They are like five farmers producing five different crops, but when they are all operating, the five harvests are the ingredients that combine into the perfect “nutrition” for sustaining the church. The Christlikeness that we desire to see in the church—and that the world is waiting for from the church—cannot be grown, harvested, and produced if we

If a church is built on the apostolic model, then we will see issues being confronted and dealt with much more assertively because the comfort of the sheep is not the main concern.

We must recognize that we are equal in Christ, but we do not have equal metrons, equal callings, or equal graces. This was Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 12: And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are al

Honoring the grace we see on someone’s life is how we receive the benefit of their grace into our own life. If we can recognize what grace and metron someone is walking in, then we can receive them properly and receive from them: Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a ri

If we are going to build with care, as Paul admonishes the Corinthians, we must build on the foundation of Jesus (the Apostle) and the other apostles. So everything that the modern church does must be built on an apostolic foundation. If we continue building on the pastoral foundation that tradition has handed us, that foundation could be seriously

although in Christ, we are all equal, in grace we are not all equal. I am not speaking of saving grace, which is poured out equally to all (Titus 2:11); I am speaking of the empowering grace for fivefold leadership. This is a unique measure of grace that is given specifically for you to minister to your metron. (You do not have grace to operate out

The Old Testament tells us a lot more about anointing than the New Testament does. Kings, prophets, and priests were all anointed in the Old Testament. The anointing did not come and go. It was applied and remained. Even in the case of evil King Saul, David recognized him as the Lord’s “anointed” long after God had rejected him as the chosen king.

All Christian leaders should be able to confidently (and humbly) say, “Read my life, follow my example, and imitate me. If you want to be like Jesus, be like me!” If you cannot say this about yourself to your followers, then you probably shouldn’t be leading.

Grace is given not only based on calling and metron, but also based on humility. Some are humble and receive more grace; some are arrogant and lose what they have: