Good Company

Scripture Passage that caught my attention today: Acts 11:25-26 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”

Observation: Barnabas didn’t try to teach all by himself, but instead sought the help of Saul (otherwise known as the Apostle Paul) and then together they taught people over an extended period of time to the point that the people became known for their faith as Christians.

Application: The early church really valued the opportunity to work in teams. Jesus himself formed a team when he called his first disciples and even when he sent them out he did so two by two. Saul/Paul, considered by many to be the greatest missionary that ever lived, was often part of a team approach as well.

Yesterday I met briefly with someone to talk about our ministry as a synod. It too was a team approach of some sort and will hopefully help a board/team I serve on to function more effectively in the future. On another front, at least couple local pastors and I are going to begin meeting together periodically for prayer. I suspect that these meetings will broaden each of our respective horizons and hopefully ultimately be of benefit to our respective congregations as well as to us personally. Time will tell. But it’s good to see that, in so doing we are, Scripturally speaking, in good company.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for the various opportunities you provide for partnership in your name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Job 5, Psalm 108, and Acts 10-11)