Apostles and the Body

These questions are a follow-up to the sermon "Apostles and the Body", preached on April 14th by Rev. Kim Salo.

​1. Read Ephesians 4:11-13. Paul calls five ministries “the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers.” Do you know of any churches that regularly exercise all five?  Why do so few churches designate their ministries this way?

2. Why do so many churches drift into “only the minister does real ministry” mode? What are some ways churches can get out of the rut of “only the minister does ministry”? 

3. Read Luke 6:12-16. What are some of the reasons for Jesus to pray and then choose such a wide variety of people to be his 12 apostles? Why Twelve?

4. Read I Corinthians 15:7-9. Why does the apostle Paul say, “last of all, Christ appeared to me, as one abnormally (or untimely) born.” What does he mean by “abnormally/un- timely born”?

5. If we no longer have leaders called “Apostles”, what does it mean for the church to be “apostolic”? How do we help keep a local church apostolic? What is meant at Jude 1:3 by “contend for the faith once delivered (or, entrusted) to the saints”?