Apostles & Prophets: Their Roles in the Past, the Present, and the Last DaysSample

God’s Apostolic Vision for the Church

In Colossians 1:25-29, Paul states his apostolic passion — to reveal the mystery of the Church — and his words echo the heartbeat of every person who is genuinely called into a Christ-given fivefold-ministry position. Paul was consumed with the mystery of God in the Church, and he embraced and stewarded it as his calling to reveal it to the saints.

Paul, throughout Scripture, metaphorically compares the Church to a vineyard, a temple, and a body. Each of these metaphors for the Church is unique and important in revealing the apostolic vision for the Church.

In First Corinthians 3:6-9, Paul compared the Church to a vineyard. In these verses, Paul also depicted the various roles different people play in the growth and fruitfulness of the vineyard. For example, Paul described his role in Corinth as a planter. Of course, as a Christ-given apostle, he was indeed a planter — or a foundation-layer — as the work first got started.

Paul was anointed to forge into new territory and challenge the powers of darkness in order to plant. He was endowed with an anointing to find God-given opportunities, to push open those doors, and then to plant seeds for the Gospel that would grow into churches. He had to press forward and till the ground with the very power of God.

When he finally left that city to pursue his apostolic calling in another city, the Corinthian church had not only been planted — it was deeply rooted and producing good fruit! Paul was also fully aware of where his responsibility ended, and another’s responsibility began. That is why he said in First Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”

Paul had his part in planting, then Apollos came along and watered what had been planted, but God actually caused the church to grow and increase. Various workers can till the ground, plant the seeds, pull the weeds, and lavishly water what has been planted, but only God can provide the blessing to make it all grow.

We can nurture the soil, plant seeds, and water the work of our planting — and, of course, we do all of that by God’s grace, gifts, provision, and power. But only He can ultimately cause growth. Therefore, even with all the help of faithful people who do their essential parts, God is the most important Partner in building the Church.

Questions to Discuss:

Today you read that Paul metaphorically compared the Church to a vineyard. Can you, in your own words, explain why Paul used this metaphor to depict the Church?