5-Fold Ministry: Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers

And He gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11)

EVANGELISTS

An evangelist has a special ability to share the Gospel in a way that men and women respond and become responsible members of the Body of Christ. The meaning of the word "evangelist" is "one who brings good news".

The Word evangelist occurs three times in the New Testament. In Ephesians it is listed as one of the special gifts:

And He gave some...evangelists... (Ephesians 4:11)

Timothy is told by Apostle Paul to do the work of an evangelist:

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (II Timothy 4:5)

Although all believers are to "do the work of an evangelist" and share the Gospel with others, God gives some the special gift of being an evangelist. Philip was one who had the spiritual gift of being an evangelist:

And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. (Acts 21:8)

Philip was ordained by man as a deacon in the church

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.  And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: (Acts 6:3-5)

Pastors:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:11)

This is the only place in the King James version of the New Testament where the word "pastor" is used. The Greek word "pastor" actually means shepherd. (The New Testament was originally written in Greek).   Pastors are leaders who assume long-term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers.  Because the word means shepherd, pastors should follow the example set by Jesus Christ as a "pastor" or "shepherd" of people:

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep... (Hebrews 13:20)

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (I Peter 2:25)

Jesus also referred to Himself as the good shepherd and listed some of the functions of a shepherd:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.  John 10:1-5

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.   I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.   I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.   I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.   John 10:7-16

The Bible mentions the office of a bishop (I Timothy 3). Many believe this is the same as a pastor because of the following verse spoken of Jesus:

For ye were as sheep going astray: but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (I Peter 2:25)

The spiritual requirements for bishops, elders, and deacons, which were positions of leadership in the early church, should certainly also be met by one who would lead these people as a pastor.  

Before you call yourself a Pastor:  

The responsibilities of a pastor are to spiritually feed and protect those under his ministry. This is to be done with a proper motive and not just for financial gain:

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)

Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready minds; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.  (I Peter 5:2-4)

The word "pastor" is used in the Old Testament only in the book of Jeremiah. Here, God gives special warnings to pastors:

The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. (Jeremiah 2:8)

For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord; therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. (Jeremiah 10:21)

Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.  They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate because no man layeth it to heart.  (Jeremiah 12:10)

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture, saith the Lord.  Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and drive them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-2)

 TEACHERS

Teachers are believers who have the special ability of communicating the Word of God effectively in such a way that others learn and apply what is taught. Teaching involves training, not just communicating information.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.    (1 Corinthians 12:28)

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; (Romans 12:7)

Not all believers receive the special gift of teaching. Paul asked:

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (1 Corinthians 12:29)

His answer to this question was "no". God gives some the special gift of teaching.

The special gift of being a teacher differs from the speaking gift of teaching just as being a prophet differs from the speaking gift of prophecy.  Scripture shows teachers in a special leadership position [along with the prophets] in guiding the ministry of Paul and Barnabas.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.  So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.   Acts 13:1-4

All believers do not have the special gift of teaching or the speaking gift of teaching. But all believers are to be involved in teaching the basic Gospel message:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (Hebrews 5:12)

Before you call yourself a Teacher:

All mature believers are to be involved in teaching the Gospel whether or not they have the special gift of teaching.

The Bible warns of false teachers. These are people who claim to have the gift of teaching but do not teach the true Word of God:

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Timothy 4:3-4)

Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.  Isaiah 43:27

2 Peter 2 and the book of Jude list some of the personal characteristics by which you can recognize false teachers.

It is possible to have a wrong motive when teaching. You should not teach just for financial gain:

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre's sake. (Titus 1:11)

Those who have been taught God's Word should teach faithful believers who will be able to teach others:

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. (Galatians 6:6)

And the same thing that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.  (2 Timothy 2:2)

This is the pattern of continuous teaching that, if followed, rapidly multiplies to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

A person with the spiritual gift of teaching does not teach man's wisdom:

Which things also we speak, not in the word which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13)

A teacher should have Godly understanding and wisdom. Paul warns against those who are...

Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. (1 Timothy 1:7)

He stresses the importance of teaching with wisdom:

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:27-28)

Teachers must live what they teach:

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? (Romans 2:21-22)

Teachers will be judged on the basis of what they have taught:

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. (James 3:1)

Why did God place these special gifts in the house?

For the perfecting of the saints,

for the work of the ministry,

for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Ephesians 4:12

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