Sterling Dean Davidson

Five Smooth Stones: a Study of the Five-fold Ministry Sterling Dean Davidson

Publisher Marketing: Five Smooth Stones is a book about ministry in the Church. It is a comparison of the ministry model as described in the scripture with the one most often in use today. Using the as an allegory the account of David slaying Goliath, the five stones he retrieved from the stream represent the five-fold ministry mentioned in the book of Ephesians chapter 4. The need for members to be "built up" is considered, as well as how the stones represent the building process... in as much as the Hebrew word for stone means "to build." Scripture declares that within the church there are to be five distinct ministries and they are the means by which the church is to be brought to completion (or "perfection" as used in Ephesians). As the church dispensation comes to the completion of its age, the time for completion is at hand and the time for the restoration of all God ordained ministries is at hand as well. The modern church has had for its basis primarily a pastoral ministry emphasis. This book explores the need to move beyond that model and enter into a more apostolic basis as the Lord prepares it for His return for the bride (church) "without spot or wrinkle." The early church using the five-fold model, as recorded in the book of Acts, was said to have turned the world "upside down." The modern church has not so much turned the world upside down, but is barely holding its own as far as its influence upon the world that it was sent to reach is concerned. Society is not being turned upside down for righteousness, but is fighting to stave off the confusion wrought by a world teaching there is no right and wrong... except the wrong of believing there is a right and wrong. The message has been propagated that tolerance of evil is the Holy Grail of societal acceptance. This is the giant of our day and it will take five smooth stones in the bag of preparation to cause the church to rise up in its intended faith and strength to slay the Goliath standing before it. Rising up are five God ordained ministry types that will bring to the church a multifaceted leadership working in cooperation within itself, which will impart to the church the needed edification. The single focused pastoral based ministry, which too often breeds competition, will give way to the agreement of the five, thus facilitating the last hour spiritual orchestration intended from the inception of the church. Spiritual exploits will be the result of this needed change. The change you are challenged to consider as you read this book... may there be a David among you!