Where is the five fold ministry?

[Sister Alvear]

amen...

[Michael]

[onefaith2]

Sam I really enjoyed the in depth article you wrote. I have also read that about the hand and quite agree with it.

Its sad that ABI would teach cessessionist doctrine. I believe they are alive today! Many may not even know the office they may be called to. I however do believe only the ministry fulfills the office. The gifts of the Spirit however work within the body but the ministry has a special office calling IMO.

[Aquila]

It's my understanding that those fulfilling the ministry of Apostle are those we call Missionaries.

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by Aquila

It's my understanding that those fulfilling the ministry of Apostle are those we call Missionaries.

To a large extent...

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

Ephesians 4 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:


Many churches recognize pastors, evangelists, teachers, and of course the select are known as prophets in apostolic ranks. However that is only four. Where is the office of the apostle? Has it ceased? Can anyone be called to that office today? If so, do you know anyone who you would truly consider an apostle?

How many church confuse the office with the 9 spiritual gifts today?

I’d like to address something. These “ministries” are often thought of as “offices”. But if you look closely… they are “ministries” of the body and for the body. In the first century church Christians didn’t have the concepts we have with “offices”. An Apostle was one that took the Gospel to a previously unreached region. A prophet was one anointed to speak the prophetic Word of the Lord and to deliver the Word of God anointedly. The Evangelist was any brother or sister who shared the Gospel rather it be by traveling church to church or just sharing in the market place. Those called to pastor spiritually mentored the flock, teaching Scripture, and building strong relational bonds. Teachers labored in the Word to teach doctrine. The average gathering was roughly 15 to 30 people in a house. Out of that 15 to 30 people you might have 10 gifted in the ministry of “pastor” and these mentored the flock together. All were called to be evangelists. You might have some feeling called to unreached regions. Two might specialize in doctrine. And three might be gifted in the gift of prophecy. There weren’t “offices” as we might think of them. It appears that “elders” were those who were spiritually mature in each gathering and that they worked together and in harmony, guiding and building up the flock. It was more like community… not a corporation. They called themselves Brother and Sister not as some form of “title”… but because they truly saw the church as a family. That being said, it was guided like a family.

Just had to drop that in here.

God bless.

[onefaith2]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I’d like to address something. These “ministries” are often thought of as “offices”. But if you look closely… they are “ministries” of the body and for the body. In the first century church Christians didn’t have the concepts we have with “offices”. An Apostle was one that took the Gospel to a previously unreached region. A prophet was one anointed to speak the prophetic Word of the Lord and to deliver the Word of God anointedly. The Evangelist was any brother or sister who shared the Gospel rather it be by traveling church to church or just sharing in the market place. Those called to pastor spiritually mentored the flock, teaching Scripture, and building strong relational bonds. Teachers labored in the Word to teach doctrine. The average gathering was roughly 15 to 30 people in a house. Out of that 15 to 30 people you might have 10 gifted in the ministry of “pastor” and these mentored the flock together. All were called to be evangelists. You might have some feeling called to unreached regions. Two might specialize in doctrine. And three might be gifted in the gift of prophecy. There weren’t “offices” as we might think of them. It appears that “elders” were those who were spiritually mature in each gathering and that they worked together and in harmony, guiding and building up the flock. It was more like community… not a corporation. They called themselves Brother and Sister not as some form of “title”… but because they truly saw the church as a family. That being said, it was guided like a family.

Just had to drop that in here.

God bless.

The office of the apostle and prophet was clearly outlined in the early church quite well. Philip was labeled cleary as an evangelist. However Pastor and teacher was not it seems.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

Sam I really enjoyed the in depth article you wrote. I have also read that about the hand and quite agree with it.

Its sad that ABI would teach cessessionist doctrine. I believe they are alive today! Many may not even know the office they may be called to. I however do believe only the ministry fulfills the office. The gifts of the Spirit however work within the body but the ministry has a special office calling IMO.

part of that article was a quote from an article I found online some where.
it was not all mine.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I’d like to address something. These “ministries” are often thought of as “offices”. But if you look closely… they are “ministries” of the body and for the body. In the first century church Christians didn’t have the concepts we have with “offices”. An Apostle was one that took the Gospel to a previously unreached region. A prophet was one anointed to speak the prophetic Word of the Lord and to deliver the Word of God anointedly. The Evangelist was any brother or sister who shared the Gospel rather it be by traveling church to church or just sharing in the market place. Those called to pastor spiritually mentored the flock, teaching Scripture, and building strong relational bonds. Teachers labored in the Word to teach doctrine. The average gathering was roughly 15 to 30 people in a house. Out of that 15 to 30 people you might have 10 gifted in the ministry of “pastor” and these mentored the flock together. All were called to be evangelists. You might have some feeling called to unreached regions. Two might specialize in doctrine. And three might be gifted in the gift of prophecy. There weren’t “offices” as we might think of them. It appears that “elders” were those who were spiritually mature in each gathering and that they worked together and in harmony, guiding and building up the flock. It was more like community… not a corporation. They called themselves Brother and Sister not as some form of “title”… but because they truly saw the church as a family. That being said, it was guided like a family.

Just had to drop that in here.

God bless.

Thank you.
Some times it's hard for us in the U.S. in 2010 to realize that the way we "do church" today is so different from those early believers.

[james34]

the Bible does not teach about a 5 fold ministry,it teaches the gifts of the spirit for the edification of the body.