They say a picture paints a thousand words; likewise, without using many words, this work by David details the 5-fold ministry gifts of the church and lays a foundation for a much-needed discussion concerning apostolic reform. Projecting a vision that honors the gifts God has placed in others and activating them in the framework of a relational team reinforces the supernatural origins of the 5-Fold.
History reveals that "small unknowns" have both challenged and defeated giants. While this mini-book may look small, it contains revelation of a topic that can topple non-relational, institutionalized religion, which has held relational power-infused Christianity captive for centuries.
— Daryl Nicolet, Sr. Leader, Faith Worship Center, Pepperell, MA
The journey of every Christian is not only personal, but it is unique. My walk with Christ began when I met the living God in July of 1978 and was later baptized in the Holy Spirit in the fall of 1983. Over the decades I have read hundreds of books and listened to thousands of speakers, preachers, and teachers.
From the first time I saw someone supernaturally healed at a meeting, I desired the supernatural gifts of God. I came to the conclusion that if the works of God were simply a small series of coincidences and natural events, having faith was going to take something much more significant than my rational mind would accept.
In 1998, I started studying the Bible's gift lists found in Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-14, and Ephesians 4:11. At the time, they all seemed of the same variety—three lists with some overlapping gifts.
You might ask, "Why does Christianity need another book?" None of the existing teachings are aimed at the average believer. Most of the teaching on Ephesians 4 is a call to change leadership models that may or may not be working. Others are narrowly focused and isolate the average Christian from leadership, unintentionally creating a mystical divide.
This book is intended to help Christians begin to see the church as a living, breathing organism that completely expresses the fullness of Christ and gives personal significance to everyone in it.
It is my hope that you will be empowered to do greater things for God while allowing those around you to support your weaknesses with complementary giftings as you work together for the cause of Christ.
We have all read the scripture in Ephesians 4:11, which explains the existence of 5 functional roles that present a complete picture of Christ. For many, the precise function of a role can seem difficult to understand. There is additional confusion on how leadership should function. Before delving deeper, let's examine common statements about church life:
"I want to serve God; somehow I never seem to fit in."
"No one seems to be getting saved anymore."
"I love the church, but I want to be used more!"
"I can't seem to find a place for my gifting."
"There is no room for me in church, so I will start my own ministry."
"I feel like a spectator."
Maybe you've said something like that at some point in your walk with Jesus. It is not negative to look at where we are and where we may be going. Each one of us has something to give.
First we must settle the fact that this passage uses nouns, while the church often uses a mixture of nouns and adjectives. In this passage there are 5 plural nouns which infer a scope of functioning. They are not job descriptions. They are functional roles or gifts given to the church of Jesus Christ, providing foundation, leadership, and ongoing ministerial support. They are not vocations. They are not titles. They are not positions that submit to other positions.
These functions are activated by love and given authority by grace. You are what God called you to be, or you are not.
The person whom God chooses to fill one of the five functional roles always possesses additional spiritual gifts and abilities. Five-fold ministers are always equippers—they teach and train believers to carry out their own ministry. The apostle and prophet are foundational roles, whereas the pastor, teacher, and evangelist function on top of the foundation set in place by the apostle and prophet, of which Christ is the cornerstone.
No one of these gifts is more important or subordinate to the others. Together they form a complete picture of Jesus. As one, they do the work Jesus did prior to his ascension and will until He comes again.
Jesus Himself is the premier expression of each of these five functions:
Bible scholars often feel that the more something is mentioned, the more important it is to God:
The Bible speaks of New Testament apostles, prophets, or teachers a combined total of at least 200 times. Pastors and evangelists are mentioned a combined total of about 20 times. Throughout the centuries, the apostle and prophet have been largely excluded or ignored in various church models.
When your car is making an unusual noise, you take it to someone who can repair it. You see a doctor when you're sick. When you're in emotional pain, you might see a therapist. Most Christians are smart enough to know when something is wrong.
The question is, what do you do when your church has no passion, every new vision seems to be the same old thing, every sermon is one you've already heard, and you are lacking meaningful relationships? If you are like most Christians, you go to another church, meet a few hopeful friends, and start the cycle of disappointment all over again.
Even in vibrant churches, and sometimes those in all-out revival, the spiritual structure does not seem to be able to sustain church growth. May I suggest that many churches subscribe to traditional church structures that are more corporate (business-like) than biblical?
The church's mission is "to go into all the world and make disciples" (Mark 16:15), so we must divide that into five functional roles:
Together, these "someones" work as a team to equip all the church for the purpose of both unity and the spread of the Gospel. Paul said that the prophets and the apostles were foundational (Ephesians 2:20), with only Christ, the Cornerstone, more important.
