God ordained the Church with a supernatural design in mind. He had a plan for how:
we would be organized,
how we would function and
what we were to accomplish.
Please notice, I don't refer to the church as "it" but as "we". Unfortunately the majority of believers are unfamiliar with God's design for His Body and therefore most churches are organized after a man - made plan. God's church is not a building nor is it an organization. The Church is the Body of Christ, a living evolving organism with Christ as its head. What does this mean for you, the average believer?
Are you to be a knowledgeable and active participant or an inactive observer?
Let's begin with some questions to guide our study of Ephesians 4:11-16 As you answer these questions, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to you. Answers are provided at the bottom of the page.
1. Who is to prepare the body to do the works of service?
2. What is the function of each office?
3. What do you think works of service are?
4. Why should these works of service be done?
5. Was this a need limited to the first century church?
6. Today, is the body of Christ still in need of being built up?
7. Have we all reached unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God?
8. Have we all become mature?
9. Have we all attained to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ?
10. What is the benefit of reaching maturity?
11. What is the name, definition and function of each office?
Lets pray
Holy Spirit please give me eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to perceive and obey what You're saying to me today.
God's Vision for His Church
The book of Ephesians has a lot to say about the Body of Christ. Chapter 4 specifically deals with the structure and purpose of leadership, as well as the responsibilities of all believers. Now I realize many congregations don't follow these guidelines - but I can't seem to find any mention of these guidelines being optional suggestion. After all, if God thought these were good ideas who are we to say we have a better plan?
Let's look at Ephesians 4...
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
...and see what it tells us about God's vision for the Church
Who gave what?
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Why was this given?
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
How long was this given for?
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;
What was the ultimate goal
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.
As you read through this information.we pray that you would become like the Beroeans
Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
You may find some of your traditions seem to nullify the Word of God.
Mark 7:9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. NKJV
The question is: will you open you heart to what the Spirit of God is showing you, or will you side with your own traditions?
Acts 28:26-27 saying,‘Go to this people and say:“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”’[a]NKJV
ANSWERS
1. Who is to do the works of service? The Body
2. Who is to prepare the body for works of service? Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher
3. What do you think works of service are? whatever God calls us to do.
4. Why should these works of service be done? so that the body of Christ may be built up.
5. Was this a need limited to the first century church? No
6. Today, is the body of Christ still in need of being built up? Yes
7. Have we all reached unity of faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God? No
8. Have we all become mature? No.
9. Have we all attained to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ? No
10. What is the benefit of reaching maturity? No longer being indecisive, but wise; functioning closely together in Christ with love and respect for one another.
11.What is the name, definition and function of each office? Please see the specific section for each office.
Type your paragraph here.
Ephesians 4:11 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,
The following information dealing with the five-fold ministry of the church is presented in a question and answer format? My prayer is that as you read the scriptures with an open mind, you will find the answers to the questions provided.
Ephesians 4:11 God's 5 Fold Ministry
Your Response Journal
You can either download and print our Response Journal or use your own. Either way, please take a few minutes,and jot down your thoughts,reactions and any questions you may have concerning this material.