LESSON 23
THE FIVE MINISTRY GIFTS FOR THE CHURCH
EPHESIANS 4:11
1. What are the five ministry gifts for the Church? (Ephesians 4:11).
2. What threefold purpose do they serve? (verse 12).
THE APOSTLES
3. What is the meaning of the word “Apostle?”
Ans. The word “Apostle” is derived from the Greek word “Apostolos”, which means “one that is sent” or a delegate , an ambassador of the gospel, a commissioner of Christ (with miraculous power), one sent to minister to. (see Galatians 2:8).
4. What is the office of an Apostle? (Matthew 10:1-8; 1 Peter 1:1; Romans 11: 13; 1:11).
5. How are Apostles ordained? (Matthew 10:1; Galatians 1: 1; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
6. What is the sign of an Apostle? (2 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Corinthians 9:2; Matthew 10:1; Acts 5:12).
7. What are the duties of an Apostle:
(a) impart spiritual gifts – (Romans 1:11; Acts 8: 14-17);
(b) Establish new Churches – (Acts 19: 1-6);
(c) Confirm the believes in the faith – (Acts 14:22); 15:41
Note: The word “confirm” used here is not the same as in Mar 16:20. In Acts, the Greek word is “episterizo” meaning to further establish, to strengthen; whereas in Mark, the word is “Bebaioc” meaning to establish (initially).
8. What is the difference between an Apostle and a Pastor?
Ans. The word “Pastor is only found once in the New Testament (Ephesians 4: 11) and is no doubt the same as the office of the “Elders” (Titus 1:7; 1 Timothy 3:1; Acts 20;17; 1 Peter 5:1, etc..) the “Bishops” (Titus 1:7; Timothy 3:1; Phil 1:1) and the Overseers (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5: 1-2). All the above scriptures would indicate that
the Pastors duties are within the local church But this does not mean that a Pastor could not also be an Apostle, or a Prophet, or a Teacher etc. But there are specific qualifications and duties of a Pastor that would not necessarily apply to the other ministries.
9. What is the difference between the 12 Apostles and the subsequent Apostles called of God?
Matthew 10:1, 5; Acts 1:22; Revelation 21: 14
Note: It is obvious that Jesus had a special ministry for the original 12 Apostles. They were to be the personal eyewitnesses of his earthly ministry. They formed he foundation of that Christian church at Jerusalem. Their ministry was exclusively to the “Lost sheep of the house of Israel”. God had a special plan and programme for the Jews in the early days of the Christian church. The 12 Apostles were called to perform this plan. They had the commission to preach the gospel of the kingdom to the twelve tribes of Israel thus fulfilling God’s plan for the “Election” (Romans 11: 5-
6). This was the Sealing of the 144,000 (Revelation 7: 1-). According to the scriptures there was to be 12,000 sealed from each tribe. No other time in history could this be fulfilled except in the early history of the primitive church. The record in Acts shows tremendous revivals with thousands of Jews being saved (Acts 2: 41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7;14:1). When God’s [plan for the news was fulfilled the gospel was carried to all nations, even Jews could be grated into the olive tree and there seems to be an overlapping of Jewish and Gentile dispensations. The names of the 12 Apostles will be immortalised on the walls of the HolyCity (Revelation: 21: 14). So no one else can fill the position of the original 12 Apostles but the office of an Apostle continued in the Church as the scriptures above amply prove.
