Transform your church with the apostolic definition of ministry! Discover the steps to effective apostolic ministry and how to compel the lost and unchurched to come into the House of God. Apostolic definition comes from Apostle Paul's teachings in Ephesians 4:11 with some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and teachers. These five fold gifts are all called to equip the saints for the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ. This is part of the apostolic definition. Let's review steps to effective apostolic ministry.

First, we must understand that man cannot save himself. We live in the world that teaches we don’t need the God of the Bible. Secular humanists, for example, have educated people to believe they are gods and capable of finding their own way through life.

The sad conclusion of this doctrine is a complete moral collapse, outright corruption, lack of identity, direction, and purpose. The only salvation for humanity is Christ. Jesus said, “Come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest to your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus is still looking for disciples that will take his Gospel into the harvest fields. Unfortunately, we have a problem. churches around the world have become ineffectual in reaching the lost and unchurched. Our model of ministry, "draw people to a building with every gimmick you can think of," is not working. We need a better way, a New Testament way, an apostolic definition, an apostolic way.

Christ will return for a glorious Church that has cleared away the humanistic dross and rediscovered God’s definition for effective ministry. Ministry leaders are struggling with falling church attendance, apathy, and lukewarmness in their congregations and the lack of spiritual fervor. If we want something different, then we must do something different. We need a new model of ministry. Current church models do everything they can to draw people to their buildings to attend services. That "church model" only produces a group of people shuffled from one church to the next. No new converts.

Apostolic ministry gifts bring structure, apostolic definition, and order to the Church (Titus 1:5). We cannot expect change by doing the same thing this year that did not work the year before. To reach our cities for Christ, apostolic tactics are needed. Building apostolic teams and companies of sent ones from Antioch model ministries is one of those tactics (see Acts 13).

Instead of expecting the lost to attend our churches on their own accord we must go out and get them. This is how Christ, the founder of the Church, taught his disciples. Jesus said, “Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23). We must learn how to compel the unchurched to come into God’s house. This is the New Testament model for church growth, go get them.

Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
 www.jonasclark.com