who received direct revelation from God and passed that on to the church. (Paul)

c.      Evangelists:  Men who are divinely equipped to win the lost to Christ. (Billy Graham)

d.     Pastors:  This can also be referred to as the “Bishop” of the church that has been given the gift to be an overseer or shepherd over the congregation protecting them from outside influences and pointing them to the safety of following Christ.  (Jerry)

e.      Teachers:  Men who are divinely gifted to interpret what the Bible says and then explain what that means to apply that to the hearts and lives of those who are listening.  (Sam) 

2.     What is the purpose of these 5-fold ministries? (what are they used for?)

a.     The equipping of the saints.  (12)

b.     The work of the ministry. (12)

c.      The edifying of the body of Christ. (12)

d.     To keep us from being deceived and “tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.” (14)

e.      To keep us speaking truth in love. (15)

f.       To trigger growth in Christ. (15)

3.     How long will these ministries be needed? (Until when?) Verse 13

a.     We all come to the unity of the faith.

b.     We all come to the knowledge of the Son of God which leads us to perfection.

 

Notice it is the purpose of the ministry to equip the saints to do their part of making the church all that it can be.  Read verse 16.  Growth and edification comes from “every part doing their share.”  We are better together.  The church is often referred to as the Body of Christ and Paul truly emphasizes that fact in his first letter to the Corinthian church chapter 12 along with listing many of the gifts God has given to build us up to all we can be.  It is the responsibility of leadership of the church to encourage and empower members to find an area in the church in which they are gifted and to get busy.

 

I Corinthians 12

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us everything we need to that pertains to living a life that is pleasing to You.  Grant us the knowledge to know our spiritual gift and the courage to put it to work within the church.