Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Opening Scripture

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious—that you, Lord God, might dwell there. Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68 (selected)

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, you are the source of all truth, wisdom, justice, and love. Lead me in your paths today. Help me to constantly rest my life upon the eternal foundation of your loving presence. Save me from hurry and worry, haste and confusion, wrongful desires, and the snare of evil. May your Holy Spirit enlighten, instruct, and guide me as I follow the Lord Jesus this day. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:7-16

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

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.

Reflection  

In today’s passage, after emphasizing the unity and “oneness” that must exist in the Church, Paul explains that each believer has a unique contribution to make. Again, this is similar to his teaching with the Church at Corinth.

Paul highlighted both unity and distinction in 1 Corinthians 12. “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

Paul says, “to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” Every believer is to function in the Church by the power of the Holy Spirit according to their gifting for the common good. That’s a lot of grace, ministry, and service!

Paul summarizes Psalm 68 (our Opening Scripture), comparing Jesus to a conquering military commander who has won the right to give the gifts of His spoils to anyone He chooses. Christ “descended” through His incarnation, death, burial, and resurrection, thereby conquering sin, death, and the forces of evil. Christ “ascended” victorious back into Heaven as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, bestowing gifts to the Church at His discretion.

God has given spiritual gifts to His people, and God has given gifted people to the Church. Paul lists five kinds of gifted people: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds), and teachers. The general characteristics of each of these functions are outlined below.

The purpose of these five functions is “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.” That’s what a healthy church looks like!

The King James Version translates verse 12: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The Greek word “katartismos” can mean equipping or perfecting. It also denotes “mending” what is broken and “completing” what is unfinished. The goal in all of this is relational unity, spiritual maturity, and fullness in Christ.

Verses 11-16 form another long sentence in Greek, so the rest of today’s passage is all connected to this collective APEST work. All believers are responsible for participating in the ministry of the Church. When that happens, the result is stability, maturity, and Christlikeness.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Congregations

The APEST designations in today’s reading reflect functions, not titles. These are roles that believers play in the Church for the common good. Health, sustained growth, maturity, and unity in the body of Christ require awareness, appreciation, and implementation of all five of these APEST gifts.

Apostle

Pioneer. Innovative. Mission-minded. An internal sense of urgency for the future. Apostolic people seek opportunities to engage causes of significance larger than themselves, with a scope bigger than the immediate needs. The guardian of the organization’s DNA. Often an entrepreneur, a groundbreaker, and a strategist. Apostolic people sense movement and change, ensuring that Christianity is transmitted from one context to another, from one generation to the next.

Characteristics: • Visionary thinking and motivation • Comfortable crossing boundaries • Entrepreneurial interests (starting something new is energizing) • Pioneering new endeavors (innovative approaches and solutions) • Strategic decision maker • Uncomfortable with the status quo • Sees things holistically (everything is part of a larger system) • Understands multiple dynamics and components

Prophet

Ability to discern spiritual realities. Main concern is to further the mission of God’s people. An innate sense of knowing the mind of God on issues concerning justice and righteousness. Concerned with the holiness of God and his relational covenant with his people. Seeks integration: “on earth as it is in heaven.” Questioner, freely disturbing the status quo. Integration of the “now” and the “not yet.” Prophetic ministry influences others by truth-telling, calling to covenantal justice, and focusing on the mysteries of God.

Characteristics: • Questions what has become “normative” • Disturbs common thinking and practices • Agitates for positive change (desires learning for influence) • Discerns and seeks to ensure authentic response to Truth • Urgency in the moment (“this must happen!”) • Comfortable dismantling the present for future hope • Deep compassion for the cause of the people • Seeks to experience the justice and righteousness of God

Evangelist

Communicates the gospel. Inspires greater discipleship. Recruits others for a cause. Senses the urgency of the moment. Comfortable around non-believers. Willing to make great sacrifices to achieve a genuine response. Promotes a vision to gain loyal allegiance to the cause. Impacts the community through expansion. They influence others by calling for greater personal response and sacrifice to a greater cause and purpose.

Characteristics: • Makes clear the message of salvation • Communicates passionately (often with urgency) • Recruits for a cause (needs others to hear and respond) • Core concern is conversion (coming to faith) • Naturally enthusiastic (and that enthusiasm can be contagious) • Sees people as valuable souls that need life-giving faith • Can personalize and contextualize the message of God’s love • Motivated to see the people move toward Christ

Shepherd

Influences by nurturing. Primary function is care-giving. People-oriented. Develops and supports healthy relational systems. Manages people through meaningful personal contact. Understands others’ feelings and emotions. Seeks to create safe environments for spiritual growth and discipleship. Focuses on resolving the needs of today, at the expense of focusing on the needs of tomorrow. Provides the emotional glue within an organization. Impacts the community through nurture and care.

Characteristics: • Core issue: love for people (individually and collectively) • Humanizer providing care, concern, and correction • Unifier of an organization (aware of spiritual networks) • Aware of relational dangers (protects the dignity and respect of each person) • Patient and timely with care, seeking relational healing • Cultivates loving and mature relationships • Desires to see people enriched, connected, and understood • Expresses God’s love through creating healthy communities

Teacher

Able to reveal and communicate the wisdom of God. Inspires others to learn and obey the truth of Scripture. Focuses on the integration of God’s Word into the community. Seeks to organize various intellectual and practical parts into a working unity. Advances a cause through clear and simple communication. Articulates organization and structure for the fulfillment of a cause or task. Impacts the community through understanding. Influences by clarifying the will of God so people gain wisdom and understanding.

Characteristics: • Core issue: understanding (communication of truth) • Philosopher (imparter of ideas and principles) • Translator of complexities into simple teachings • Systematizer for solutions, process, and integration • Guides others with wisdom and understanding • Encourages exploration (curiosity to know more) • Strong desire for people to understand teachings and wisdom of God • Willing to take the time for people to comprehend

Which of the APEST functions resonates most with you?

How do you see these five functions being exercised in our church?

How are you using your gifting for the health and growth of the church?

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!