Leaders Guide

Intro

Reaching In: Building Big Christians

Ephesians 4:11-16

If you were forced to choose between losing your hearing or losing your eyesight, which would you choose and why? The church is described as a body. Each member plays a unique role just as each part of a body has a unique function. They are part of a unified whole. The body cant do without them and they cannot do without the body! Ephesians 4:11-16

Review

Read Apply 1.

The apostle Paul gives a list of some of the spiritual gifts given by Christ to his church. What are they and to what extent do they operate in todays church? (v. 11)

This is a doozy to start with! This topic can easily take up your whole time. Quickly outline the gifts, their definitions and uses today. Let the group respond with any comments or questions and move on. The word apostle (apostolos) means someone who has been sent. It is used three ways in the New Testament. First, it is applies once to all Christians, when Jesus said, A servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent (apostolos) greater than he who sent him (John 13:16). So in this sense, every Christian is both a servant and an apostle. All Christians are sent out into the world as Christs ambassadors and witnesses, to share in the apostolic mission of the whole church (John 17:18; 20:21). Second, there were apostles of the churches (2 Cor. 8:23), messengers sent out by a church either as missionaries or on some other assignment. Thirdly, there were the apostles of Christ. They were personally chosen and authorized by Jesus, and had to be eyewitnesses of the risen Lord (Acts 1:21, 22; 10:40-41; 1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8-9). This is the sense that Paul is using the word apostle here (cf. 1 Cor. 12:28). These were the distinctive group, consisting of the Twelve (including Matthias who replaced Judas) and Paul. They are the foundation of the church and the vehicles of revelation (Eph. 2:20; 3:36). In this sense, there are no apostles today. A prophet (prophetes) in the primary sense was a person who stood in the council of God, who heard and even saw his word, and who in consequence spoke from the mouth of the Lord and spoke his word faithfully (cf. Jer. 23:16-32). The prophet was then a mouthpiece or spokesman of God, a vehicle of his direct revelation. In this sense, there are no prophets today. No one can presume to claim an inspiration comparable to that of the Biblical prophets, or introduce their teaching with Thus saith the Lord. If this were possible, we would have to add their words to Scripture, and the whole church would have to listen and

obey. Yet, this is the sense Paul is using the word prophet in this passage. They with the apostles have laid the foundation of the church. (1 Cor. 12:28). Is there a gift of prophecy today? Like the apostles, once we have established the uniqueness of the original prophets, we can address how the gift of prophecy is exercised today. John Stott gives the following summary: Some see it as a special gift of biblical exposition, an unusual degree of insight in the Word of God, so that by the ministry of the Holy Spirit modern prophet hear and receive the Word of God, not however as new revelation but as a fresh understanding of the old. Others see it as a sensitive understanding of the contemporary world, a reading of the signs of the times, together with an indignant denunciation of the social sins of the day and a perceptive application of Scripture to them A third view concentrates on the effect which the ministry of New Testament prophets had on their listeners, bringing unbelievers a conviction of sin an to believers upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. (1 Cor. 14:3; cf. Acts 15:32). In these three views the prophetic gift is detected in the handling of the Word of God, for one cannot think of Gods prophets in isolation from Gods Word. It is understood as a gift of insight into either the biblical text or the contemporary situation, or both, namely a powerful combination of accurate exposition and pertinent application. John R. W. Stott, The Message of Ephesians, p. 162 The word evangelist (euaggelistes) means one who declares the good news. All Christian are under obligation to help declare the gospel and thus are called upon to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). The gift of an evangelist as described by Paul is bestowed only upon some and therefore must be something different. There are some who maintain that these were a type of deputy to the apostles appointed to serve on behalf of the apostles (Acts 6:11ff). According to this view, they were, like the apostles and prophets, part of the inaugural life of the New Testament church and we should not expect them to reappear in the church today. This seems by others to be unnecessarily narrow in its view. The gift of evangelism may refer to the gift of evangelistic preaching, or of making the gospel particularly plain and relevant to unbelievers, or of helping timid people take the plunge of commitment to Christ, or of effective personal witnessing, etc. Pastors (poimen shepherd) and teachers (didaskalos instructor) may refer to the same ministry with dual functions, because the definite article is not repeated. Pastors (that is, shepherds) are called upon to tend Gods flock. They do so in particular by feeding it, that is by teaching them the Word of God. It is important to note that all of these gifts to the church focus on the ministry of Gods Word. Nothing is more necessary for the building up of Gods church in every age, says Stott, than an ample supply of

God-gifted teachers. Through the preaching and application of the truth of Gods Word the church is built up and brought to maturity. 2. The verb to equip (or to prepare) was used in the medical world of restoring limbs or to describe the fishermen/disciples getting their nets ready (cleaned and repaired) for the next days fishing. How does this help us understand the function of evangelists, pastors and teachers?

Evangelists, pastors and teachers (building on the foundation laid by apostles and prophets) minister to the body primarily through the preaching and teaching of the Word. The imagery of restoring limbs and cleaning and repairing nets helps us understand their role. These varied ministries of Gods Word restore lives to spiritual health and strength and prepare them for service in the body and in the community. Churches where the Word is expounded and applied in the power of the Spirit become hospitals for the sick and a training field to build up spiritual strength and stamina. The ministry of the Word heals, cleanses and transforms sinful and broken lives. The result is that believers are built up in unity, knowledge of Christ and spiritual stature until they together reach spiritual maturity. In this way they are prepared to do the work of ministry. 3. How do these verses support the vision of an every-member ministry?

The purpose of God gifting the church is to equip Gods people for the work of ministry for building up the body of Christ (RSV). The word ministry (diakonia) is used here not to describe the work of pastors but the work of all Gods people without exception. Ministry is not limited to clergy, but is the privileged calling of all the people of God. In the New Testament, the pastors do not jealously guard all ministry and successfully stamp out all lay initiatives. Rather, pastors help and encourage all Gods people to discover, develop and exercise their gifts. Notice Ephesians 4:7. Each member of the body has been given a grace by Christ to benefit and build up the body. The teaching and training of the pastors is directed to this endto enable the people of God to be a servant people, ministering humbly and actively according to their gifts in a sin-wrecked world or alienation and pain, bringing restoration and gospel peace. Pastors dont monopolize ministry, they multiply it. 4. The staff of New City is listed on the bulletin each Sunday (Senior Pastor, Pastor of Administration/Outreach, Pastor of Body Life, Director of Music in Worship, etc.). Could we list Ministers: the entire congregation? Would this be an accurate description of our church?

This is meant to be a summary questionto see if the group is understanding the thrust of the passage. End by making specific application to the group. How could they make Ministers: the entire congregation a more accurate description of New City?

Pray

Pray for the churchboth locally and more widelyin light of this passage.