Description
In this episode I would like to define each of the fivefold gifts from Ephesians 4 in greater detail. I believe a misapplication of these gifts results from too narrow of a view of how they could function within the Body. We will also discuss these gifts from a more organizational or church perspective. If the Church is to function as the Body of Christ within the community, what would an apostolic, prophetic, pastoral, or evangelistic church look like?
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Video Script
Episode 8: Ministry of the Church
In this episode I would like to define each of the fivefold gifts from Ephesians 4 in greater detail. I believe a misapplication of these gifts results from too narrow of a view of how they could function within the Body. We will also discuss these gifts from a more organizational or church perspective. If the Church is to function as the Body of Christ within the community, what would an apostolic, prophetic, pastoral, or evangelistic church look like?
Fivefold Function and Leadership
As we look at organizational functions, we are now on pages 28-32 of the workbook. While it is unlikely that one individual will have all of the fivefold functions, it may be plausible that the more mature we are, the more we are likely to have several of these expressed in and through our lives. Having said that, it seems that in some way these gifts seem to be connected to a person’s calling and role. It is important to remind ourselves that these are not offices or positions, as has often been the case in some traditions in church history. Rather, these are specific functions and ministries given by Jesus to equip all believers to fulfill the purpose of his Church on this earth.
Each of these fivefold functions is a gift that serves to equip all believers for the work of the ministry. Yet what I have also noticed happens is that we tend to particularly appeal to, or “equip,” those who have a similar gift to us. At the very least we model for others how to use their gift. For example, a teacher will attract those with a teaching gift and is best suited to help them develop their teaching gifting. We tend to attract and draw out those in the Body that share our similar gifting.
In what ways do you think the fivefold gifts function with leadership in the Body?
Equipping Leadership Functions
We all could probably give a general description of each of the fivefold gifts listed in Ephesians 4. Of course, this description is usually informed by our own study and specific church experience and so may be limited. So I would like to now present a broader description of how each of these could be expressed through an individual. Again, you may find it helpful at this point to refer to or do the Assessments that are provided.
Apostolic Individual
The person with apostolic giftings is a person who has a sense of the big picture and purpose of the whole organization or church. It is more than just starting churches. They tend to be the catalyst for the extension of the church through mission and church planting. They are typically entrepreneurial and pioneers; willing to take risks. This is usually combined with the faith necessary to innovate, make changes, and reinvent the wineskins necessary to achieve the overall purpose of the church or organization. Those who are involved in cross-cultural ministry as “sent out” ones are also likely to have some measure of this gift working in and through their lives. Founders of organizations, networkers, and consultants who work across denominational, cultural and geographic lines, are also usually apostolic in gifting.
Prophetic Individual
Those with a prophetic gifting are those who are catalysts for change. In this context it is not about foretelling the future. They are always looking at the system, seeing flaws, and trying to motivate others to change the status quo. They are those that ask difficult questions and seek organizational and cultural change, as well as seek change within broader community structures. Prophetically gifted people tend to be the innovators of new forms and often have greater insights. They are those who are problem solvers, although they often seen by others as ahead of their time. They are more ready for change than those around them, which can cause some conflict.
Evangelistic Individual
While all believers are called to be witnesses of the Good News, the evangelists among us are those who are uniquely equipped to take the message beyond their own immediate circle of influence to the greater community. It is not just about preaching to the masses. They seem to see the community with different eyes than those in the rest of the Body. They are also uniquely equipped to draw out those who also have this gift and are able to train them in evangelism. They have a way of increasing the capacity of all members to become more effective witnesses. They tend to be outgoing, persuasive people who have greater communication skills and can motivate others to make a decision. In addition to being able to share the Gospel on an individual level, those with the gift of an evangelist have a greater capacity to address larger societal, cultural context with the message.
Pastoral Individual
Those with the pastoral equipping gift are those who seek to create and maintain healthy community; they are those who encourage others in the faith and care deeply that they are doing well in every area of life. It is not just about being in the pulpit every Sunday. They tend to very aware of their environment and how this is affecting others around them. They naturally empathize with the hurting and have deep connections with others. This often leads them to wanting to maintain the status quo, so as to not upset others. Those with this pastoral gifting are those who “see” the vulnerable, others many of us do not “see.” For them, all people matter and it is their mission to bring them all to health. They tend to be the defenders of the community, providing pastoral care and direction.
Teaching Individual
In the community of believers, the teacher’s main function is to impart practical wisdom, based upon a biblical worldview. It is not about teaching seminars. They are not just concerned with knowledge, but have a desire and ability to take concepts and make them practically applicable in people’s lives. While they are immersed in the interaction of ideas and concepts, their focus is on life change and transformation. The individual with a teaching gift within the community of believers is also instrumental in the development of materials that others can use as they develop their own teaching giftings. It is this function that often leads them to be good mentors and coaches of others, writers and developers of materials, researchers, theologians, and trainers.
