Pastor Circle Gathering Recap
In high school, I played on our school’s football team. Saying I “played” actually means that I sat on the bench unless we were winning by a lot or losing by a lot. Either way, I got the jersey and the status of “football player.”
If you’re familiar with American football, you know the sport has different positions that come with different levels of visibility. In high school, the quarterback was the position — the one who called the plays, led the team, and threw the winning touchdowns. Meanwhile, guys like me were linemen. We weren’t known for our speed or agility, but we could get in someone’s way and stop them from getting to the quarterback.
The lineman may not get the glory, but if he’s not doing his job, the quarterback doesn’t make a play. And that’s the point — every position matters. Without linemen, receivers, kickers, and fullbacks doing their jobs, the team can’t function properly. Can you imagine an entire team made up of quarterbacks? You’d have a lot of leadership and no protection. It takes a full team of the right roles to win.
That’s where our discussion at this month’s Pastor Circle community gathering began — with the reminder that the Church needs the same kind of balance and teamwork.
🎥 Catch the full “Do you have a full team” recap video here:
The Gifts That Build the Church
As we talked through Ephesians 4, we were reminded that Christ gave specific gifts to the Church — apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers — each with a unique purpose in building up the body of Christ.
Paul wrote:
“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.”
(Ephesians 4:11–12)
Before unpacking the gifts themselves, we paused to consider why they’re important. Paul tells us that these gifts exist “to equip God’s people” and “build up the body.” They aren’t about titles or hierarchy — they’re about unity and growth.
Just like every position on a football field serves a purpose, every spiritual gift matters. The apostle’s vision, the prophet’s discernment, the evangelist’s passion, the pastor’s care, and the teacher’s wisdom all work together to strengthen the Church.
Paul says it beautifully later in the same chapter:
“He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
(Ephesians 4:16)
The Gifts vs. The Titles
This was one of the biggest takeaways from our conversation. Too often, churches see these as titles to fill or ranks to assign. But Paul never called them titles — he called them gifts.
Each gift is equally important and necessary:
The apostle pioneers new ground.
The prophet listens for God’s direction.
The evangelist spreads the Gospel.
The pastor shepherds and cares for the flock.
The teacher helps others understand the Word.
If we’re missing one of these gifts, we’re missing part of what makes the Church whole.
Overcoming Hesitations About Certain Gifts
Many of us admitted that some gifts come with baggage. Maybe we’ve encountered someone claiming to be a prophet who spoke words that didn’t align with Scripture. Maybe we’ve seen evangelists whose methods caused more harm than good.
But this month’s conversation reminded us that one negative experience shouldn’t cause us to dismiss an entire gift. God still uses apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers — not for personal glory, but to build up His Church.
And sometimes, the people most gifted in these ways don’t carry the title at all. The most anointed prophet I’ve met was a quiet, prayerful mom who carried the peace of the Holy Spirit into every room she entered. The most powerful evangelist I’ve known simply kept bottled water and snacks in his car — always ready to show the love of Christ to someone in need.
Their gifts weren’t flashy, but they were deeply fruitful.
Do You Have the Full Team?
Paul’s challenge to the Ephesians becomes our challenge today: if we want our churches to grow in unity and maturity, we need the full team.
That doesn’t mean recruiting titles — it means recognizing the gifts already in your midst. Maybe the prophet is the person who quietly speaks peace and truth. Maybe the teacher is the one explaining Scripture at a coffee shop. Maybe the apostle is the dreamer in your leadership meeting.
Often, the gifts are already there — they just need to be recognized and released.
The Challenge for This Month
Our high school team made it all the way to the State Championship — not because we had the best quarterback, but because we had a balanced team that played every role well. The same is true for the Church.
Take time this month to evaluate your “team.” Do you have the gifts represented? Are they empowered to serve in their calling? When every part of the body does its work, the Church grows — healthy, unified, and full of love.
Reflection Questions
When you look at your church or ministry team, which of the Ephesians 4 gifts do you see clearly represented?
Are there any gifts that seem to be missing or underdeveloped?
How can you intentionally empower people with different gifts — even if their approach or personality is different from yours?
What might unity look like in your ministry if every gift was encouraged and active?
How could your leadership change if you focused more on equipping others than filling roles?
Let’s talk about it!
If you’re walking through a season where you could use encouragement, prayer, or Biblical guidance — we’d love to connect with you. Our pastoral team offers free, confidential support for ministry leaders from every denomination and background. Whether you’re navigating challenges in life, leadership, marriage, or family, you don’t have to face it alone.
Every conversation is approached prayerfully and grounded in Biblically sound, nondenominational truth. Reach out today — we’d be honored to walk with you.