MINISTRY PARTNERSHIPS-VI—Luke 1:56(1:39-56)
Attention:
Max & Tommy were brothers. They loved each other. Tommy had been an alcoholic who had allowed his addiction to ruin his life & relationships, including the relationship he had with his brother Max. But after all that, Tommy was wonderously & radically saved by Jesus! Upon his trusting Christ, Tommy readily gave up his addiction! He & Max reestablished their relationship as brothers, who were now also, brothers in Christ!
They spent time with each other most every day. They would normally meet around lunch-time. They regularly met on the porch of an abandoned restaurant that sat under the shade of the pines & live oaks that were covered in spanish moss hanging from the limbs. The property surrounding the abandoned restaurant was untended & was overgrown with native palm tree & yaupon holly bushes(weeds in Florida!). The porch & property was located directly across the street from the side of the church house.
Max & Tommy would occasionally eat lunch together there. But most of the time they just met with a few local guys that they knew or had grown up with. They would all voice their complaints, brag on their families, & solve the world’s problems together. They would ‘shoot the breeze’ for a solid hour or more—some of them were well-retired. But more than anything, the guys just enjoyed one-another’s company.
When I was their pastor, Max & Tommy attended church together. And they always got along real well together. And what a joy it was to be around them! They were both skilled in carpentry, electrical work, & they quickly tackled most any need the church had. They were dependable workers together in the church.....
.....HOWEVER, Neither Max nor Tommy really enjoyed working on a project together! Each one of them would fuss about the other! Tommy was super precise about anything he did. And Max would fuss about him saying, “Tommy would measure ‘five times’ before he made the first cut!” On the other hand, in Tommy’s eyes, Max was too willing say “Yes!” to any project without first counting the cost.....
So, Tommy thought Max was too brazen, & Max thought Tommy was overly analytical. Together, whatever task was at hand, they conquered well, so that God gained the glory!
Despite their different approaches, their love for one another as brothers, & as Christian brothers shown thru. And their love for the things of God, & particularly the Church(local & otherwise), overshadowed any temptation for either of them to go it alone, or to simply give up!
Need:
Ministry Partnerships bring both challenge & reward!
Ministry Partnerships teach us about the importance of Christian teamwork, as we work toward common goals. They reveal the significance of depending upon God.
Those partnerships can help us to see the personal weaknesses & strengths that God has blessed us with, & that He works thru & with.
Ministry Partnerships help divulge & complete our passions & giftedness in the Lord.
Ministry Partnerships show us the power of God to overcome our human weakness.
Elizabeth & Mary shared their experiences as ministry partners in God’s service.
Ministry partnership fosters a sharing of experience in God’s service.
BUT, What exactly do ministry partnerships share?
Not only do Ministry Partnerships share...
1. EXCITEMENT(:39-40)
2. GOD’s BLESSING(:41-45)
&
3. GOD’s MAGNIFICATION(:46-55)
Through His Regard for...
a. the LOWLY(:46-49)
b. the FAITHFUL(:50)
c. the WEAK(:51-53)
d. the CHOSEN(:54-55)
Today, we will look at the fact that:
4—Ministry Partnerships also share...
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY(:56)
Explanation: (:56)Place
:56—“And Mary remained with her about three months, & returned to her house.”
“Mary” “remained with” her relative(:36) Elizabeth, for around “three months.”
•That puts Elizabeth’s pregnancy within the normal limits of a 9-month pregnancy(:26, 36, 56). And indeed, the very next verse(:57) tells us that Elizabeth’s time came to birth her promised son, John.
•Thus during her visit, we may be tempted to believe that “Mary” witnessed John’s birth. However, verses :56-58 suggest Mary’s absence!
*“Mary” then “returned” from her visit with Elizabeth to her” home in Nazareth.(:26).
Ministry Partnerships share the Excitement(:39-40), God’s Blessing(:41-45), & God’s Magnification(:46-55) in every instance—whenever & wherever God plants, whenever & wherever God calls, whenever & wherever God equips, & whenever & wherever God leads them.
