Who are evangelists, pastors, and teachers meant to edify?
Evangelists, pastors, and teachers are meant to edify the Body of Christ, not themselves. God gave these gifts to mature the saints, move believers from infancy and carnality to meat-eating maturity, and equip them for the work of ministry so they can win souls.
Les teaches that Ephesians explains three basic gifts the Church needs: evangelists who preach salvation, pastors, and teachers. Their purpose is the perfecting and maturing of the saints, bringing them from infancy and carnality, fed on the milk bottle, up to meat-eating believers. They are for the work of the ministry and for edifying the Body of Christ, not the pastors, teachers, and evangelists themselves. Les maintains the primary purpose of the Church is to feed its members so they can go out as soul winners, as the early church did.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Why did God give the church evangelists, pastors, and teachers?
God gave evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the perfecting and maturing of the saints, moving believers from spiritual infancy and carnality to meat-eating maturity, for the work of ministry, and for edifying the Body of Christ, so church members can be fed and become soul winners.
What is the purpose of evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the work of the ministry?
Evangelists, pastors, and teachers are given for the perfecting and maturing of the saints, bringing believers from infancy and carnality to spiritual maturity. They equip the Body of Christ for the work of ministry and edification, so members can go out as soul winners.