Matthew 20:20-28

● ● It may seem a bit risky It may seem a bit risky but partnership but partnership is better than going it alone.is better than going it alone.

● ● It is Heaven’s way: It is Heaven’s way: Father and Son and Father and Son and Holy Spirit…not or.Holy Spirit…not or.

● ● I need to cooperate I need to cooperate with God’s design with God’s design for life…friendships, partners and co-for life…friendships, partners and co-laborers.laborers.

● ● I may be accustomed I may be accustomed to Making my to Making my own path, Bearing my own burdens and own path, Bearing my own burdens and keeping my heart insulated… but that keeping my heart insulated… but that isn’t much fun.isn’t much fun.

LOOSENING OUR GRIP ON POWER AND AUTHORITY…

Every major covenant in the Bible is an Every major covenant in the Bible is an invitation to share in our life’s destinationinvitation to share in our life’s destination

● ● Abraham beckoned to join God in creating a Abraham beckoned to join God in creating a new nation that will ultimately bring blessing new nation that will ultimately bring blessing to the whole planet. Genesis 12:1-3to the whole planet. Genesis 12:1-3

● ● The Nation of Israel is asked to contract with The Nation of Israel is asked to contract with God, with physical blessing or curses at stake.God, with physical blessing or curses at stake.

PARTNERING IS GOD’S WAY

● ● The New Covenant invites us to ‘partner’ The New Covenant invites us to ‘partner’ with God in redeeming mankind. And the with God in redeeming mankind. And the retirement plan is out of this world! retirement plan is out of this world! --II Corinthians 5:19--II Corinthians 5:19

● ● Christ’s church is best described in Christ’s church is best described in symbiotic, cooperative models: A body, A symbiotic, cooperative models: A body, A brick house and a family.brick house and a family.

PARTNERING IS GOD’S WAY

● ● He gave up He gave up the right to Divine Power (He left the right to Divine Power (He left Heaven!) in favor of serving our deepest Heaven!) in favor of serving our deepest needs. needs. ----Philippians 2:7Philippians 2:7

● ● He fully identified with our humanity and He fully identified with our humanity and walked in our sandals. walked in our sandals. (He bathed, got hungry, (He bathed, got hungry, became weary ...and suffered.) became weary ...and suffered.) ----Philippians 2:8Philippians 2:8

SHARING LEADERSHIP WAS JESUS’ MOTTO

● ● He gave up the right to life He gave up the right to life itself to show us itself to show us the extremity of his love. (Ah, the ultimate self-the extremity of his love. (Ah, the ultimate self-restraint…submitting to the cross!) restraint…submitting to the cross!) --Philippians 2:8--Philippians 2:8

● ● He put his Mission in the hands of He put his Mission in the hands of ordinary ordinary people people who already had a record of who already had a record of faithlessness in a pinch. (People like you and faithlessness in a pinch. (People like you and me!) me!) --Matt. 28:19-20--Matt. 28:19-20

SHARING LEADERSHIP WAS JESUS’ MOTTO

Remembering that Jesus modeled the wonder of being

least

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

FearFear…Maybe projects, situations …Maybe projects, situations and life itself may not turn out as I and life itself may not turn out as I planned. planned.

GreedGreed…I want the glamour, praise, …I want the glamour, praise, credit…the glory! The Devil’s way!credit…the glory! The Devil’s way!

Lack of LoveLack of Love……

InexperienceInexperience…going it alone has …going it alone has kept me in a certain comfort zone.kept me in a certain comfort zone.

SO WHY INSIST OF ALWAYS BEING IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT?

Collaboration, Coordination, Collaboration, Coordination, Team Work, Symbiosis, Team Work, Symbiosis, Partnership, Friendship and Partnership, Friendship and LoveLove

(Rowing, Hugging, Clapping, (Rowing, Hugging, Clapping, Dancing, Swimming, Hubba Dancing, Swimming, Hubba Hubba, Harmonizing)Hubba, Harmonizing)

BEAUTIFUL WORDS WHEN PUT IN ACTION:

● ● Preparing for the trekPreparing for the trek● ● Sharing suppliesSharing supplies● ● Absorbing the bumps in the Absorbing the bumps in the roadroad● ● Tending each other’s Tending each other’s blistersblisters● ● Facing our fearsFacing our fears● ● Celebrating the Victory!Celebrating the Victory!● ● Holding Hands in the DarkHolding Hands in the Dark

SHARING THE JOURNEY CAN BE MAGNIFICENT

● ● Love one anotherLove one another● ● Be kind, one to anotherBe kind, one to another● ● Forgive one anotherForgive one another● ● Tender hearted one to Tender hearted one to the otherthe other● ● Confess your sins one Confess your sins one to the otherto the other● ● Bear one another’s Bear one another’s burdensburdens● ● Treat others as more Treat others as more important than yourselfimportant than yourself

THE BIBLE TELLS OF PLENTY OF ONE-ANOTHER OPPORTUNITIES

COMPETITION MAY BE GREAT FUN IN FOOTBALL, BOXING AND OTHER SPORTS, BUT EVEN THEN THE GREATEST JOY IS IN PLAYING AS A TEAM.

The pianists fingers began to The pianists fingers began to compete with each other compete with each other during a piano recital?during a piano recital?

Hands began to contend with Hands began to contend with one another during dinner?one another during dinner?

Vocal chords tried to outdo Vocal chords tried to outdo each other when you sang?each other when you sang?

Both feet wanted to be on the Both feet wanted to be on the throttle?throttle?

In a friendship, both people In a friendship, both people insisted on being Top Dog?insisted on being Top Dog?

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF…

GOD’S WAY IS…

● ● Deeper Deeper FriendshipsFriendships

● ● Greater JoyGreater Joy

● ● Shared moments Shared moments of sorrow and joyof sorrow and joy

● ● Greater tasks Greater tasks accomplishedaccomplished

THE GLORIOUS RESULTS OF SUCH ‘TOGETHER’ LIVING

PRAYER & PRAISE

●● It may seem a bit risky It may seem a bit risky but partnership but partnership is better than going it alone.is better than going it alone.

●● I will live my life I will live my life Heaven’s way: Heaven’s way: Connected! Connected! GodGod and and OthersOthers and and MyselfMyself

●● I will cooperate I will cooperate with God’s design for with God’s design for my life… friendships, partners and co-my life… friendships, partners and co-laborers.laborers.

●● I will not become accustomed I will not become accustomed to to making my own path, bearing my own making my own path, bearing my own burdens and keeping my heart burdens and keeping my heart insulated.insulated.