Every work of God is specific to each of us. We must answer His individual calling. And we must continue to answer even as it intersects & involves our Ministry Partnerships.
Every aspect of our individual calling must be surrendered to God’s power, whether on our own, or in Partnership with other believers.
We each have a Personal Responsibility to allow God to accomplish the work to which He has called us, every moment of every day, & in every Partnership & in every Place!
Argumentation:
*Php. 4:10-14—“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, & I know how to abound. Everywhere & in all things I have learned both to be full & to be hungry, both to abound & to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Nevertheless you[plural] have done well that you[plural] shared in my distress.”
Paul had learned his personal responsibility—that he must conform to each situation according to God’s will. And thru him, the church at Philippi did the same...they responded to needs as given opportunity & as equipped. And so can you & me!
*Jn. 14:12-18—““Most assuredly, I[Jesus] say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; & greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, & He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you & will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
•The Holy Spirit is PRESENT In EVERY TRUE BELIEVER, no matter where you are, or who you are with, or who you are not with...or whether you’re in a chaotic situation, or a pleasant one!
Mat. 6:5-6—““And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues & on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, & when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; & your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
*Rom. 16:21-24—“Timothy, my fellow worker, & Lucius, Jason, & Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host & the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, & Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
•Each of these named individuals were personally responsible for their walk in Christ! They were answerable to God, both individually as well as corporately!
1Cor. 16:19-24—“The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila & Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The salutation with my own hand--Paul’s. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
•AGAIN—Each of the people addressed here were personally responsible for their walk in Christ! They were answerable to God, both individually as well as corporately!
2Cor. 1:21, 24—“Now He who establishes us with you[plural] in Christ & has anointed us is God,”..... “we”....“are fellow workers for your[plural] joy; for by faith you[plural] stand.”
Acts 2:38-47—“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, & let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; & you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you & to your children, & to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” And with many other words he testified & exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; & that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine & fellowship, in the breaking of bread, & in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, & many wonders & signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, & had all things in common, & sold their possessions & goods, & divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord[in harmony with] in the temple, & breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness & simplicity of heart, praising God & having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Illustration:
The other week, a couple members from the SalemBC ‘Properties Committee’ conducted an inspection of the parsonage/pastorium. They were making sure there was no damage or anything like that. They got to see first-hand, whether my wife & I were Responsible Tenants. AND my wife & I got to see first-hand, whether SalemBC was a responsible landlord! We both shared concerns & needs for the parsonage/pastorium aspect regarding the upkeep of the church’s property.
We each have & take PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!...Together
In congregational worship we get pumped up to serve God! Surrounded by others of like belief. We serve together thru various church ministries. We are Driven by the same Spirit, message & desire. We all serve Christ individually, who gather together as the Church in order to serve responsibly, together. We have to take on PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY!
After an inspirational-motivational meeting we always have to return to our reality. To do our individual part—Pull our own weight in serving God. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Application:
?Do YOUR Ministry Partnerships share The PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY of God’s service?
?Are YOU a committed Partner in God’s service?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Remember Max & Tommy’s partnership!...They had a love for one another, the Lord, & for their work in the Lord together!
Likewise, God’s people have great potential when they work together & face obstacles together, in God’s service!
Action:
Ministry Partnerships share...
4. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY(:56)
1. EXCITEMENT(:39-40)
2. GOD’s BLESSING(:41-45)
3. GOD’s MAGNIFICATION(:46-55)[parts-1-3]
THRU His Regard for:
a. the LOWLY(:46-49)
b. the FAITHFUL(:50)
c. the WEAK(:51-53)
d. the CHOSEN(:54-55)
Pt#-4[1:56] only! Presented 03/16/2025am to:
Salem Baptist Church
1618 Salem Rd.
Bennettsville, SC 29512
Pt#s3-4 Presented 02/13/2011am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
