What roles mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:29 are present in your church today? Setting the Scene “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?” (1 Corinthians 12:29). Paul’s rapid–fire questions remind us that the Spirit distributes gifts as He wills (v. 11) and that no single believer possesses them all. Our task is to recognize which of these roles are active in the local congregation today and how they function in harmony with Scripture. Apostles – Foundational, Not Repeatable • In the New Testament an apostle is an eyewitness of the risen Christ and personally commissioned by Him (Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 9:1). • Together with the prophets, they form “the foundation” of the Church, “Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). • Because that foundation is already laid, our church does not claim or install modern apostles in the original, authoritative sense. • We do, however, send missionaries and church planters. At times Scripture calls such sent ones “messengers” (lit. “apostles,” Philippians 2:25), yet we carefully distinguish them from the Twelve and Paul, whose writings are Scripture. Prophets – Revelatory Mouthpieces Completed in Scripture • OT prophets spoke infallibly for God (2 Peter 1:21). NT prophets delivered divinely revealed truth before the New Testament canon was complete (Acts 11:27-28; 1 Corinthians 14:29-32). • With the completion of Scripture, the need for new, authoritative revelation has ceased (Hebrews 1:1-2; Jude 3). • Therefore our church does not recognize an office of prophet bringing fresh revelation. • We do affirm prophetic functions whenever God’s Word is boldly proclaimed and applied (1 Peter 4:11). Preachers may declare, “Thus says the Lord,” but only on the basis of the written Word. Teachers – Active and Essential • Teaching is a continuing, Spirit-empowered gift (Romans 12:7; Ephesians 4:11). • In our church you will see teachers in multiple settings: – Pulpit ministry on Sunday mornings – Adult Bible-study leaders – Youth and children’s class instructors – One-on-one discipleship mentors • Their common aim: “explain the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26), building up the body in truth and discernment. Workers of Miracles – God Still Acts, but No Formal Office • During the apostolic era, miracles authenticated the gospel’s initial advance (Hebrews 2:3-4). • Scripture never mandates a permanent church office titled “miracle worker.” • Our congregation regularly prays for healing and deliverance (James 5:14-16) and gratefully acknowledges when God intervenes. • Yet we do not elevate certain individuals as official miracle workers; the glory remains God’s alone (Psalm 115:1). Bringing It Together • Present and functioning: teachers, along with every believer’s prayerful expectancy that God may still perform miracles. • Absent as formal titles: apostles and prophets in their foundational, revelation-bearing sense—because their purpose was fulfilled in establishing the Church and delivering the Scriptures. • The result: a body that treasures the completed Word, values faithful teaching, seeks God’s powerful work, and serves one another with the diverse gifts He graciously supplies. |
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