For the last few weeks we have briefly discussed the functions of the five equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11. Now we will proceed to discuss their purpose in a little more depth, which is stated as being “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). So what does it mean to “equip” the saints?

We often think of equipping as teaching but it is more than that. It is even more than training,...

The teacher is the last of the five equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11, but it is foundational for all of the other ministries. To equip others will require teaching as well as training and impartation. However, the teaching ministry is one that focuses on imparting the knowledge of God’s ways, especially as revealed through the Scriptures, by the Spirit.

As with the ministry of the pastor, we do not have a New Testament example of one who was exclusively a teacher, though we have in Acts 13:1 a list of five men who were “prophets and teachers.” Obviously...

In our study of the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4:11, our next ministry is the pastor.

Last week we discussed that there were over twenty people in the New Testament who are referred to as apostles, only a couple who are referred to as prophets, and only one who is called an evangelist—Philip. We do not have a single person in the New Testament who is called a pastor. This verse, Ephesians 4:11, is the only place in the New Testament where this ministry is even mentioned. This leads us to a very important question. How did this ministry,...

This week we are continuing our study of the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4:1, and will take a brief look at the ministry of the evangelist.

In the New Testament, there are over twenty people referred to as apostles, only a few who are referred to as prophets, and only one who is called an evangelist—Philip (see Acts 21:8). Timothy was instructed by Paul to “do the work of an evangelist” (II Timothy 4:5), but was never called an evangelist.

The Greek word that is translated in these verses “evangelist,” is...

Last week we began our study of the equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4 with a brief overview of the apostolic ministry. This week we will continue with the next ministry that is mentioned—the prophets. Of course, the best we can do in such a short format is very superficial, but we will highlight some of each of these ministries.

As we discussed in relation to the apostle, we may perform all the functions of the apostolic ministry at times, but that does not make us an apostle. Likewise, we may be used to prophesy, but that does not...