Ascension Gifts (5) - Basic Tasks

The most obvious way to understand the role of the ascension ministries is to read what the scriptures say they do. Their role, which is fully described in the following verses, is:

to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ (Eph 4:12-15).

The tasks described in this passage are:

• Equipping the saints for service
• Building up the body of Christ
• Establishing unity
• Imparting knowledge of Jesus
• Helping Christians to become mature
• Binding the body together.

This is all grass roots stuff that more mature Christians (elders) would be expected to do. They are not special tasks that need high-powered regional leaders or itinerant ministries.

There is nothing special about these tasks. They are all things that elders normally do. This explains the place of the ministries described in Eph 4:11. They are nothing more than a set of different roles that elders can take.