Bloom as the Five-fold

Transcription

1 Notes Page New Testament ministry through the Body of Christ cannot be done with anything less than all the five dimensions inherent in Christ s own ministry. If Jesus needed all 5 aspects of the fivefold, then so do we. Anything less is a dangerous reduction of ministry. 1

2 Notes Page It is critical for the maturing of the Body of Christ that all capacities of APEST find an expression in the church or organization. The church s ability to thrive and come into the full maturity of Christ (Ephesians 4:13, 15) depends on it. 2

3 Discussion Questions How does your church or organization reflect the 5 fold functions of Jesus? Apostolic Functions Embryonic Developing Integrating Healthy Translocal influence and networking Guardian of DNA (core ideas and codes) Missional church planting Prophetic Functions Embryonic Developing Integrating Healthy Guardian of the covenantal relationship btwn God and man Horizontal prophetic, social justice issues, and prophetically speak to society Vertical prophetic, spiritual manifestations, speaking prophetically between God and man Evangelistic Functions Embryonic Developing Integrating Healthy Communication and good storytelling Recruitment to the cause of Christ Making things relevant to organizations cultural context Shepherding Functions Embryonic Developing Integrating Healthy Culture of protection of the community and building human relationships Acting as the reconciled and redeemed family of God Culture of nurture and soul healing Teaching Functions Embryonic Developing Integrating Healthy Creating a culture of learning Practical training and culture of discipleship Culture of accuracy and insight on theology and related disciplines

4 Measurable Fruit of the different APEST functions Look at the graph below. Each APEST function will yield a specific type of measurable fruit. What kind of fruit your church is yielding will be an obvious by product of what your church focuses on and founded in the APEST functions your church is expressing. Since each of these types of fruit is important to have, these are some specific aspects of your church you can measure. The results will give you feedback on how you are representing Jesus to your community. To be clear, there can be an inward focus and an outreach focus of each APEST capacity. T External focus: Classes open to the public Internal focus: Discipleship depth, church class/group attendance External focus: Being part of networks and associations, Business as Mission ventures Internal focus: Church plants, unique mission/vision development A S External focus: Relational connection with other churches/ pastors Internal focus: Inner healings, feeling of community, healthy people Measurable Fruit External focus: conversions and baptisms External focus: Participation in social justice causes Internal focus: Holy Spirit baptisms, manifestations of Gifts of the Spirit P E Internal focus: Church attendance 4

5 APEST Functions Chart 5

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7 Practicing APEST Lenses Have your team practice operating as an APEST team. As a team, put on each APEST hat and trying describing the topic through each lens. Write your responses in the corresponding piece of pie. Some will be easier hats than others for each person, based on giftedness. This is where you get to learn the giftedness of your different team members and how they see through their different lenses. T A S What is church? P E 7

8 Practicing APEST Lenses Have your team practice operating as an APEST team. As a team, put on each APEST hat and trying describing the topic through each lens. Write your responses in the corresponding piece of pie. Some will be easier hats than others for each person, based on giftedness. This is where you get to learn the giftedness of your different team members and how they see through their different lenses T A S What is discipleship? P E 8

9 Practicing APEST Lenses Have your team practice operating as an APEST team. As a team, put on each APEST hat and trying describing the topic through each lens. Write your responses in the corresponding piece of pie. Some will be easier hats than others for each person, based on giftedness. This is where you get to learn the giftedness of your different team members and how they see through their different lenses T A S What is the Gospel? P E 9