THE POWER OF PARTNERING IN THE MINISTRY

[This is part 2 of Dr. Mark Golden’s message delivered at the recent meeting of Haywood Baptists from Philippians 1:3-5.]

First let’s note the POWER of being Partners in the Gospel, found in verse 5.

To understand the power Paul speaks of, we must look closely at his use of the word koinonia in verse 5 ("because of your partnership in the gospel"). We hear "fellowship" and think of casual social gatherings, but first-century Greeks would hear koinonia as a legal and commercial term. It described shareholders who bound themselves together in a joint business venture. They pooled their capital, shared the physical labor, braved the same storms, and divided the catch.

Paul's timeline: “from the first day until now.” The Philippian church didn't just send Paul a one-time check when it was convenient; they maintained a relentless, enduring pipeline of support. The power of this partnership lay in its consistency. When Paul was preaching in Thessalonica, they sent aid (Philippians 4:16). When he was suffering in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus with supplies (Philippians 4:18).

God never designed the local church to be a solitary fortress. While every local Baptist church is autonomous, our autonomy should never breed isolation. There is a distinct, supernatural power unlocked when individual congregations intentionally link arms. We multiply our resources, unify our voice against a hostile culture, and provide a protective shield of mutual encouragement for weary pastors and leaders.

The Giant Sequoia trees of Northern California are some of the largest living organisms on earth, growing up to 300 feet tall. You would assume that trees of that size must have deep taproots driving hundreds of feet into the earth to stay upright.  Their root systems are incredibly shallow, often going down only four to five feet. How do they withstand roaring winds and fierce storms? They grow closely together in groves, and their roots spread out horizontally, intertwining with the roots of the neighboring Sequoias. When the wind blows, they don't stand on their own strength; they hold each other up. An isolated Sequoia will quickly fall, but a grove stands for thousands of years. The power of an association is the intertwining of our roots.

How has God called you to be more involved in your home church?  How can you cooperate with the Association?  How can we invest and lock arms to do ministry for the glory of God?  It begins with surrender, Lord, here am I—send me!!!!