The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

a. Matt. 23.2-4

b. Rom. 2.19-24

c. 2 Tim. 3.5

d. Titus 1.16

3. Give all glory to God through Christ for any way that the Holy Spirit uses your teaching; take no credit for change, Rom. 11.33-36.

III. The Content of the Teaching Ministry

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Certain Gifts Set Apart for the Equipping Ministry

While Paul spoke of all believers having gifts of ministry, he also believed that certain ones had been divinely appointed to have a leadership role in the church. Thus in 1 Corinthians 12.28, for example, he says that God appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers (and then deeds of power, gifts of healing etc.). Such a view is also reflected in Ephesians 4.11–13, where it is said that the gifts of Christ are that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, whose task was to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. The ministers mentioned here have a role vis-á-vis the rest of the members of the church, and function to equip them for their ministries.

~ Gerald F. Hawthorne. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (electronic ed.). Logos Library Systems Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997. p. 603.

A. Teachers called by God must teach disciples to obey everything that Jesus commanded .