When Christians aren’t submitted to and in tune with the Spirit, they aren’t on the same page with each other. Every Christ-follower needs to be trained to continually and actively hear the living Jesus and do what He tells them to.

I want to let my heart freely frolic with the living Jesus. Don’t fence me in.

In Ephesians, the Bible lists five roles to help Christians keep each other connected to and rolling along with the living Jesus. They aren’t offices or titles, but servant gifts designed to empower all Christ-followers to be led by the Spirit and to frolic with God’s joy.

The five roles are supposed to connect people with Christ, the living Head, so they can be joined and held together by Him as one body. To function in the five roles in Ephesians requires that we “be completely humble and gentle…patient, bearing with one another in love.

The goal of the five roles is to train Jesus’ followers to live and love like He does and be united in their relationship with Him. The 5 roles are to steer people clear of getting stuck in the rut of continually being taught but not doing what they ought.

Here are the five roles of Ephesians 4:

• Apostles are envoys sent to humbly demonstrate the presence and reality of the living, resurrected Jesus.
• Prophets are seers who courageously proclaim and do what God shows them, no matter what it costs them.
• Evangelists are persuaders who live and speak in a way that touches people’s heart and convinces to surrender to and obey Jesus.
• Pastors are shepherds who support and coach people as they help them follow Jesus, not themselves or an organization.
• Teachers are trainers giving people hands-on experience in the skills and knowledge that they need to be disciples of Jesus.