There are three main gift lists in the Bible, often referred to in gift assessment questionnaires:
The 5-fold list in Ephesians 4 are the functional roles—called the Ascension gifts, given to train and equip the church. They are the gifts of Jesus, the apostolic deposit. They are identifiable functions and actually a sort of spiritual DNA or identity.
For many gifts and manifestations, there seem to be three levels, as identified by Mike Bickle:
The 5-Fold gifts are structural gifts (callings) for the global church. The pastor is the central figure in the local church leadership. However, the authority of God rests in the corporate functioning of the 5-Fold, working in unison—no one calling standing taller than another.
The local church does not require a resident apostle and prophet. These callings are more often "sent" with an itinerant aspect. The Greek word apóstolos means "one who is sent out." What is important is that the local church invites apostles and prophets to bring revelation, impartation, and teaching.
The point of having ministry and service gifts is so that we have spiritual tools with which we can supernaturally love others as Christ loves the church.
A man came into a photography store with expensive pearl-finish business cards reading "Professional Photographer—specializing in weddings." He used department store film in a 35mm camera. The pictures were awful.
The very same week, another man came in—jeans, long unkempt hair. He laid six 4"x5" color slides on the light table. They were astounding. He had no card, no title, and nothing about his looks gave a clue about what he did. It was simply the fruit of his craft.
That is what the kingdom of God is like—quietly but powerfully bearing extraordinary fruit. Your gift and the fruit of your ministry are far more important than what is written on your business card.
Click each segment to explore the role in depth—its function, dilemmas, and how it fits the body of Christ.
Working together to expand the Kingdom of God, apostles and prophets place and preserve the foundation of the church, whose head is Christ, the chief Cornerstone. Their vision, warfare, prayer, revelation, and declarations put in place the ability for local and "city" churches to complete the work of the Gospel.
The pastors, teachers, and evangelists not only invest in bringing others to Christ but also disciple them too. These three pour out healing and wholeness, provide accountability, love, training, and counsel, as well as encourage believers in their gifts in the local expression.
1. Apostles govern; task-focused. Graced according to the measure of Christ's gift, apostles are master builders who lay the foundation of Christ in the lives of people. Their objective is to see a church come forth in every city/region that is a many-membered functional body doing the work of Christ.
2. Prophets guide; word-focused. Standing alongside apostles in the foundation of the church, prophets keep the church moving in a manner consistent with the revealed word of God. When properly linked with governing apostles, there is a powerful grace to guide the church toward her destiny.
3. Evangelists gather; soul-focused. Passionate for the conversion of people to Christ, evangelists preach the gospel of the kingdom (often with signs and wonders), heal the sick, cast out demons, and equip the saints to do the work of the evangelist.
4. Pastors guard; people-focused. Shepherds often struggle to maintain the vision due to their deep concern for the well-being and safety of the people they serve. Today's reformation process will align true shepherds where they will be freed from trying to do what God gave others to do.
5. Teachers ground; detail-focused. Appointed third in order by God, teachers put the meat on the bones provided through the revelation ministries of apostles and prophets, providing the body with the specifics of apostolic doctrine.
— Adapted from "The Fruit of Apostolic Ministry" by Don Atkin, lifemessenger.org
A church that relies on just one man/woman is going to be a lopsided and crippled expression of the presentation of Jesus:
It is essential that an apostolic/prophetic foundation be laid so that pastors, teachers, and evangelists can work together for a balanced local ministry that creates gifted disciples for Christ.
Some years ago I had a dream. The Lord simply gave me the word "Antioch." What He was trying to show me was that in the book of Acts there was a rich history describing the working of the spirit-filled church of the 1st century.
The church was planted after the persecution of Stephen in Jerusalem.
Acts 11:19The church was evangelistic, having outreaches to the Greeks.
Acts 11:20Paul and Barnabas (the Greek "sent one") oversaw it for about a year.
Acts 11:22–24Prophets from Jerusalem went there to minister.
Acts 11:27The new church had apostolic, prophetic, and teaching gifts operating.
Acts 13:1This was the church that "sent" Paul out—the first missionary movement.
Acts 13:2–3It was a well-known center with the ENTIRE 5-fold ministry operating in it for the first year. Apostles and prophets should move on once a local church has a solid foundation on which pastoring, evangelism, and teaching are in place.
In the end, the local church must have pastoring, teaching, and evangelism so that it will not become a Dead Sea. Every church needs an inflow of unbelievers that get saved, become discipled, and then are released into their destiny and ministry.
Three distinct gift lists serve different purposes in the Body of Christ. Click any gift to expand its biblical description.
The journey of the church through centuries of revival, decline, and renewal—and the gradual restoration of the 5-Fold.
Click each section to expand the full teaching content.