Foundations of Christian Leadership, Student Workbook, SW07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

A Theological Overview of the Equipping Gifts Described in Ephesians 4.11 (continued)

B. Relevant Theological Quotes

1. “Apostles and evangelists had a particular task in planting the church in every place; prophets, for bringing a particular word of God to a situation. Pastors and teachers were gifted to be responsible for the day-to-day building up of the church” (Francis Foulkes The Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries , Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956, p. 119). 2. “‘Pastors’ may readily be identified with the ministers who are elsewhere called ‘elders’ ( presbyteroi ) or ‘bishops’ ( episkopoi rendered ‘guardians’ in our preceding citation of Acts 20.28: ‘shepherd the flock of God that is in your charge’ is the injunction given to elders by a ‘fellow elder’ in 1 Pet. 5.2). (It is fitting that this injunction should be ascribed to the apostle whose final commission from the Lord, according to John 21.15-17, was ‘Feed my sheep.’”) (F. F. Bruce, “Epistle to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians,” The New International Commentary on the New Testament , Vol. 10., Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1984, pp. 348). 3. “The ministry of a pastor is a ministry of love. No man can perform this ministry without a shepherd’s heart as a gift fromGod. . . .Jesus pointed out that the disposition of a true shepherd is to lay down his life for his sheep. . .When a man has been given the heart of a true shepherd, he is there for the best interest of the flock regardless of personal cost. . . .The duties of the pastor are varied but most can be grouped under three general headings. In the first place, the pastor must oversee and feed the flock of God. . . .Secondly, he has the responsibility of guarding and instructing the people. . . .Thirdly, the pastor must be a teacher of the Word by precept and example” (Joe H. Cothen, Equipped for Good Work , Gretna, LA: Pelican Publishing, 1996, pp. 13-15). 4. “In addition to whatever else it may be, the gift of pastoring is a catalyst geared to release the gift potential of those in the flock” (Kenneth O. Gangel, Unwrap Your Spiritual Gifts , Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, p. 72). 5. “The apostles preached the gospel before they planted churches and gave their converts further teaching; they were in effect evangelists (as