Discovering Your Role in God’s Fivefold Ministry with Accurate Personality Testing
God’s new covenant church is around 2,000 years old – be careful with all those birthday candles! Exponential growth started in the first century, although it was in the face of tremendous opposition, and expansion continues today. Like today, clarity was often needed as there were fast paced developments across a number of different cultures. One of the most striking events in this period was the conversion of Saul into Paul, a man who initially persecuted Christians but later became one of the church’s greatest leaders. God equipped Paul with gifts long before his conversion, and once he aligned with God’s will, Paul was able to lead with wisdom, establishing many churches and guiding others with leadership and framework.
In a letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul explained how God equips His people with unique gifts to serve in the body of Christ. This was likely met with elevated curiosity then, just as it is today. Ephesians 4:11-13 (NASB): “And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until (emphasis added) we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
These five roles—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—are what we now refer to as the Fivefold Ministry (maybe you say 5-fold or 5 fold). They represent different ways in which God has equipped His people to serve His church. But how do we know which role we are called to fulfill? How can we discover the specific gifts God has placed within us? That’s where the Authentic Behavior Contrast system comes in with accurate personality testing of your every like (preference) and dislike (aversion). By embracing the biblical Fivefold Ministry and revealing how your God-given traits naturally fit into these roles, ABContrast helps you discover your authentic self as God created you.
Why the Authentic Behavior Contrast Is the Best Tool for Discovering Your Authentic Nature
God’s plan for each of us is unique, and while the Fivefold Ministry outlines broad roles, ABContrast offers a personalized, in-depth look at how you can best serve in His kingdom. Unlike other systems that may offer relatively simplistic and rather rigid categorization methods, the Authentic Behavior Contrast measures your true nature across multiple dimensions, giving you a full picture of who you are. Through ABContrast, you’ll gain insight into your strengths, your place in the Fivefold Ministry, and how you can best contribute to the body of Christ. This system offers the most accurate and God-centered way to discover your authentic self as He created you. And yes, we even reveal what behaviors in yourself and others that you’ll need to especially watch out for.
The Fivefold Ministry described in Ephesians 4 represents different aspects of God’s plan for the church. Each role serves a vital purpose in building up the body of Christ, leading to unity, maturity, and love. Paul teaches that while Christ embodies the fullness of all five roles, we should each reflect a piece of that divine puzzle. But how do we know which role we are called to? This is where ABContrast shines—it helps you discover your God-given strengths and how you are uniquely equipped to serve. Whether you are apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastoral, or a teacher, ABContrast reveals how your natural tendencies fit into God’s greater plan.
The Fivefold Ministry and ABContrast’s H.E.A.D.S. main types: A Divine Alignment
The Fivefold Ministry described by Paul in Ephesians aligns perfectly with the five main types in the ABContrast system: Harmonic, Empathic, Autocratic, Dynamic, and Static. ABContrast provides a modern, faith-based approach to uncovering how God has wired you to serve in the church and the world. Let’s take a closer look at each of the Fivefold Ministry roles, their corresponding ABContrast types, the original Greek terminology with Strong’s Concordance numbers, and we’ll even touch on a few biblical characters who exemplified these gifts.
Apostolic (Autocratic)
The role of the apostle is described in Ephesians 4:11 with the Greek word apóstolos (Strong’s 652), meaning “one sent forth” or “a delegate.” Apostles are visionaries, sent to establish new foundations of kingdom expansion and to lead others toward growth. This role aligns with the Autocratic type in ABContrast, which is forward and practical, driven to lead with decisiveness and purpose. Example: Paul (formerly Saul), who was commissioned by Christ to bring the gospel to the Gentiles and establish churches (Acts 13:2).
Prophetic (Static)
Prophets speak God’s truth, often providing guidance and correction. The Greek term prophḗtēs (Strong’s 4396) means “one who speaks forth” or “declares the mind of God.” The Static type in ABContrast, which is reserved and practical, mirrors the role of prophets, who maintain stability and offer discerning guidance. Example: Deborah, a prophetess and judge, provided wisdom and leadership in a time of national crisis (Judges 4:4-5).
Evangelistic (Dynamic)
Evangelists are called to spread the gospel with energy and enthusiasm. The Greek word euaggelistḗs (Strong’s 2099) refers to one who announces the good news. This role aligns with the Dynamic type in ABContrast, which is forward and interpersonal, engaging with others to share the gospel and inspire transformation. Example: John the Baptist, who proclaimed the coming of the Messiah and called people to repentance (Matthew 3:1).
Pastoral/Shepherding (Empathic)
Pastors, or shepherds, care for and nurture the flock, both spiritually and emotionally. The Greek word poimḗn (Strong’s 4166) describes a shepherd who tends to the well-being of God’s people. This aligns with the Empathic type in ABContrast, which is reserved and interpersonal, focused on tending to the emotional and relational needs of others. Example: David, the shepherd-king, cared for others with compassionate humility (1 Samuel 16:11-13). Note: American culture commonly applies the title of “PASTOR” (a centuries old Latin word derivative of pasture and shepherd) to the heads of churches, but you’ll soon discover that many of these preachers have stronger giftsets in other parts of the fivefold.
Teaching (Harmonic)
Teachers provide clarity and equip others to understand and apply God’s word. The Greek word didáskalos (Strong’s 1320) refers to one skilled in teaching or instruction. This role aligns with the Harmonic type in ABContrast, which balances all four directions—forward, reserved, practical, and interpersonal—to bring stability and wisdom to others. Example: Apollos, known for his eloquence and knowledge of the Scriptures, helped strengthen the early believers (Acts 18:24-28). Note: A teaching gift is commonly interwoven in combination with another fivefold strength. Harmonic / Teaching is an integral part of 25/49 ABContrast types and type pairings.
The 4-5-6 of ABContrast: God’s Fingerprint in Every Part of You
ABContrast can go well beyond the four directions (and combinations thereof) that comprise these five main types with the areas of application. Key to revealing how your preferences and behavior align are six key areas of life: thinking, socialization, leading, following, relationship and teamwork. These areas show how God’s fingerprint is layered within you, shaping the way you interact, lead, and serve. The different plans showcase different areas, or the ABSOLUTE plan includes them all.
Each area reflects a different facet of your authentic nature, uncovering how you can best use your gifts for the body of Christ. For instance, in the Command area, you may naturally excel in leadership, similar to the Autocratic type. In the Contribution area, you may find yourself more inclined to help and serve, much like the Empathic type’s nature.
By measuring your natural tendencies across these areas, ABContrast provides a comprehensive map of how God has designed you to function, both in ministry to others and in your everyday life. This layered understanding helps you embrace your role with clarity, aligning your actions with God’s intent. It’s also much easier to understand other people’s approaches that differ from your own – they were built differently and for alternate function. Nobody needs two left feet, right? Everyone is a bit different for a reason!
Ready to Take Action? : Embrace Your Authentic Role in God’s Kingdom
God has given each of us unique gifts to serve in His church. Whether you are an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher, your role is vital to the body of Christ. ABContrast helps you uncover your God-given strengths, providing clarity about your role in His kingdom.
By understanding how your gifts align with the Fivefold Ministry and exploring the six areas of ABContrast, you can fully embrace your place in God’s plan. We are each part of the body of Christ, and ABContrast helps us see how we fit together, building the church in unity, maturity, and love. Your results report will indicate you as one of 49 types in each area. Simply overlay the charts within to the FiveFold matrix image! Our products are constantly being developed for feature richness and ease of interpretation, so check back from time to time.
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