Gifts and Ministries

by Missionary | Aug 16, 2021 | Bible, Simple Bible Truth

Gifts and Ministries

Gifts & Ministries

This blog is part three of a ten-part series on the church. We are going to take a brief look at the gifts and ministries given to the whole church and all believers, compared to certain roles of leadership that are given to only some, which we will look at in the following videos.

Have you ever asked yourself or even God, what your purpose in this life is and in the church? Or perhaps, what gifts you have been given?

We must understand and distinguish gifts and ministries given to the whole ekklesia, men, and women alike, and roles or “offices” established within local churches.

Gifts & Ministries Benefit the Church

First of all, GIFTS & MINISTRIES are given to the church, to each member of the body (not to a member of an organization). The Bible tells us that we can and should desire gifts, but ultimately, God or Jesus gives them, we don’t take them or just study to gain a new skill. The purpose of these gifts and ministries is for the benefit of the body, to equip the saints for works of ministry, and to build up the body of Christ. The purpose is to attain unity, knowledge of the son of God, and be a mature believer, that is, to be like Jesus.

There are spiritual gifts and ministries given to individuals in the church. God or Jesus gives them, we don’t decide what gift we will have, unlike how one would decide to be an elder or overseer. These gifts are God’s spirit manifested in all the people, the church, for the benefit of the whole church, all the people.

The Gifts

The GIFTS given are:

Message of wisdom
Message of knowledge
Faith
Gifts of healing
Performance of miracles
Prophecy
Discernment of spirits
Different kinds of languages
Interpretation of languages

The Ministries

Paul tells us that those members many consider less, are to be clothed with greater honor and dignity. The presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member,so that there may be no division in the body, and that there would be mutual concern for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

The goal is maturity and unity!

The MINISTRIES given are:

first apostles
second prophets
third teachers
then miracles
gifts of healing, helps
gifts of leadership
different kinds of tongues

Be Transformed & Serve

Again, we are told to be eager for the greater gifts. We can yearn for them, but God or Jesus still gives them.

Therefore, I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

We are called to service and transformation!

Use Your Gifts & Ministries to the Fullest

For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another. And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach; if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3-8)

We must use each gift we are give to its fullest with all that we have!

Christ’s Gifts

Ephesians 4 talks about gifts given to “men” (Anthropos), that is mankind, meaning to both genders.

444 (anthrōpos) relates to both genders (male and female) as both are created in the image of God – each equally vested with individual personhood and destiny (cf. Gal 3:28). Accordingly, the Bible uses 444 (ánthrōpos) of a specific man, woman, or class (type, group) of people – i.e. mankind in general (inclusive of every man, woman and child; see also 1 Cor 11:7). (435 /anḗr specifically refers to a male and 1135 /gynḗ to a female.)

It is according to Christ’s gift what and how much is given. The gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 are:

Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers

Equip the Saints

The PURPOSE of these five gifts in the church is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature (to help us all become like Christ, living and serving as Christ did!)

As each one does its part, the body builds itself up in love. There is an order, as we do our part or use our gift, then the body is built up in love. Love is not just a feeling or an emotion. We must work together for one another and when we do this, the world will see Christ and we will grow up into Christ who is the head of the church (Ephesians 4:12-16).

All are Given Gifts and Ministries

The whole church is involved in this. It is not just for a select few or for those in offices of leadership. In order to have a healthy church, each member must be ministering to others with his or her gifts.

In part four we will take a look at the offices of elders, overseers and deacons.

Jesus’ Ekklesia

by Missionary | Aug 9, 2021 | Bible, Simple Bible Truth

Jesus’ Ekklesia

This blog is part one of a ten-part series on the church. We will explore the church and the believers that make up the church, and how the local body should function biblically. I will list the passages of Scripture in the description below that I reference throughout this series.

Questions about the Ekklesia

Have you ever wondered if women should be pastors or elders? Or who can, or should, teach and manifest the other gifts given to the church? Or, what should a healthy church look like today?

There are many questions people ask today and we must seek our answers in Scripture, not according to traditions or what the “church” has evolved into, today.

The True Church – People

I would like to propose that we take a fresh look at the church from Scripture, the church as God’s people, compared to the organization that is has become today. Please be a Berean and search to see if what I am saying is true.

Unfortunately, most people today equate a “church” with a building, a denomination, or an organization. The church in Scripture is the people. There is a global church (ekklesia), that includes all believers all over the world and Christ is the head. Then there are many local churches/ekklesia, where Christ is still the head, but he has delegated headship to local leaders and gives them authority to “govern,” protect, and keep order in the specific body for the well-being of that “ekklesia.”

Gifts, Ministries, & Offices

We will take a look as we go as to who biblically has been called to these positions and what the qualifications are for this role in the church. We will also consider other aspects of church life in regards to gifts and ministries and believers in general because they are what makes up the church.

1577 ekklēsía(from 1537 /ek, “out from and to” and 2564 /kaléō, “to call”) – properly, people called out from the world and to God.

One Body, Many Parts

We are one body, yet there are parts of that body that meet in different places, like the church in Corinth, the churches in Asia, or the church that meets in Nympha’s house. And we know where two or three are gathered, the Lord is there (Matthew 18:20), even with the church that meets online!

In Christ Jesus we are all sons of God through faith and heirs of the Kingdom. When we are baptized into Christ, we have clothed ourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for all are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-29).

Equality

In regards to worth, faith, and salvation, all believers are equal. Having appointed elders in local churches, or appointed leadership in a family, does not change that fact. Consider, during the millennial Kingdom, people will be appointed to different places of leadership and ministry. Will we be complaining then or fighting what will be instituted? Headship or leadership should not be taken as something negative or demeaning.

The First Will Be Last

We see from the discussion with James and John’s mother with Jesus, that the answer is simple, God has chosen some people for certain positions in the Kingdom, and for various Kingdom roles, so why would it be odd to have designated roles today to keep things running smoothly and to be as effective as possible?

Jesus’ disciples even argued over who was the greatest. But Jesus told them if you want to be elevated, you must be willing to humble yourself to all. If you want to be first, you must be willing to be last and put other people first. You are there to serve, not to rule over people.

Local Leadership

Not simply those using their gift of leadership in the church in various ways, but those that take on local leadership roles, have greater responsibility and will have to give an account as to how they served in the office they held.

The Bible, I believe, says that men are appointed to elder/overseer positions in the local churches (elder/overseer and deacon). I will discuss this further in subsequent videos, but it should not be on a “women’s rights” agenda to disprove for the sake of “equality.”

Leadership is Beneficial, But it Doesn’t Have to Be You

When you join a club or another organization, do you feel less of a member just because you are not serving as president over all the organization, or do you enjoy what they have to offer and contribute as you are able?

We all know that when people come together there tends to be differences, and having a peacemaker and leader is beneficial for all.

Jesus is the Head of the Ekklesia, But All Must Serve

So, to lay the foundation of the church we must recognize that even though God set Jesus up as the head of the church, and in local bodies positions of leadership for the benefit of the church, every member of the church is equal in worth and salvation, and every member is called to serve with his or her gifts.

In part two we will focus on the fact that God’s spirit is given to all believers, no matter their gender or position in the church, and will consider how God still instituted headship for the care and well-being of His people