Great Partnerships
There have been many great partners throughout history. The Wright brothers worked together fairly well leading to our ability to fly all around the world. The Marx brothers are famous for their comedy routines. Lucy and Desi are still considered to be among the best for their brand of comedy. Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith, and Michael Irvin lead the Dallas Cowboys to 3 Super Bowl championships. You can probably think of many other great partners in various fields like medicine, music, and business.
The Bible reveals some other great partnerships in the spread of the gospel. The apostles were successful partners in the job that Jesus left with them (Matthew 28:18-20). By the time of the writing of the book of Colossians 1:23, the gospel had spread to the entire known world ruled by the Romans.
Aquila and Priscilla are partners we learn about beginning with their teaching of Apollos in Acts 18:26. They are next found hosting the church in their home in Romans 16:3. The reference in I Corinthians 16:19probably refers to their hosting the church in their home in Ephesus.
Another great evangelistic partnership was between the Philippian brethren and Paul. He praised them for their“fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). They supported him while he was in prison which resulted in the entire prison guard knowing the gospel (1:13). The end of the book declares how they had sent to Paul’s need “once and again” (4:16).
Their work together with Paul produced much good according to his assessment. Maybe the most outstanding success of their work together with Paul is found in Philippians 1:23 where we find that those of Caesar’s household had been converted through this partnership.
Partnerships have been important in Bible history. They are still important today for Bible believers. There are at least 4 great partnerships that all of us must consider. By a partnership, I mean an agreement between two or more people to work together toward a common goal. This was the discussion theme for the young adult weekend camp at Rolling Hills. (This was an event organized by two of our own, Megan Bruner and Caleb Hall, and I am sure with the aid of some others).
We are partners with the universal Church (John 17:20-21).
We are partners with all those who have gone on to their reward (Hebrews 12:1-2).
We are all partners together in the Richmond church of Christ (Ephesians 3:14-19).
We are partners individually with one another (Ephesians 4:13-16).
We must be partners with ourselves (I Corinthians 6:12).
None of these partnerships will work, however, if we are not all partners with God (II Corinthians 6:14-18). With God in these partnerships, heaven is the limit!
-Mike Johnson
