Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of 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 from whom 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 4:11-12 KJV 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…  

The Fatal Comma Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…   The Fatal Comma

The Fatal Comma Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 1) For the perfecting of the saints, 2) for the work of the ministry, 3) for the edifying of the body of Christ…   The Fatal Comma

Staff-centered Paradigm Traditional Model God Staff-centered Paradigm Clergy Laity

New Testament Model Christ (The Head) Organic Paradigm Leaders (Elders) E’erbody (Ministers)

New Testament Model Christ (The Head) Organic Paradigm Leaders (Elders) E’erbody (Ministers) “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…”Ephesians 1:13

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…

No Fatal Comma Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12  1) to equip the saints for the work of ministry, 2) for building up the body of Christ… No Fatal Comma

“The New Testament concept of the pastor is not a person who jealously guards all ministry in his own hands, and successfully squashes all lay initiatives, but of one who helps and encourages all God’s people to discover, develop and exercise their gifts. His teaching and training are directed to this end, to enable the people of God to be a servant people, ministering actively but humbly according to their gifts in a world of alienation and pain. Thus, instead of monopolizing all ministry himself, he actually multiplies ministries.” John Stott in The Message of Ephesians

Ephesians 4:13-14 ESV 13 …until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of 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.    

Ephesians 4:13-14 ESV 13 …until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of 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.     “The great need of the church has always been spiritual maturity rather than organizational restructuring.” –John MacArthur in Ephesians: Our Immeasurable Blessings in Christ

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom 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.   

Truthing in Love Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom 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.    Truthing in Love

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom 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.    “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.”   Revelation 2:2

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom 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.    “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.  5a Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”   Revelation 2:4-5a

“Thank God there are those in the contemporary church who are determined at all costs to defend and uphold God’s revealed truth. But sometimes they are conspicuously lacking in love. When they think they smell heresy, their nose begins to twitch, their muscles ripple, and the light of battle enters their eye. They seem to enjoy nothing more than a fight. Others make the opposite mistake. They are determined at all costs to maintain and exhibit brotherly love, but in order to do so are prepared even to sacrifice the central truths of revelation. Both these tendencies are unbalanced and unbiblical.” John Stott in The Message of Ephesians

“Truth becomes hard if it is not softened by love; love becomes soft if it is not strengthened by truth. The apostle calls us to hold the two together, which should not be difficult for Spirit-filled believers, since the Holy Spirit is himself ‘the Spirit of truth’, and his firstfruit is ‘love’. There is no other route than this to a fully mature Christian unity.” John Stott in The Message of Ephesians

Ephesians 4:15-16 ESV 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom 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.    25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…  28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.  Ephesians 5

The 4 Domains of Leadership Strength Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliverative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo Adaptability Developer Connectedness Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic    Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Executing Influencing

The 4 Domains of Leadership Strength Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliverative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo Adaptability Developer Connectedness Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic    Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Executing Influencing Dick’s Strengths

The 4 Domains of Leadership Strength Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliverative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo Adaptability Developer Connectedness Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic    Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Executing Influencing Ben’s Strengths

The 4 Domains of Leadership Strength Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliverative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo Adaptability Developer Connectedness Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic    Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Executing Influencing Dave’s Strengths

The 4 Domains of Leadership Strength Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliverative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo Adaptability Developer Connectedness Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic    Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Executing Influencing Lizy’s Strengths

The 4 Domains of Leadership Strength Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliverative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo Adaptability Developer Connectedness Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic    Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Executing Influencing Kira’s Strengths

The 4 Domains of Leadership Strength Achiever Arranger Belief Consistency Deliverative Discipline Focus Responsibility Restorative Activator Command Communication Competition Maximizer Self-Assurance Significance Woo Adaptability Developer Connectedness Empathy Harmony Includer Individualization Positivity Relator Analytical Context Futuristic Ideation Input Intellection Learner Strategic    Relationship Building Strategic Thinking Executing Influencing Our Staff Strengths