Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?” (Lk 13:8) I love the simplicity of Jesus’ parables – easy to understand stories (literally) “thrown beside” Kingdom truth in order to accelerate understanding! So, let me try a parable of my own: Five-fold ministry is like a design-build Read more…
Why? Why did Jesus catalyze a five-fold team (Peter, James and John)? What benefits did the Master expect from such a strategy?Fortunately for us, Apostle Paul was given clear revelation on this question and the Spirit inspired him to write it down in Ephesians 4! Reading the Gospels does provide Read more…
Have you ever imagined five people simultaneously walking in Jesus’ sandals? Think “five-fold ministry”! “It was Christ who gave” (Eph 4:11a) equipped and empowered leadership-teams (Peter, James and John initially) to succeed Him. What big sandals to fill! As you can see, Jesus’ succession strategy does not always demand a Read more…
“Leaders and the lost”: Jimmy’s catchphrase is such a good vision for five-fold teams! As the point leader of a global network of churches, Jimmy Seibert regularly exercises one of his primary giftings; making complex concepts easy to understand. Such was the case recently when he was expounding on a Read more…
Apostle Paul’s holistic revelation in Ephesians 4 is stunningly clear: Jesus’ “five-fold” teams integrate godly character and capacity! When Jesus followers begin reading this chapter, they are entering uncharted territory within the Bible. No one has explained Jesus’ methodology with such precision and simplicity. And Paul’s starting point? The character Read more…
Five spiritual gifts working together to catalyze a community’s alignment to Jesus: What a Godly idea and plan! “It was Christ himself who 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” (Eph 4:11-12). Apostle Read more…
After three steps into Dan and Stella’s house, I abruptly stopped, “Almost forgot!” Last week, I flew into Boston one day after midnight. The time was not by design; it was the result of snow and ice. My connecting flight had been delayed six hours and I arrived thoroughly exhausted. Read more…
Jesus shares the Passover meal with His Apostles and introduces them to “the Lord’s Supper”. Shortly thereafter, the Twelve begin to behave like chickens (Lk 22). Serious? This blog series is sourced in a story: A hive of bees found an opening between two bricks at my oldest son’s house Read more…
If someone asked you: “What did Jesus do?” How would you answer that question? As a young disciple, I probably would have answered this question by describing Jesus’ public teaching. When I first followed Him, I lived in passages like the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) and was so Read more…
In 2012, Alan Hirsch and Tim Catchim published a bold proposition in black and white. In presenting Ephesians 4:1-16, we are tempted to say that it is one of those rare things—a silver bullet: a simple, guaranteed solution for a difficult problem. ……We believe that a full appreciation and application Read more…