Jesus Was Apostolic

In Season 9, Episode 1 of the Take Off Podcast, Thomas Clark begins a new season called APEST and the Collective by helping listeners understand that APEST does not begin with gifted leaders, titles, hierarchy, or personality types. It begins with Jesus.

Before the church carries apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, shepherding, and teaching functions, Jesus embodied the fullness of all five. He was sent by the Father, came near, entered the world, formed disciples, and then sent His followers. Through Ephesians 4, Thomas shows that Jesus gave gifts to His body so ministry would not be centralized in one leader, but activated throughout the whole church.

This episode challenges leader-centric models of ministry and invites listeners to see the church as the presence of Jesus, in and through the people of Jesus, everywhere, all the time. APEST is not about climbing over one another. It is about contributing together so the body reflects Jesus more fully.

This week’s “I Will” challenge invites listeners to ask Jesus how He has gifted them to contribute to the maturity and mission of His body.

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