The Purpose of Leadership Gifts Part 2

And he has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists, and some with grace to be pastors, and some with grace to be teachers.
Ephesians 4: 11

By Apostle Felix

In this part two of the devotion, we are going to examine the curriculum of Christ. Every school provides a curriculum that should be taught. No school teacher or lecturer is allowed to come up with his/her own curriculum. It has to be a universal curriculum. Jesus provided a universal curriculum that can be taught to an Aborigine and an Eskimo, and to the rich and the poor. It is a curriculum that cuts across culture, status, gender or geographical location. The curriculum should be Christ-centred. Christ is universal.

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Ephesians 4: 13

The curriculum that has to be taught in church should bring a believer to a place of oneness in the faith and intimate relationship with Christ through the knowledge of Christ. The curriculum should be informing us about Christ and His finished work. In God, there are no curriculums (messages), but a curriculum. The responsibility of a trainer (a minister) is to teach the correct curriculum to the church of Christ. Jesus emphasized the importance of teaching to Peter.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21: 17

Jesus was of course commissioning the disciples to go and make disciples. He did not send them to go and recruit members to cheer those called into five-fold ministry as they do ministry. Unfortunately, the church looks like a theater, where spectators come to watch gladiators killing lions. We gather for the purpose of training. If training is not taking place, we are in a wrong place. You cannot enroll in a university to study medicine and then you are turned into a cheerleader.

He continued to proclaim to all the truths of God’s kingdom realm, teaching them about the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, speaking triumphantly and without any restriction.
Acts 28:31