Partnership in sharing the Gospel of Jesus a real blessing

On a recent afternoon after making hospital calls at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, I went to St. John because people were setting up tables and chairs for our Consecration Sunday meal. I was surprised to find they were putting out the heavy wooden tables in addition to the lighter plastic tables.

But, there was a lot of setting up to do. At the latest count we had between 175 and 185 reservations for people to join together as the family of God in a Sunday meal of roast beef with all the fixings.

Anticipation for our Consecration Celebration at St. John filled me with excitement. It is not only the number of people who would be joining in the meal. It is not only our guest preacher who would join us, Pastor Joe Baumgarten. It is not only the opportunity we would have to commit ourselves to sharing the Gospel of Jesus. But, when this many people join together, trusting God’s love, and then working together to share God’s love in Jesus, there is a joy that comes with the fellowship and celebration of this joint effort of faith.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians he tells the Christians of Philippi of the joy he finds in working together for the gospel, for the good news that Jesus is Savior. “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Paul was thankful for his friends, his brothers and sisters in the faith. Paul was joyful for the partnership they shared in doing God’s work. And Paul found confidence in knowing that it is God himself who was working in and through the Philippian Christians to accomplish his own purposes.

Please notice again the emotions in Paul’s words. He speaks of thankfulness in verse 3. He speaks of joy in verse 4. He speaks of confidence in verse 6.

I understand what Paul is writing. God has called us to receive the love of Jesus Christ in faith and to work to share that love. As we work together to grow in faith, as we work together to share Jesus with others and as we work together to be a blessing in the community, I, too, experience some of the same emotions.

When I got to church that afternoon I stayed for a while and helped with the setup. Putting up tables doesn’t necessarily seem like a joyful task, but the truth is the eight to 10 people setting up seemed to find joy in working together to serve the Lord. This celebration and this meal will help our Christian family to join together in responding the God’s love.

Partnership in sharing the Gospel of Jesus is a real blessing.

Jonathan Rockey is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Contact him at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.

Opinions expressed on the Faith page are the author’s and are not necessarily those of the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, its staff or its parent company, Wick Communications Co. To submit a column or other news for the Faith page, send email to news@frontiersman.com, or call 352-2268.