Cameroon Bible Institute

The Need for Intentional Ministry Training in the Local Church Context – Part 1

A Hermeneutical / Exegetical Study of Ephesians 4:11-16

Abstract

While there are seminaries and schools of ministry operating formal campuses and programs, most of these are becoming really expensive to afford, and have in fact almost become a hindrance to the manifestation of several great ministers in the Church.

In this series, we discuss the work of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers as outlined in Ephesians 4:11-16. In our consideration of this passage, we will look at what the role of these men is, the goal of their work in the body, and the outcome. This is to the end that we will find help in navigating the issues of passivity and lack of growth in the church, especially in Africa, by calling these men to stand up to their responsibilities. When they play their roles well, the church will be both united and mature in Christ.

General Introduction

Jesus came to this world compelled to die as a result of the sinfulness of man. He did not just come, however, to lay down his life in our place so we would live forever with him in eternity. His incarnation also had an implicit purpose, hidden in his ultimate mission, and revealed neatly in his lifetime, both before and after the ultimate, once and for all sacrifice on the cross. The mission of Jesus, if understood in full, would mark a significant turning point in the lives of believers, and consequently, in the life and service of the local church.

One of the key things presented to us in the life of Jesus is precisely how to live the life of the Kingdom in a sinful, fallen world. This is the part of Jesus’ mission that believers over the years have failed to give careful thought to. There are patterns in the life of Jesus that must never be missed; otherwise, we would spend heaven’s resources in attaining Earth’s goals for vain glory. One of these patterns that we must learn carefully from Jesus is his style of ministry.

Jesus, in his relationship with the disciples, shows us the ultimate test of leadership/discipleship, which is the personal growth of the disciples. As the Apostle Paul reflected in 2 Timothy 2:2, the need for discipleship goes beyond the excitement of seeing many people sitting daily to learn. It surpasses the present-day practice of gathering people unto oneself to celebrate/literally worship a so-called “man of God” figure.

Jesus’ ministry pattern and that echoed by Paul in the aforementioned text communicate without a doubt that the end of successful ministry/discipleship/leadership is the ability for the disciples to become ministers/disciple makers/leaders in their own right.

In this series, we will pay close attention to the discussion on this matter as revealed in the principal function of the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. We will pay close attention to what their primary role is and then to the consequences of the proper discharge of their duties or the lack of the same.

Introduction to Ephesians

The book of Ephesians presents a wonderful story of how God is transforming the world by building his people, individually and collectively as the Church. This church will ultimately be victorious in enacting God’s sovereign purposes on earth by means of her unity, as bonded in one by the Spirit of God.

“In Ephesians, God is gathering a people for himself and his purposes. He’s building the church as the body of Christ and the temple of his Spirit. And through this church, that is, through us as a community, God is at work, doing more than we could ever imagine so that the entire cosmos might see the glory of his gracious plan” (Roberts, Mark D. The Story of God Bible Commentary: Ephesians).

This gracious plan of God includes the growing of the Church to maturity, such that no one is left alone as a babe in the faith, but together, as each person supplies from the well of resources made available by the architect of this great edifice, the entire building is amply supplied to stand the test of time and storms—even doctrinal whirlwinds.

In our consideration of this great story, we will narrow down our discussion in this series to the specific portion that outlines the strategy of God in attaining this great goal of unity and maturity in faith. This job is done in no better place than in the first half of the fourth chapter of this letter. Here, we find how God, in seeking the unity of the Church and its consequent maturity, dedicates certain men by whose hand this goal will be attained, OR NOT!

Ephesians 4

Studying Ephesians chapter 4 can be a very exciting experience. From the very beginning of the chapter, we have presented in the first few verses a lot to deal with concerning God’s mind as to what the Church should look like. Firstly, we see a heartfelt call to the simple believer in Christ to walk in a certain way. This way, he says, is “worthy of the calling” with which the believer has been called.

The call to belong to Christ and enjoy unity with the Spirit is a call that necessitates a different kind of lifestyle. This call is not just to belong to God. In fact, belonging to God and enjoying the graces of the Spirit is a means to the hope of eternity with God, which is the ultimate thing to which the believer has been called.

This, according to Paul, compels the believer to live in a certain way. This way of life, signifying a whole new pattern of living, will be comprised of humility, gentleness, patience, and mutual love one for another.

An interesting part of this manner of life will also be for the believer to do all that he can to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. The reason for this is that the church, the body of Christ, is one. Not only is the body one, but there is one Spirit that governs this body, and everyone who becomes a part of this body receives a call to one hope. There is no reason for division, and there is every reason for the believer, in whatever circumstances, to fight for the unity of this body.

The idea of unity begins to bring a hint to what we are discussing in this paper. How will the body be united? How will the members of the body live or walk worthy of the calling to which they have been called? Transitioning to verse 7, the author begins to introduce to us our focus passage.

While the idea of spiritual gifts has been developed in several of Paul’s letters, namely, Romans 12:1–8, 1 Corinthians 12–14, and others, the idea of spiritual gifts here stands alone in its prescription, especially of the function of the gifts mentioned. That is, by the way. The transitional idea here is that, in order to make this call to a worthy manner of life workable in the lives of the members of the body, grace was given to each one “according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7).

While some have chosen, in a very compelling way, to separate between the passages on spiritual gifts, designating some to be gifts of the Spirit and others, like in this passage to be the gifts of Christ, we do not make that attempt in this paper. However, we do recognize that the gifts mentioned here are somewhat “special” in relation to other gifts outlined in the aforementioned passages.

As noted by Frank Thielman,

“In all three passages gifts are given to the “body,” and gifted Christians are urged to work together for the body’s unity. The differences between Eph. 4:7–16 and the other two passages, however, are significant” (Thielman, Frank. Baker Exegetical Commentary of the New Testament: Ephesians).

Our consideration of the specialness of these gifts is in the context of their function and consequent effect on the state of the Church. This consideration is very significant and has become a great need for the church of today, at least in the African Church, where, to a great extent, ministry is on the shoulders of one
man who considers himself or is so considered by the church members to be closer to God and so has the prerogative of “hearing God” on their behalf. In fact, the idea of “man of God” in the African church is so unbiblical that in some circles Christians view their leaders as demigods or spirits.

These men can do everything, and the believers only have the privilege to come and be blessed by them. It is sad to say that many times, in the absence of these exalted men, the church ceases to exist, as there was no one capable of continuing with the work of ministry. Personally, I feel that this comes as a result of the lack of proper consideration of the passage under study.

Conclusion

In the next article, we will consider what this passage presents in accordance with our discussion on ministry training in the local church context by looking specifically at the portion from verses 11 to 16. It is necessary, as a way of conclusion, to restate my main point, which is that ministry training is the primary duty of the officers of the church, within its local, community context. While seminaries are doing a great job, we will be on good footing if our discipleship and Christian education ministries in the local church gave INTENTIONAL thought to the training of their members for the works of ministry.

Pastor Tanko Brain Mbuli is the administrator of the Cameroon Bible Institute and a Para-educator at the Online Bible Institute.