WORK OF MINISTRY

            Text:  Ephesians 4:4-11 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

⁶ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

⁷ But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

⁸ Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

⁹ (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

¹⁰ He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

¹¹ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

             Eph.4:8-13 Ephesians 4:8-12 (New King James Version)

8 Therefore He says:  When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.

            9 (Now this, "He ascended"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

              11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.

            Apostles, delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.

            Prophets, one who speaks forth by divine inspiration.

            Evangelists, (preacher) a bringer of good tidings.

            Pastors, a herdsman, a shepherd

            Teachers, (Imparter of knowledge) of those who in the religious assemblies of the Christians undertook the work of teaching, with the special assistance of the Holy Spirit.

WHAT IS THEIR MINISTERY FOR?

            12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

WHEN WILL IT END?

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

WHAT WILL WE ACCOMPLISH?

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head even Christ.

WHO WILL IT AFFECT?

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Notice that it says, every joint supplies, and every part does its share. This causes the whole church to grow and to be edified.

Are there other gifts? Yes there are. 1Corin.12:1-12 etc.

Ways to minister

Preaching

Teaching (spiritual and secular)

Food

Clothing

Shelter

Counseling

Furniture

Automobile (repair, supply, clean etc.)

Housework