Cheryl Schatz

Dave,

Ephesians 4:7-14 also suggests this (if I am reading it right) as Christ has given the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers to build the body of Christ – not so some lucky chump could say “Hey I got the teaching gift…yeah!”. The reason the gifts are given is not for the individual, but for the body.

This is also what I believe. This is why I don’t believe that the gifts were only for a time period (with an expiry date!). The church needs the gifts of all members of the body of Christ. I need the gifts given to me by those who care to grow me in the faith. We are in a difficult time when the church is under a lot of attack and the enemy would like to steal, kill and destroy. There has never been a better time for the edification of the church.