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

God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [14] so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] fromwhom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians is one of the great books of the Bible on the Church of God. Paul speaks of the Church through numerous metaphors in the book, included among them are images of the Church as the body of Christ (1.23), as the temple of God (2.19-22), as a trophy of the manifold grace of God (3.1-11), and as the army of the Lord (6.10-18). In Ephesians 4 we see Paul speaking of the Church in a revolutionary way, in terms of the mutuality and interconnectedness of the members as co-laborers and co-workers together. Through revelation of the Lord, Paul instructs the Ephesians on the nature of the laos (the people of God), and how we as the whole Church are to live and relate together in community. Paul begins by asserting that God has given to the Church gifted men and women who play a particular role in its health and growth. God has given to the body of Christ apostles (special messengers and representatives of Christ), prophets (those gifted to reveal and proclaim the truth of God to the members), evangelists (gifted men and women who are effective in relating the Good News of the Gospel to the lost), and the pastors and teachers (those gifted in caring for and instructing the people of God for maturity and health). These gifted men and women are given to the Church to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (v. 12). What is the nature of this equipping and upbuilding? Well, unlike much of our contemporary experience where professional clergy are “hired” by congregations to do the lion’s share of the care-giving to the body, Paul envisions a Church where gifted equippers invest in the members of the Church in order that they might be outfitted to do the service. What is this equipping? It appears to relate to helping members identify their gifts, and to use them for the sake of serving the well-being of the entire body. What is radical and clear here is that it is not conceived as a single minister and a congregation that aids that one minister in his care for the entire flock. Rather, the ministers are given gifts in order that they might be able to outfit and invest in the members so they can do the work. The clear result of this equipping is plainly stated in text above. When the members have identified their gifts and are released to use them in creative ways for the

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