LOCAL CHURCH MINISTRY CLASS 5
MIN
201 - INSTRUCTOR: LEN BALLENGER
BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION – PART 2
REVIEW FROM LAST SESSION:
[Ephesians 4:11-16] 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,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.
[I Corinthians 12:27-28] 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
The Ministry Gifts: Christ’s Provision for His Church
Brief
Definitions
1. Apostles – (foundational) Spiritual fathers, builders, governmental overseers
2. Prophets – (foundational) Spiritual architect, brings direction, correction, and vision
3. Evangelists – Called to equip the church with passion and tools to reach the lost
4. Pastors – Leaders who shepherd, called to lead and feed, affectionate embracers
5. Teachers – Leaders who bring revelation through practical application of scripture
6. Support Ministries – Those who faithfully serve or work in a focused area of ministry
7. Administrative Ministries – (deacons) Those who oversee or administrate specific functions or ministries in the church
8. Other Lay Ministries – The outworking of the general members of the body as they minister in their families, schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces
INTRODUCTION: Building on the Foundation
- Today’s leaders face overwhelming expectations, yet are hindered by unworkable systems.
- Even those with heart and skills contend with antiquated ministry methods and leadership styles patterned after business models rather than after Jesus.
- Most leaders feel alone in the fight.
- God is calling leaders in his church to come back to the foundation.
- A new spirit of hope and growth.
- An urgency of God’s mission
- A Rapidly changing ministry field.
- The Christian community has to rediscover the biblical design for spiritual leadership.
- Teams of leaders and churches of pastors will bring cities to God and empower churches to change their generation.
**NOTE: Team Ministry
[1 Thess
The Apostle Paul instructed the churches to realize the fact that there is plurality of ministry: Several ministers operating together on a peer level in the local church.
If Apostles and Prophets are the “foundation” ministry gifts of the building; then Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers are the walls, doors, windows, and roof.
Building with order: God designed order and unity for all of His Kingdom! We must discover His pattern and the identity of His gifts and build according to that pattern.
I.
The Ministry
of the Evangelist
A. “Evangelist” in the Bible
1.
Five-fold ministry gift
[Ephesians
2. The example of Philip [Acts 21:8]
3. Paul’s commission to Timothy [2 Timothy 4:5]
B. The theme of the Evangelist
1. One who brings the “Evangel” (good news)
2. Ability to teach and impart passion for the message of salvation in its most foundational form
3. Equipping the saints to reach the lost!
C. The Ministry of the Evangelist
1. Messages and methods that Win! Strong desire for people to be saved.
2. A unique ability to call in the lost. A supernatural influence to reach the hearts of those who are not saved.
3. A strong spirit of conviction resulting in repentance for both the church and the unsaved.
4.
Miracles and gifts of healing regularly accompany the
ministry of the Evangelist [1 Corinthians
5. Inspires the church to effectively share their faith with others.
D. The Identity of the Evangelist
1. Divine call and gift: “like a burning fire shut up in my bones” [Jeremiah 20:9]
2. Not
a call to the lost alone, but primarily a call to the church – to equip them
for effective soul-winning [Ephesians
3. A gift marked by great joy – Philip [Acts 8:4-8]
II.
The Ministry
of the Pastor
A. Head
of the
1. Position does not mandate gift:
2. Headship
in the church: There is a need for one
primary leader of governing elder to take the primary governmental place among
the elders, such as happened in the church at
B. Shepherd: poimen
1. The
word shepherd is only translated as “pastor” once in scripture [Ephesians
2. In many languages, such as Spanish, the word for “shepherd” and “pastor” are the same word.
3. Leading the flock of God [1 Peter 5:1-4]
4. Scripture gives clear directive to the importance of shepherds in the body of Christ.
NOTE: The primary characteristic of shepherds is that they “smell like sheep.” Ref: They Smell Like Sheep By: Dr. Lynn Anderson
5. Jesus’ pastoral identity in scripture:
1. The
Good Shepherd (1 John
2. That
Great Shepherd (Hebrews
3. Shepherd
and Bishop (1 Peter
4. Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4)
C. Calling and Purpose
1. The ministry gift of the pastor is a divine call – the method of pastoring is less important, character and obedience are more important.
2. Not based on natural ability, but on supernatural ability.
3. A pastor’s primary role is to leads and feed the flock of God – particularly as it applies to the local church.
III.
The Ministry
of the Teacher
A. The Teacher defined
1. The
teaching gift is both a Ministry Gift and a Motivational Gift. The two have some similar characteristics,
but are very different in function and application. [Ephesians
2. The ministry gift of the teacher is a unique role and ability to study,
understand, exegete, and explain scripture.
B. Teaching by the power of the Holy Spirit
1. The teacher, just like the other “five-fold” gifts, is divinely called to equip and build the church.
2. Does not merely operate by natural ability. The gift of the teacher is a supernatural ability to carry the principles of God’s Word into the hearts of men and women in the local church. It is not simply a talent to teach.
C. The Teacher imparts the fundamental principles of Christ [Hebrews 6:1-2]
1. Repentance from dead works
2. Faith toward God
3. Doctrine of Baptisms (washings)
4. Laying on of Hands
5. Resurrection from the Dead
6. Eternal Judgement
D. Revelation marks the ministry of the Teacher [Acts 13:1-3]
1. A major characteristic of a teacher is that he or she possesses a strong desire to learn.
2. A teacher must walks in humility of mind and spirit – “Knowledge puffeth up…” [1 Corinthians 8:1]
3. A teacher in function as an elder in the local church receives a “sending” revelation…
- He or she is able to recognize maturity
- He or she has a strong desire and passion to train and release