God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

LESSON 2: LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES IN THE CHURCH 1. THE FIVE LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES THAT CHRIST GAVE THE CHURCH ARE: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12. 2. WHY ARE THESE FIVE MINISTRIES KNOWN AS THE "ASCENSION GIFT MINISTRIES"? As the text in Ephesians 4 indicates, these ministries are the gifts of the Lord Jesus Christ to His Church. The Lord Jesus could bestow these "gifts" as a direct result of His ascending from the earth to Heaven again. 3. CHRIST HAD A SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN GIVING THESE MINISTRIES TO THE CHURCH. Christ gave these basic, ascension gift ministries to the Church for her perfection, edification and strengthening. "For the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the Body of Christ." Ephesians 4:12, R.V. 4. WE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE THESE MINISTRIES IN THE CHURCH TODAY! These are days of spiritual restoration. Without these vital ministries the Church can never come into complete perfection. These ministries are a part of Christ's program and covenant; therefore, we can expect all of these ministries to function in the Church of the last days. The Church is now in the upward swing of restoration out of the tradition of the Dark Ages. She is being restored to the original apostolic power and glory as in the beginning.

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