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:

I. Christ Gave Gifted Men (to the Church) to Equip the Saints

A. Apostles & prophets received & recorded the will of Christ for His Body (basis for unity)

B. Evangelists brought diverse parts together to make up a whole Body (Dr. Frankensaint)

C. Pastor-Teachers developed the maturity of the Body to the point where it could reproduce

                1. Eph 4:11 is the only place in the NT where the word pastor appears (translation of "shepherd")

                2. In the NT the task of shepherding is entrusted to elders (along with the task of bishoping/overseeing) Acts 20; 1Pt 5

                                1Pe 5:1-2...To the elders...Shepherd/pastor/feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [of it]

                                Ac 20:28 Take heed therefore...to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to shepherd/feed the flock

                3. Eldering is not a spiritual gift, but as the requirements indicate, a function of maturity, which again is not a gift, but a product of edificaton. (1Tim 3; Titus 1)

II. Saints Must Be Equipped for the Work of Ministry

A. Even though they have grace, they independently don't have what it takes to minister

                1Th 3:10 praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

                Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight

B. Equipping involves:

                                Mt 4:21 mending their nets; Lk 6:40 disciple is not above his teacher: but every one that is perfect shall be as his teacher

                Establishing basic health and fitness (fix what's broken or out of place)

                Qaracter Building and Strengthening (endurance)

                Understanding and Skill impartation and development

                Instilling Christ's Values and Motivation

                Positioning together for maximal teamwork (Corporate reorganization)

III. Ministry is the Work of Edifying/Building of the Body {cf. 2:10}

A. Ministry is the work of serving that causes others to become more like Christ  - Using the grace of God, the word of God and the love of God to produce the will of God in others (meet their needs). {See 4:15-16}

                Lk 10:40 Martha cumbered about much serving/ministry; Ac 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Ac 11:29       disciples, according to ability, determined to send relief/ministry to the brethren who dwelt in Judaea: 2Co 5:18...given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

B. Individual edification is not an end in itself, but an enabling for service of others

                Ro 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another.

                Ro 15:2 Let every one of us please [his] neighbour for [his] good to edification.

C. A Biblically equipped Body builds up itself and reproduces independently of the gifted men. {See 4:16, 29}

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Can you give a couple of personal or observed examples of ministry or how a Body is built up?

2. What was necessary for those things to occur?

3. What keeps the believers from using the grace God's given them to build up the Body?

4. What do you need to use/better utilize the grace God's given you for building up the Body?

5. Why don't folks have the same attitude toward the work of ministry as toward the WORK of career?