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Vibrant Communities: Partnering Together

5/05/2021 1:50:57 PM | Scott Pilgrim

Read: Romans 16:1-6 and Romans 1:9-10

The book of Romans is a grand, lofty letter from Paul to the early Roman church. It’s full of great redemptive theology, describing who God is and unpacking big, foundational concepts of grace and salvation. 
And then we get to Romans 16. The final chapter of this grand book and... it’s a little less grand! We get a list of names, almost as a postscript to the letter. We meet some of the people mentioned elsewhere in the Bible but for many, this is the only time we hear about them. 

Following the bigness of what has come before it, it’s not as clear to see how the final chapter is relevant to us today. And yet, when we do dig into this chapter, we can find valuable and universal truths about partnership with each other in Kingdom work. 

In this chapter, Paul identifies 27 people by name. These are people who have supported him in his ministry in practical and spiritual ways. They are people who are excited by his Kingdom vision and want to be part of the team.

And as he names people, he is celebrating the power of partnership. He is celebrating the way each of them is playing their part in God’s mission in that time and place, and that through this, the Kingdom is being advanced. He’s celebrating how none of them can do it alone. 

That’s the Australian Baptist mission story too. The first Aussie Baptist workers – bold young women - were sent out in 1882. They knew it wasn’t about them. They knew that they were accepting God’s gracious invitation to be part of His mission and part of what He was already doing in India. 

But they also knew that they couldn’t go without the partnership of individuals, families and churches who would sacrificially give and faithfully pray. Partners back in Australia who were also accepting God’s invitation to be part of His mission. 

One thing that Paul’s postscript at the end of his letter to the Romans teaches us, is that there is not shame but power in needing each other. 

For nearly 140 years Global Interaction has been sending people. And it’s because of your partnership that we have been able to see vibrant faith communities emerge. When you give, when you pray, when you share the stories and advocate… YOU are right there with our teams.

You are in the bustling Cambodian market as Catherine builds relationships with the sellers, you are in the Silk Road Area as Petra reads the Bible with a K friend and you are in a village in Malawi as Tim witnesses a young man lead his first Bible study with a group of Yawo believers around him. 

Together, we are partnering with what God is doing around the world. And as you partner with our teams, we are cheering you on in your church’s local mission. How can we support you? 
 
TAKEAWAYS TO APPLY
  • Kingdom Purpose: Paul is united with this group of people because they are all working towards a common goal. They are co-workers called to advance the spread of the Gospel. For each of us, as followers of Jesus, the most important thing we can do is to live with Kingdom purpose. Serving Jesus, being His hands and feet and partnering together as co-workers for the advancement of the Kingdom. 
  • Relationship: In Romans 16 we get 27 names. 27 real people, real names, real relationships. When you invest in partnership with Global Interaction, you’re not buying into a project or an initiative, as important as they are, you’re investing in people. You are investing in people that God has called to share the Good News around the world. And as you partner with these workers, there’s mutual encouragement. Together, you journey through the highs and lows of ministry and learn from each other. 
  • Prayer: One of our alumni, Dr Stuart Robinson writes that nothing of consequence happens without prayer. In Romans 1:9, Paul writes that he prays day and night for the needs of the community of believers. One of the most powerful and consequential things that you can do this year to partner with Global Interaction’s ministry is to pray. Individually, upfront and as a church community, can you commit to regularly lifting up Global Interaction’s teams and ministry in prayer?  
  • Practical Action: In Romans 16 we see a group of people partnering with each other in practical ways. There’s hospitality and the sharing of meals. There’s generosity and the sharing of finances. It’s a genuine ministry partnership that manifests in practical and sacrificial ways. The reality is that Global Interaction workers can only do what they do with the generous support of partners across Australia. Thank you!
THEMATIC STORIES AND RESOURCES
Use these as sermon illustrations, discussion starters for small groups or standalone resources.
  1. Your stories! What local mission stories can you share that speak to this theme or passage?
  2. VIDEO reflection from a candidate about partnership: 
    https://vimeo.com/521723586 (contact Global Interaction for the password)
  3. VIDEO conversation about the power of partnership: 
    https://vimeo.com/525921676
  4. PODCAST episode 9 - The Power of Prayer (Liz, Thailand): www.globalinteraction.org.au/Missioning
 
QUESTIONS FOR SMALL GROUPS
  • What’s been your personal experience of partnership in ministry? What have been the joys and challenges?
  • What do you see as the difference between support and partnership? Is this an important distinction for you?
  • What stands out to you in Romans 16?
  • If you partner with an intercultural worker, do you feel like you are part of God’s mission in that place? Reflect on why you do or don’t. If not, what would make you feel like you were?
  • What does accepting God’s invitation to partner with Him in His mission mean in your life?
  • Read, watch or listen to one or two of the above thematic stories. What excites you? How can you see God at work? What mission practices can you see the workers doing that you could do in your own neighbourhood?
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