Spiritual Practices: Keyword Listing
Keyword listing is a method of observational Bible study. It doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or training. You can read more about the process of keyword listing here. You can choose any word or short phrase to study using keyword listing. For this passage, we suggest the following keyword(s) to start your study.
Starting Points
Keyword listing is a method of observational Bible study. It doesn’t require any special skills, tools, or training. You can read more about the process of keyword listing here. You can choose any word or short phrase to study using keyword listing. For this passage, we suggest the following keyword(s) to start your study.
Starting Points
- One - In a world full of division, focus on the things that unite us as followers of Jesus
Exploring the Text: Gifts to the Church
Every business or organization has a plan, vision statements and mission statements. The Church is no different. Our mission is spelled out in Matthew 28:19. That is the great commission, to evangelize the world. This Ephesians passage deals with how that is accomplished and gives us some vision.
Verse 11 of this passage gives the “job descriptions” of the church's workers. The staff includes: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Each of these have a specific role, different from the others. Their basic callings (job descriptions) are as follows:
The goal of this church staff is to equip the saints for ministry, and to build up the body of Christ. Their job is not to do all the work in the church, but rather to give other Christians the opportunity for ministry. They are in place to train others so that all can be ministered to. This builds up the body of Christ and allows for the evangelization of the world to take place.
Rick Heinrich
Every business or organization has a plan, vision statements and mission statements. The Church is no different. Our mission is spelled out in Matthew 28:19. That is the great commission, to evangelize the world. This Ephesians passage deals with how that is accomplished and gives us some vision.
Verse 11 of this passage gives the “job descriptions” of the church's workers. The staff includes: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Each of these have a specific role, different from the others. Their basic callings (job descriptions) are as follows:
- Apostles are commissioners for Christ, they are ambassadors of the Gospel.
- Prophets are inspired foretellers, they are to speak forth words of wisdom and future events given to them by God.
- Evangelists are preachers of the “good news” of the gospel, they are soul winners.
- Pastors are the shepherd of the flock, they are to oversee congregations.
- Teachers are entrusted with instructing saints with the Word of God.
The goal of this church staff is to equip the saints for ministry, and to build up the body of Christ. Their job is not to do all the work in the church, but rather to give other Christians the opportunity for ministry. They are in place to train others so that all can be ministered to. This builds up the body of Christ and allows for the evangelization of the world to take place.
Rick Heinrich