This coming Sunday morning we are starting a 4 week teaching series called “Partnering Together for the Gospel:  God Gives, We Give”.

In this post I want to point out 3 characteristics that should be the aim of every gospel partnership that wants to honor Jesus.  I’ll do this by looking at a specific gospel partnership that existed in the Macedonian church written about in 2Corinthians 8.

Gracious Generosity vs 1-3

2Cr 8:1-3 ESV – We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord

Perhaps no other characteristic in Jesus honoring partnership is more important than that of gracious generosity.  A gracious heart is a heart that has been touched by the grace of God and knows that we have nothing unless the Lord first gives it to us (1Cor 4:7); that we love only because He first loved us (1John 4:19); and that because we have freely received we should freely give (Matt 10:8).  A gracious heart is fully aware of how much Christ has given to us and wants to share with others.  A gracious heart wants to share his time with others; wants to share his talents with others; and wants to share his treasure with others.  God’s grace points our heart in the direction of generosity.  The Christian that holds tightly to his time, talents, and treasure is an oxymoron who doesn’t understand the grace of God.

Shared Vision of Blessing Others vs 4

2Cr 8:4 ESV – begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints–

Whether it’s partners on a basketball team, in a business, or within the church; everyone needs to know what the partnership is trying to accomplish.  Christ has set the ultimate purpose for the church when he told his disciples to make disciples by baptizing and teaching the Word of God.  But there must also be agreement within the local church about the specific people and places that God has called them to reach with the gospel.  At the heart of this shared vision should be the desire to love people.  Make no mistake, the first priority of gospel partnership is to love the Lord, but the second is just like it – “love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

Commitment to Hard Work vs 5-7

2Cr 8:5-7 ESV – and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.  Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.  But as you excel in everything–in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you –see that you excel in this act of grace also.

The Bible doesn’t exempt Christians from hard work.  Actually it is quite the opposite, the Bible calls us to hard work.  Jesus told us to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers (Matt 9:38).  Laborers are those who are willing to get their hands dirty and work.  The scripture above says that the Macedonians “gave themselves” to the Lord and people.  No sitting on the sideline there.  They got their hands dirty.  Any partnership that will glorify the Lord will be made of people who know that “while excitement may accompany the beginning of a marathon, commitment brings someone across the finish line”.  Just as Titus had to remind the Corinthians above to complete their commitment so we too should run to win the race (1Cor 9:24).