GOD’S DISCIPLESHIP BLUEPRINT

God has a DISCIPLESHIP BLUEPRINT and we see it spelled out in Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:11-16

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. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

                                                                

The significance of these respective leaders is in their giftedness and the anointing of God that empowers them to carry out their unique roles. When either of these roles are removed, confused or misunderstood in the work of discipleship then the ministry will go lacking.

ALL believers in some way shape or form, will have gifts that are aligned with any of these leadership anointings. As their lives grow and mature in their walk of faith these gifts will position them for influence and leadership all for the sake of discipleship either as an independent leadership service or in partnership with other leaders.

Understanding the nature of these unique leadership anointings will help us understand where our gifts resonate and where our grooming for service would be best aligned. God’s discipleship blueprint is his plan for building up the body both personally and corporately, causing us to walk perfected in love and unity and find significance in all that we do.

The Five-fold Leader Discipleship Gifts

APOSTLE: Visionaries, business/ministry/political leaders, pioneers, prophets of revelation, governors of divine blueprints, rooted in intimacy with God, governors of God’s vision.

PROPHET: Partners in God’s visions, encouragers, affirmers, discerners, intercessors, influencers/entertainers/promoters, rooted in intimacy with God, trainers in spiritual intimacy with God, governors of God spiritual truths.

EVANGELIST: Heralds of the gospel, deliverers, healers, workers of miracles, missionaries, planters, key on-ramps for discipleship, serve as partners in God’s vision.

PASTOR: Shepherds, governors, mentors, spiritual parents, disciplers, overseers, helpers, instructors, elders (lifestyle examples), administrators, managers, serve as partners in God’s vision.

TEACHER: Educators, trainers, disciplinarians, governors of God’s truth in practical Christian living, serve as partners in God’s vision

TOGETHER, these powerfully gifted equipping leaders and their teams develop the body of Christ from generation to generation with God’s purpose, presence and power to be radiant in the earth both personally and corporately.

So, the question is, do you know who you are? Are you where you need to be for spiritual grooming? Are you being made ready for service? Are you lacking significance? 

No matter who you are, when we better understand God’s discipleship blueprint and align our lives or ministry accordingly, we are sure to become all we were divinely meant to be.