I think it is important to emphasize that the first-century churches were Christ centered. That is, they recognized Jesus Christ alone as head of the church. Now, I know the doctrine of the headship of Christ is confessed universally today. However, practically speaking, Christ is far from being the head of any church I know.

Since Christ is the head of the Church, the first-century Christians saw it as being controlled by Him. He was the one that made the decisions. He was the one that gave the Church vision. He was the one that gave the Church structure. Thus, according to 1 Cor 14, when the Church assembled together, potentially any number of believers might contribute to the services. Thus, at any moment, and one after the other, one might prophesy, another might stand up and sing, and yet another might stand up and teach.

And why didn't they have an "order of service" as it is commonly called? Because they didn't know of any such thing! Instead of looking unto a single person or team of people to tell them what to do and when they could perform their ministry, they looked unto Jesus for direction of what was next on the agenda. Thus, while each assembly might have a lot in common with the last assembly, no two were ever the same.

And with Jesus being the head of the Church, each believer was free to develop the ministry God had given them without first having to seek if it was "ok" with the pastor if they could do such a thing. Afterall, it's not any single man here that decides if a ministry fits the "vision" of that particular Church, rather, it is Christ alone that makes that decision. For Christ alone is the head of the Church.

Where elders/pastors come into play in regard to this is to help oversee the individual lives and ministries within the Church, and help them to grow and be all that Christ has called them to be. Thus, elders must be "apt to teach." For to help an individual abound in the life Christ has given them, instruction will be needed. This does not mean elders will week after week deliver 45 minute expository sermons. Much of this real instruction will occur one-on-one. They may very well end up preaching sermons every time the church assembles. But if they don't, no big deal. A younger believer could be just as prone to stand up and teach during each assembly as an older brother.

In all things remember, Jesus Christ is the head of the Church!

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Jimmy H

Thanks folks for showing me the difference between the two Philip's.

Let me further add that while I believe one does not have to seek an "ok" from "the pastor" to do a certain ministry, every believer should always be open to oversight from those who have such a ministry. They should not only receive good words of encouragement, but should also receive strong words of correction. Those who wish to be "independent" and receive nothing from anybody else are fools. We as the body are interdependant upon eachother.

I'm not the biggest Watchman Nee fan, but he once said something along the lines of: "Those who are in authority seek out others in authority."

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Jimmy H

The word apostle mean "one sent." Even Christ is called an Apostle in I believe Hebrews 2. Not sure thats where. But I think so.

An apostle is a person who God sends to establish a unique or special kind of move of the spirit. A person who has a true revival or church placed into them by the holy spirit and sent to give birth to that plan. An apostle is the most important part of the five fold ministry today, as they are the visionaries and driving force behind the great move of God. An apostle is the highest of authorities in the church. Clearly there is no reason that apostles shouldn't be in operation today.

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Matt Chenier

ehp 2:20

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Kristy

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Jimmy H

Grace alone... there are still prophets.. and there are still apostles



Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain PROPHETs and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Acts 15:32 And Judas and Silas, being PROPHETs also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Ac 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came (5627) unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the EVANGELIST, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

Ac 21:10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain PROPHET, named Agabus.

This not only shows that the 5 fold ministry is not limited to the original 12 apostles, but also that there are other apostles than the original 12.

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Matt Chenier

It says in Eph 2:20 that our church is being built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles.

Yes, the church sends out missionaries but they are not given the same authority as the hand picked 12 apostles. Unto them was the foundation of the church- to write inspired scripture. If Christ hand picked you and you (Acts 1 "21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”) and you meet these standards then you can go ahead and claim that authority.

Notice that they only proposed two and one of them was not chosen. "And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias."

Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons claim that they have "Apostles still alive". Just think about it.

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Kristy