Not Qualified?

Not to be contentious, but Jesus nor any of His inner circle had "degrees". I think most of them were illiterate fisherman. Some think they had the special advantage of being in His physical presence for 3 1/2 years, but at the cross they all abandoned Him.

I do not think we are disadvantaged today because we lack His physical presence and have to rely on His spiritual indwelling. In many ways we are privileged to be even closer to Him then they were.

His indwelling may not qualify us to deliver 3 point sermons or manage a local church corporation but it does qualify us to share His message as authoritatively and effectively as the original disciples.

As I have said before Jesus Himself would never make it past the 99.9% of the pastoral search committees today