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Ephesians 4:11-12
It was he (Jesus Christ) who gave some as Apostles, some as Prophets, some as Evangelists, and some as Shepherds and Teachers, in order to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ.

This week, we will consider the last three types of people given to us by Christ to equip us all for the work of ministry: the Evangelists, the Shepherds and the Teachers. These people build on the work of the Apostles and Prophets, cultivating their work in our daily lives. 

Today, we conclude our discussion of the Apostles and Prophets by thinking about the questions that these people raise for the Church as a whole.

 Ephesians 2:19–22
…you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 2:20 because you have been built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

In Ephesians, Paul presents The Church, the household of God, as a building that is being built up with “living stones” of people (see 1 Peter 2:4-5 for a similar image). As he says in the passage above, this building is built on the “foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.” Without a doubt, the Apostles and Prophets lay the “foundation” of the whole ministry of the Church. 

Today, we take a very brief survey of the role that Prophets played throughout the Scriptures. It is important to understand the basic functions of this gifted role before we can understand the role of these people within the Church.

Ephesians 4:11-12
It was He (Jesus Christ) who gave some as Apostles, some as Prophets, some as Evangelists, and some as Shepherds and Teachers, in order to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ.

This week, we are going to continue to look at Ephesians 4, particularly what it teaches us about the gifted people that Christ has given to equip us. Ephesians 4 is a significant passage that connects Jesus’ discipleship mandate in the Great Commission of Matthew 28 with the mission of the Church. This mission is founded on the ministries of the Apostles and Prophets. All that we do as followers of Christ is catalyzed by Apostolic Vision and Mission and Prophetic Passion and Direction. 

1 Timothy 3:14–15
… I am writing these instructions to you… to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

This week we have been considering the way the Scriptures define both The Church and The Body of Christ. As we move forward with all these truths and ideas, we might need to reorient our thinking in a significant way. In our times, most people think in terms of “going” to church. We often think of it as a place or destination or building. From what we have seen and heard so far, it is clear that the Scriptures define The Church (and so the churches) in terms of people and our identity. Because of this, we—as Christ’s people—should think more in terms of BEING the Church. 

One of the most significant truths that we all need to know is that Father God has completely qualified us to serve as Priests in His “New Temple.” We have been 1) chosen, 2) called, 3) set apart, 4) clothed, and 5) anointed spiritually in Christ in order to serve.