What Kind of Partner Are You?

Last Sunday we took a look at the Great Commission as seen in John’s gospel. I said that the main

emphasis of the Great Commission is not on the “going”, that part is assumed, we all are going

somewhere everyday. The emphasis on the Great Commission is in the “making disciples.” That is,

making people students of Jesus. We want to be a people who help others be better imitators of Jesus

Christ.

Late last year, myself and a few other guys decided that we wanted to run a half-marathon. I am not an

extremely gifted runner, and my personal default setting is tuned to lazy when it comes to physical

exercise. I would never, ever have been able to run that race if it were not for the fact that I got

together with those guys several times a week to become a better runner. Naturally, our little running

group provided a much needed accountability, but it was also more than that.

It hurts to run. It hurts everybody. I have watched marathons on television before, and the common

denominator between the guy who finishes first and the guy who finishes last is that they both look like

they are in anguish. I can now say from personal experience that the reason they look like they are in

anguish is because they are, actually, in anguish. That was very helpful for me to see as I ran with my

group. We were all hurting. Bad. Every single one of us thought about quitting. Every one of us ran

through pain. It encouraged me to see them persevering despite the hurt.

I was also helped by talking about running. We talked about how much it hurt. We laughed about it.

After a big run day, I would talk with one of my compatriots and I would say, “Dude, my hips are

killing me.” And my friend would usually respond with something like, “My hind-end is so sore I can

barely sit down.” Then we would laugh and agree to meet for more training that day.

Paul often used athletic metaphors in describing the Christian way of life (1 Cor. 9:24-27; 2 Tim. 4:7-

8), and so I want to tie in how that group and meeting with friends in the faith to talk about the faith is

very much the same. The ultimate goal of every believer is to be like Jesus Christ, to love God with all

their faculties, and to bring glory to Him through our words and actions. To be the best Christian we

can be, we need help from Christian partners.

I am praying that, just like with my old running crew, relationships in our church family will begin to

form around being Christians. When we meet together, let us purpose to talk about the things of life

and how they relate to our faith. You will find that it is not simply the “accountability” that you crave,

but rather, the companionship. We need others to encourage us through our shared difficulties. No one

runs the Christian race without pain. No one kills sin without anguish. No one runs without struggle.

To see that, to see others struggle and to see them persevere; it is inspiring to us in our own race. Speak

of Christ together. Run the race together. You and your partner in faith will be better for it.

Last November, I finished my first half-marathon. Most of my companions finished before I did. I was

because of those guys who finished before me. I want to live like a Christian. I want to run that race

well. Let’s do it together. Let’s be the best for Christ we can be. “Therefore, since we are surrounded

by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and

let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of

our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated

at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

Bro. Brad

finish up on Saturday at around 3-4pm. We will have dinner, breakfast, and lunch prepared for us

there. The cost is $170. Sign up online or at the church.

offices that they are asking us to fill with spare change. See Jennifer Dixon if you have any

questions.

the back table in the Sanctuary.

morning.

and breakfast on Saturday. Please let Lisa know if you are interested in going ASAP.

be going through the study Holiness: The Heart God Purifies by Nancy Lee DeMoss. Book cost is

$10. Let Lisa Spence know by January 10 if you need her to order a book. Make checks payable to

New Covenant Baptist Church.

The price is $129 plus hotel accommodations. Let Lisa Spence or Amy Williams know if you are

interested. Here’s a link: http://www.truewoman.com/?id=760

some major health issues.

pray for Denise as she is trying to help her mother as much as possible.

her.

Please begin praying for those who are going to Nicaragua in February. These include Jimmy Barnard,

Matt Colvin, Jennifer Dixon, Charlie Fields, Todd Gregg, Lisa Spence, and Amy Williams.

M.U.D. is raising money to buy land and build houses in Nicaragua to build houses for orphans. If you

would like to donate money, please contact Eric Hixon at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you would like to get in touch with the Teague’s, you can contact them at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

They are working United World Missions. The website is www.unitedworldmission.org.

Attendance: Worship Service - 92

Offering: General - 6,730.00

Benevolence - 261.35

Friday, January 15 – Leslie Godwin

Sunday, January 17 – Kathy Coy