Which of these leadership functions do you identify with and see functioning in your own ministry? The Fivefold gift assessment provided may be helpful for you to do that.
The Church’s Fivefold Function
Before the break we were discussing characteristics of each of the equipping gifts as they are expressed within individuals. Let’s shift our attention for the remainder of this episode by looking at these gifts as expressed in the Church as a whole. I think we all could agree that the core mission of the Church is to expand the message of Jesus to everyone, as well as be a witness of Christ in the community. So if every local expression of the Body of Christ should in some way reflect each of the fivefold ministries of Jesus, what would that look like?
Apostolic Church
A local church that is functioning with an apostolic gifting will be engaged in Jesus’ Mission. This is a key function of any church that serves to maintain its core mission. This will includes developing innovations at the structural level in order to always be relevant in the culture in which the church in located. In seeing the big picture, the missional church is committed to local and global extension. A church that is not involved in planting new expressions or communities of Jesus followers has a deficit in the apostolic function of Jesus (and the Church). The apostolic function also includes constantly redesigning the forms of ministry in order to meet new cultures and subcultures, as well as expanding beyond the primary cultural context of the church. To do this, it needs to always be redesigning its wineskins as an organization. This requires systems thinking and how the various parts fit into the whole of the mission of the Church. Churches functioning in this gifting typically have a greater diversity and are part of networks of those with similar vision and like mindedness.
Prophetic Church
The Church as a prophetic community is also expressing the very core of Jesus’ purpose. There are essentially two aspects to this New Testament ministry. There is the maintenance and focus on keeping the covenant with God. This seeks to keep a God-focus on all aspects of the church’s ministry. The goal is to encourage an emphasis on a relationship with God. Secondly, there is also the aspect of the prophetic in relation to others. Being in a relationship with God means that, as a people, the church seeks holiness, justice and righteousness. So a church exercising this function is a church that calls others to repentance and change. It has a focus on true worship and calls all believers to be engaged, based on a relationship with God. A balanced prophetic voice of the church is both mystical and charismatic, as well as focussed on local social justice. Focussing on just one of these will make the church imbalanced and misaligned from its original mission.
Evangelistic Church
The people of God are to be messengers, or witnesses, of this Good News. An evangelistic Church provides every community with a witness of Jesus through both word and deed. This is the function of the Church that communicates in relevant and meaningful ways. As Jesus displayed in his ministry, the church should be calling others to respond to the Message. Without this function, the Church will inevitably decline, as this is where the new life comes from. This witness is in word, but also in demonstrations of this good news. A community of believers with this functioning gift will be developing every believer to be relevant witnesses of the Message. It is not so much about getting people “saved,” as it is helping them become disciples of Jesus and joining him in his mission.
Pastoral Church
The pastoral Church has its roots in the Old Testament as we see in Psa. 23, 2 Sam. 5:2. It culminates in Jesus, the Great Shepherd. This pastoral function has a focus on nurturing and so seeks to develop healthy bonds within the community. This requires a ministry of healing which will take many forms, from praying, to counselling, and relational reconciliation. It also provides a protective function from both internal and external dangers. The “called out ones” are placed into a community of believers from which they are to be healed, trained, and equipped. Every new community of believers is diverse, including many socio-economic classes, ethnicities, and so on. Yet within this diversity there is to be a unity as each member grows into maturity through the process of discipleship. The church with this pastoral function helps to create a family of God out of those who were once enemies of God. It is this loving community that then becomes a witness to the community of the love of God.
Teaching Church
The primary function of the teaching gift in the Body is to acquire and live with wisdom. This begins with accurately interpreting and applying the Scriptures, but in a way that is not disassociated from everyday life. So while teaching in the Body is centered on the Scriptures, it has far reaching implications. In addition to the Scriptures, other resources and materials will also be used to build up and equip the saints. A teaching church includes every area of life, not just within the walls of the church. At its core it is about discipleship, not just providing information. To be effective, structures of training will eventually need to be developed in order to pass on the baton to coming generations.
How does seeing the church as fulfilling each of these fivefold functions affect how we view the mission of the Church?
I hope that this quick overview will expand your own perspective as to how these equipping gifts can be expressed within members of the Body, as well as expressed through the local church to their community. As Paul pointed out, it takes effort for this diversity to create unity rather than division. We often focus on our particular strengths and so churches we serve tend to reflect our specific emphasis. So how can we as a church have a balanced fivefold expression of Christ to the world? The Team Unity Assessment provides questions that identify our view of the other gifts and this helps us determine those gifts that we value most. If you have not done so yet, it may be helpful to do that before the next episode, as this will be the focus of our discussion next time. I hope you’ll be able to join me then.