Ephesians 4:11-13 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
An apostle is fundamentally a “messenger” or “one who is sent out” (from the Greek apostolos), acting as an authorized ambassador or envoy. In Christianity, this refers to the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus to spread his teachings, as well as early leaders like Paul, focusing on mission-driven, pioneering ministry.
Key Aspects of an Apostle:
- Definition & Origin: Derived from the Greek apo (“from”) and stellein (“to send”), it implies a person sent with a specific, important commission, going beyond just a messenger to a delegate.
- The Twelve Apostles: The primary, original group selected by Jesus to preach the gospel, which included Peter, Andrew, James, John, and others, with Matthias replacing Judas Iscariot.
- Paul the Apostle: Often called the “Apostle to the Gentiles,” he was not part of the original twelve but considered an apostle due to his direct calling by Christ and his extensive missionary work.
- Broader Meaning: The term can also refer to any early Christian missionary, a, leader who establishes a new church, or, in a non-religious context, an ardent supporter of a new cause or reform movement.
- Distinction from Disciple: While a disciple is a “learner” or follower, an apostle is one sent forth to act with authority, notes Study.com.
Well! As if the call to discipleship wasn’t strenuous enough, now we must consider possibly going even further, examining the call to become apostles. But if an apostle is “one sent forth to act with authority,” who does the sending? How do we know where to go? And what mission will we have?
The question is this: Should we be content with merely being disciples, or should we ask God if He wants us to become apostles in addition? Apostleship can take all kinds of forms, but God will generally send us to specific people groups. What is a people group? “For evangelization purposes, a people group is the largest group within which the Gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance” (Source: 1982 Lausanne Committee Chicago meeting.)
People groups can be defined in all kinds of ways, sometimes by ethnicity and other times by profession. During one missionary training school years ago, we met a couple who had become apostles to taxicab drivers in Hong Kong. Due to the exigencies of the work, many of these drivers had no homes, but basically lived in their cabs. This couple identified places where the cab drivers congregated and then met with them, teaching them about Jesus and giving them Christian literature and Bibles so that they could read while waiting for new customers.
Apostleship is not limited to men. One missionary wife in Ghana found herself in a suburb with a number of wealthy Lebanese ladies who were bored and spiritually hungry. For several years, this lady led a very effective Bible study, showing the Bible study members the way to Jesus. At the same time, this lady also witnessed to other young mothers sending their children to the same schools her children attended, thus reaching two different people groups.
We have a young missionary friend who is an apostle to the Asheninka Indians in Peru. With his Peruvian wife Karla, our friend Isaiah travels extensively by canoe, preaching, teaching, and establishing churches. Some of Isaiah’s adventures sound as if they have come straight from the Book of Acts. But must apostleship be this dramatic?
Much of the most effective evangelism is carried out in quiet meetings with a few people. The Contagious Disciple Making movement teaches ordinary Christians how to reach their friends and neighbors in small meetings. In countries where churches might be attacked and Christians’ lives are at risk, small meetings under trees or on verandahs are far more effective than attempting large crusades. And while large crusades do have a place, if converts do not receive effective teaching after the crusade ends, little is gained.
My husband used to travel to villages with a team showing the Jesus Film in a local language. Part of the ministry of the Jesus Film project involves local churches committing to follow up after the film has been shown. Although a local church had promised to handle the follow-up in this village, they later refused, whining about the cost of fueling a motorcycle to send workers to the village, etc. When the team returned to show the film in that village a second time, a leader came to the team and said something very sad. “Last time, you came and showed the film, and we accepted Jesus. But nobody came to teach us. Before we saw the film, we were animists and Muslims. But without teaching, what are we now?”
Romans 10:14-15 tells us, “But how can they call on Him if they have not put their trust in Him? And how can they put their trust in Him if they have not heard of Him? And how can they hear of Him unless someone tells them? And how can someone tell them if he is not sent? The Holy Writings say, “The feet of those who bring the Good News are beautiful.”
God calls all of us to reach the people around us; however, not all of us are listening. When Isaiah received his calling as a prophet, there were others in the temple that same morning, but he was the only one watching and waiting for God to speak. Today, why not ask God to show you the person or persons to whom He is sending you? And then see the opportunities that God will present and begin to act on them. When you start with something small, God can use that and multiply it.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, please help all those who read these words to hear the call You are placing on their lives. Send forth Your apostles! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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