Partnership in the Gospel

As I sit and write this I am currently on a trip with some men from our local church in the state of Louisiana, visiting with a number of partner churches that have a heart to see Jesus made non-ignorable in Sidney and surrounding rural areas. We traveled here because in partnership in 2025, we will be bringing a men’s and women’s retreat to Sidney. A time of ministry to see Christ exalted and lives changed. I am so very thankful for friendships and partnerships in the gospel. If it wasn’t for the many partners around the U.S., we wouldn’t get to do the things we get to do! I am also thankful to belong to different groups of likeminded churches that stand firm doctrinally, that encourage and equip each other and see the importance of reaching outside the walls of the church. It has a been a tremendous blessing to partner with The Great Commission Network of Nebraska, Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists, Colorado Baptists, NAMB, Send Network and so many individual churches! The idea of partnership isn’t new. Though we have local autonomy, we collectively support the mission. In fact, I would argue that this was the biblical model during the Apostle Paul’s day.

Philippians 1:1-11 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers[b] and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Did you catch that? Paul greets the church at Philippi, thanking God for them and their partnership in the gospel. I think here in America we put too much stake in individualism and forget that we are part of something much bigger. God’s Kingdom isn’t about one specific church, or denomination, it’s about His glory. And though we may differ on secondary things, if we hold to the Truth of scripture and the core doctrines of Christianity

(Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone to the Glory of God alone), we should uphold and encourage one another and work for the Kingdom. The kingdom of God has never been and will never be about collective individualism, it is about Glorifying God in all we do, standing on the truths and promises of scripture and making disciples of all nations. Thisis something that no individual church or denomination can accomplish on their own. It takes the power of God, according to the perfect will of God, working through the people of God, proclaiming the word of God doing the commandments of God! As we walk in 2025, let this be a year of gospel partnership!

Yours In Christ,

Justin Brown

Lead Pastor/ Planter