So Christ
himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up until we
all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians
4:11-13
According to Paul, Christ gave the leaders of the church
the power and ability to equip the saints (His people) for works of
service. The church staff must help the
people do the work of the Gospel (i.e. going out to all the world and
disciplining all nations). Like coaches
on a baseball team, they don’t jump on the field, but the know how to help
others be their best on the field.