I am currently attending a small church with my family that has a high emphasis on teaching and shepherding. Slowly I have become discouraged because I feel it has turned into somewhat of a club that meets on Sunday mornings. My husband and I have a heart to evangelize and reach people and have done so by bringing families and neighbors to my home to love them. The church has told us that it is okay for us to do this on our own, but the church is not going to organize any type of program that represents the church? I found this odd. I want to work with them and be a team. I am so discouraged.
Before I read this article I would have thought the apostle was at the center of the grid, but I see it now, and it makes perfect sense prophet being in the center of the grid. Thank you for writing this
I’m so glad it was helpful Yvonne. The deal is that the Great Team is not a heirarchical model, but a mutally submitted team model. We serve one another in a submitted love-driven culture.
I'm deeply appreciative of how you break down the different roles in the body of Christ, Kevin.
Although, as someone who is primarily a Shepherd with a tiny dash of prophet.
I notice that things like this. "Prophets are only concerned with one thing: whether the whole forest and sheep pen are aligned and submitted to the Word and Will of God. They keep things from drifting", doesn't land for me, personally. 🤷 It's one of the many reasons that I personally "question" whether the prophetic is actually correct for me. 🤷
Because I'm deeply aware of how my "only" concern is "not" whether the whole forest and sheep are aligned with the Word and Will of God.
In fact, when another human being is standing in front of me with their bleeding heart in their trembling hands. God has never moved my heart asking me to point them to His word or His will. 🤷
He moves my heart to love and meet them right where they are. 💕
I believe this is why the prophetic results continue to go down on my assessment. Because the Lord has and continues to break my heart open. So that I can meet people right where they, in their pain, in their struggles. Because in that they get to "experience" His love FOR them. But that has never come from his word or his will, through me. It's come from His heart FOR them. ✝️
I love your passion for sharing these aspects, it's truly helpful in so many ways. 🙏
So please know that I'm "only" sharing my personal experience as it relates to my walk with the Lord. ✝️
You are really getting to know yourself so much better, Tanya. The more you understand who you were knit together to be, the more fruitful your life will become! Blessings, Tanya.
This is so good. The church I go to has a transparent conversation about APEST, and said it’s not going to make a difference on salvation, so whether someone believes in it or not doesn’t matter. He made it clear his stance was to be an apostle meant you had to be physically in the presence of Jesus on Earth and telling the gospel to people that had never heard it before. My thoughts were, if he limits apostles that way, then why do teachers and pastors not have limitations too? And clearly prophets are out the window. I wonder if people are scared of prophets because they equate it with people using the gift of prophecy to control others in misguided and even abusive ways. If they saw how an actual prophet operates, and opened their eyes and ears, I think they’d see a true prophet wants nothing more than for others to draw closer to God, not to be made into a god themselves.
Great post, Kevin. Thanks for sharing. I will pass on at the proper time to others.
I distinguish the Capital A Apostles from giftings of apostleship. There were something like 25 people in the NT referred to as apostles. And some of them never saw Jesus in the flesh.
I am currently attending a small church with my family that has a high emphasis on teaching and shepherding. Slowly I have become discouraged because I feel it has turned into somewhat of a club that meets on Sunday mornings. My husband and I have a heart to evangelize and reach people and have done so by bringing families and neighbors to my home to love them. The church has told us that it is okay for us to do this on our own, but the church is not going to organize any type of program that represents the church? I found this odd. I want to work with them and be a team. I am so discouraged.
Amy! Let’s get on a call. I have a lot of thoughts and want to encourage you and your husband. Can you DM me so we can set up a Zoom meeting?
Before I read this article I would have thought the apostle was at the center of the grid, but I see it now, and it makes perfect sense prophet being in the center of the grid. Thank you for writing this
I’m so glad it was helpful Yvonne. The deal is that the Great Team is not a heirarchical model, but a mutally submitted team model. We serve one another in a submitted love-driven culture.
I'm deeply appreciative of how you break down the different roles in the body of Christ, Kevin.
Although, as someone who is primarily a Shepherd with a tiny dash of prophet.
I notice that things like this. "Prophets are only concerned with one thing: whether the whole forest and sheep pen are aligned and submitted to the Word and Will of God. They keep things from drifting", doesn't land for me, personally. 🤷 It's one of the many reasons that I personally "question" whether the prophetic is actually correct for me. 🤷
Because I'm deeply aware of how my "only" concern is "not" whether the whole forest and sheep are aligned with the Word and Will of God.
In fact, when another human being is standing in front of me with their bleeding heart in their trembling hands. God has never moved my heart asking me to point them to His word or His will. 🤷
He moves my heart to love and meet them right where they are. 💕
I believe this is why the prophetic results continue to go down on my assessment. Because the Lord has and continues to break my heart open. So that I can meet people right where they, in their pain, in their struggles. Because in that they get to "experience" His love FOR them. But that has never come from his word or his will, through me. It's come from His heart FOR them. ✝️
I love your passion for sharing these aspects, it's truly helpful in so many ways. 🙏
So please know that I'm "only" sharing my personal experience as it relates to my walk with the Lord. ✝️
You are really getting to know yourself so much better, Tanya. The more you understand who you were knit together to be, the more fruitful your life will become! Blessings, Tanya.
This is so good. The church I go to has a transparent conversation about APEST, and said it’s not going to make a difference on salvation, so whether someone believes in it or not doesn’t matter. He made it clear his stance was to be an apostle meant you had to be physically in the presence of Jesus on Earth and telling the gospel to people that had never heard it before. My thoughts were, if he limits apostles that way, then why do teachers and pastors not have limitations too? And clearly prophets are out the window. I wonder if people are scared of prophets because they equate it with people using the gift of prophecy to control others in misguided and even abusive ways. If they saw how an actual prophet operates, and opened their eyes and ears, I think they’d see a true prophet wants nothing more than for others to draw closer to God, not to be made into a god themselves.
Great post, Kevin. Thanks for sharing. I will pass on at the proper time to others.
Really good insights, Megan.
I distinguish the Capital A Apostles from giftings of apostleship. There were something like 25 people in the NT referred to as apostles. And some of them never saw Jesus in the flesh.
Great reminder
Also a great business principal, right?
100%