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Ephesians 4:11-16 “And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

This is generally called the five-fold ministry. In Scripture, “apostle” refers to an office. There are two apostolic offices: elder and deacon. Don’t confuse these two offices with local elders and deacons. In Scripture, we see Paul, a traveling elder, directing the work of traveling deacons such as Timothy. They are similar offices, but the scope is different. Apostles travel from church to church. Scripture says these traveling elders and deacons receive a living from the offerings of the church members. Prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are ministries. This becomes harder to understand since local elders pastor (care for as a shepherd) the local church members.

to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

This is the gradual transformation process that’s all over Scripture. It will come to completeness at one point. The fleshly nature will not be a problem then. Sickness and death will be things of the past. It becomes obvious that this maturing process isn’t an individual walk. We walk as a body. May the church come into conformity with the Holy Spirit.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

That’s maturity. Christ is fully formed within. The flesh has lost all power. It appears, from other Scriptures, this may be associated with the redemption of our bodies.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.

The church was not designed to have one minister or a ministry team that sits in the front to minister to the people in the audience. It’s a body that builds itself up in love. The elders’ main job is to make sure every member is entering into his or her ministry to the fullest. It changes the nature of the church service to look like 1 Corinthians 14.

Ask God to answer these questions.

1. What does it mean for you to mature into the “full measure of the stature of Christ”?
2. Why do you need to grow together as a part of the body and not alone?
3. What does it mean for you to speak the truth in love?
4. How does the church “build itself up in love”?
5. Why isn’t the church supposed to have just one minister doing everything?

Bonus questions:

1. What does 1 Corinthians 14 say about what a church service should look like?
2. What is the difference between a traveling elder and a local elder?
3. How do prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers help the church?
4. What is the five-fold ministry?
5. What is an apostle?

Keep in mind that God doesn’t want you to ever disconnect from Him. He wants to flow through you constantly in knowledge, wisdom, and love.

1. Pray for the Lord to protect you and keep you in His presence and His presence only.
2. Direct your mind toward the Lord only.
3. Ask God what He want’s to talk about.
4. You can ask God any questions. In all of this, be led by the Holy Spirit. God promises that He will answer you if you ask Him.
5. Do not edit or change what God says even if you don’t understand it.
6. Reject the lies and receive the truth.
7. Take notes.
8. Transfer your notes to your journal without editing what God said to you.

Keep in mind that God doesn’t want you to ever disconnect from Him. He wants to flow through you constantly in knowledge, wisdom, and love.

Additional Reading

Your Metamorphosis

The Church