TOPIC: Partners (Not Staff) In Christian Service

MEMORY VERSE: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” – John 15:15

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

INTRODUCTION:

By definition, a partner is a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others, especially in a business or firm with shared risk and profits. A staff is an employee of an organisation. Unlike the contemporary workplace, believers are expected to be partners together with Christ. Our commitment should be motivated by reward/wages as staff but as partners.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. Joint-heirs with Christ
2. Co-labourers on earth

JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST

The term heirs of God emphasises our relationship to God the Father. As His children, we have full rights to receive His inheritance (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 1:4). Salvation in Christ affords Christians ‘’sonship’’ status in God’s kingdom and being sons, we have the same privileges with Christ (John 1:12-13; Romans 8:14-17). Just as God created man and gave him life to serve in the garden (Genesis 2:7,15), salvation through Christ guarantees a new life and brings believers into the place of service in God’s vineyard (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9). The Father works and so, does the Son (John 4:34; 5:17; 9:4). The Son imitates the Father so believers as joint-heirs with Christ must also walk in His footsteps (John 5:19-20; 14:12). Being joint-heirs with Christ, we are also partners with Him in God’s vineyard (John 15:15).

CO-LABOURERS ON EARTH

All believers in Christ are bought with the same price, baptised into the same Spirit and live by the same commandment (1 Corinthians 12:13). We should labour together with Christ in God’s vineyard. All believers should use their God-given gifts and talents to serve, working together with Christ for one purpose, the edification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). Another reason we must collaborate as partners is because the harvest is plenteous (Luke 10:2).

Believers should note that rather than making demands for benefits or rewards for services rendered, God’s children, as partners, should hope in the sure reward that comes from God (Colossians 3:23-25; 1Corinthians 3:8-9).

CONCLUSION:
Christian service is our Father’s business and being joint-heirs with Christ, we must see ourselves as partners in the venture rather than employees whose utmost interest lies in the wage. We must focus on Heaven and please God by making sacrifices in the cause of the Kingdom business.

QUESTIONS:
1. Mention four attributes that make believers joint-heirs with Christ.

2. Identify three reasons believers should co-labour with Christ as partners in God’s vineyard.