Apostle’s Mandate
The word Apostle comes from the Greek word Apostolos. It means “sent one”. An Apostle is one that embraces the responsibility of being “sent” to a region with a mandate from God. That calling is to impact a specific territory with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Christians traveled from city to city, believers would enter a region evangelizing, often led by an Apostle. In addition to preaching the Good News, they’d establish a congregation wherever the people were receptive. From there, amazing things took place in the name of Jesus.
The Apostolic Ministry doesn’t just seek to gain new members. It is a ministry that equips people to achieve their God-given destiny and raises up societal, Spirit-filled leaders for Christ. This is done through discipleship and training. After ensuring believers have a strong foundation in the Word, the church looks to identify gifts within the congregation. Every Christian has gifts. Once discovered, those gifts can be built upon. The Apostolic Ministry works to help uncover your gifts and create a pathway to use them for God’s Glory.
Discipleship is the process where believers work together through study and ministry. They commit to the building up of one another. Someone who is more experienced generally takes on the mentorship role. Regardless, both benefit. The questions asked by the new Christian are a blessing as they also train and challenge those who are leading the discipleship.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
The Apostolic Ministry takes the Great Commission seriously. That means sharing the Gospel and committing to one another through discipleship, which teaches people how to operate in all the benefits of God’s Kingdom.
If you study the first-century church structure, you will find 5 very different but equally important gifts operating all at the same time. This is what is known as the 5 fold ministry.
The 5 Fold and the Roles of the Gifts
Evangelists introduce a population to the faith. Pastors care for the needs of the congregation. Teachers lay a foundation of sound doctrine. Apostles and Prophets cast vision and help to identify Godly direction. This type of leadership requires more than a single person to achieve maximum success.
Paul writes to the Ephesians saying:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:11-13
Paul tells the Corinthians to seek gifts and guides them to a deeper call of the Apostolic ministry.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Cor 12:27-31
If we restore the Apostolic 5 Fold ministry back to the church we will see the same global impact that we experience in the Book of Acts. In Acts, the church pioneered the Gospel and transformed regions by bringing the freedom that comes with believing in Jesus to all who accepted it.
A restoration of the 5 fold Apostolic ministry is long overdue.
The Apostolic church in our present time is commissioned to continue the work of Christ. It is the best model to reach the world today because:
1) The Bible displays this as the church structure intended by Jesus.
2) It empowers the believer and ultimately the whole church body to find it’s true identity in Christ
We each have a purpose and unique gifts. When we discover those and unite with one another, anything is possible!
Millennials and Generation Z are rejecting organized religion on a large scale. In fact, studies show that they feel like the tradition isn’t relevant to our time.
The Apostolic changes this because it isn’t a dated set of religious customs. It is a vehicle for influence and empowerment. Without question, the world needs to know that the power of God is alive and relevant.
As Christians traveled from city to city, believers would enter a region evangelizing, often led by an Apostle. In addition to preaching the Good News, they’d establish a congregation wherever the people were receptive. From there, amazing things took place in the name of Jesus.
The Apostolic Ministry doesn’t just seek to gain new members. It is a ministry that equips people to achieve their God-given destiny and raises up societal, Spirit-filled leaders for Christ. This is done through discipleship and training. After ensuring believers have a strong foundation in the Word, the church looks to identify gifts within the congregation. Every Christian has gifts. Once discovered, those gifts can be built upon. The Apostolic Ministry works to help uncover your gifts and create a pathway to use them for God’s Glory.
Discipleship is the process where believers work together through study and ministry. They commit to the building up of one another. Someone who is more experienced generally takes on the mentorship role. Regardless, both benefit. The questions asked by the new Christian are a blessing as they also train and challenge those who are leading the discipleship.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
The Apostolic Ministry takes the Great Commission seriously. That means sharing the Gospel and committing to one another through discipleship, which teaches people how to operate in all the benefits of God’s Kingdom.
If you study the first-century church structure, you will find 5 very different but equally important gifts operating all at the same time. This is what is known as the 5 fold ministry.
The 5 Fold and the Roles of the Gifts
- Apostle – Pioneer, strategist, establisher of leadership, leadership through vision, identification of gifts and equipping of the church
- Prophet – hearer of the voice of God, communicator of His will for the church and the people.
- Evangelist – a preacher of the Good News, able to communicate the ministry of reconciliation between man and God, brings people into the church
- Pastor – Shepherd who takes care of the flock, encourager, comforter
- Teacher – establish a strong foundation of the Word, clearly communicates the mysteries of the Kingdom in ways that bring understanding
Evangelists introduce a population to the faith. Pastors care for the needs of the congregation. Teachers lay a foundation of sound doctrine. Apostles and Prophets cast vision and help to identify Godly direction. This type of leadership requires more than a single person to achieve maximum success.
Paul writes to the Ephesians saying:
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Eph 4:11-13
Paul tells the Corinthians to seek gifts and guides them to a deeper call of the Apostolic ministry.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Cor 12:27-31
If we restore the Apostolic 5 Fold ministry back to the church we will see the same global impact that we experience in the Book of Acts. In Acts, the church pioneered the Gospel and transformed regions by bringing the freedom that comes with believing in Jesus to all who accepted it.
A restoration of the 5 fold Apostolic ministry is long overdue.
The Apostolic church in our present time is commissioned to continue the work of Christ. It is the best model to reach the world today because:
1) The Bible displays this as the church structure intended by Jesus.
2) It empowers the believer and ultimately the whole church body to find it’s true identity in Christ
We each have a purpose and unique gifts. When we discover those and unite with one another, anything is possible!
Millennials and Generation Z are rejecting organized religion on a large scale. In fact, studies show that they feel like the tradition isn’t relevant to our time.
The Apostolic changes this because it isn’t a dated set of religious customs. It is a vehicle for influence and empowerment. Without question, the world needs to know that the power of God is alive and relevant.
