Secret Bill Perry YOU TH You represent perhaps the biggest threat to Satans dominion precisely because you are young and teachable Right now you are probably the most teachable you will ever be for the rest of your life Much of that depends on attitude ID: 622363
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Slide1
Synergy: The Church’s Best Kept Secret
Bill PerrySlide2
YOUTH
You represent perhaps the biggest threat to Satan’s dominion precisely because you are young and teachable. Right now you are probably the most teachable you will ever be for the rest of your life. Much of that depends on attitude.Slide3
The Bible says that God seeks 2 primary
things, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.Slide4
New Testament
“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the
true
worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for
the Father is
seeking
such to worship
him.”
-- Jesus to the woman at the well, John 4:23Slide5
Old Testament
“But did he not make them one, having
a remnant
of the Spirit? And why one?
He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take
heed to
your spirit,
and
let none deal
treacherously
with the wife of his youth.” -- God in Malachi
2:15Slide6
Consider
Malachi 2:15Explanation
“
But
did he not make them
one
, having
a
remnant of
the Spirit
? And why one? He seeks godly offspring.
Therefore
take
heed
to your
spirit
, and let none deal
treacherously with the wife
of his youth.”
God made marriage –“make them (Adam and Eve) one” – for the very purpose of having children – “a godly offspring” – a generation that would follow and obey the Lord. Slide7
Consider
Malachi 2:15Explanation
“
But did
he not make them
one
, having
a
remnant of
the Spirit
? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your
spirit
, and
let none deal
treacherously with the wife
of
his youth
.”
In Malachi’s day Jewish husbands were leaving their wives or divorcing them (verse 16) for other idol-worshiping women (verse 11). This broke God’s law and their marriage vow. Even more, it broke the family structure.Slide8
As bad as divorce is on the spouses,
it always hits the children harder.Slide9
Other Things Destroying MarriageSlide10
Other Things Destroying Marriage
Same sex “marriage”Slide11
Other Things Destroying Marriage
Same sex “marriage”Plural marriage or polygamySlide12
Other Things Destroying Marriage
Same sex “marriage”Plural marriage or polygamyGender dysphoria (distress)Slide13
Other Things Destroying Marriage
Same sex “marriage”Plural marriage or polygamyGender dysphoria (distress)Unfaithful spouseSlide14
Other Things Destroying Marriage
Same sex “marriage”Plural marriage or polygamyGender dysphoria (distress)Unfaithful spouse
Addictions of all kindsSlide15
Other Things Destroying Marriage
Same sex “marriage”Plural marriage or polygamyGender dysphoria (distress)Unfaithful spouse
Addictions of all kinds
Spiritual indifference or worseSlide16
Guess What?
God is still looking for worshipers and
that godly seed (or generation).Slide17
Which One?
We have 2 candles pictured.
Which one represents young people
and why?
Young
Old
(Geezer!)Slide18
Young people are the most dangerous to Satan’s dominion when they join together to serve God. Slide19
Here’s Why:Slide20
Synergy is a New Testament Word!
The English word synergy comes from the Greek word sunergos:Sun
=
withErgos = work
}
Work/Workers togetherSlide21
Example of Synergy From Nature
In the last century researchers did an experiment: the first determined how much weight an average horse could pull on an average cart. They learned that a single horse could pull about 2,000 pounds.Slide22
Example of Synergy From Nature
So they naturally thought 2 average sized horses pulling the same cart would pull 4,000 pounds. But they were wrong! 2 horses together pulled
24,000 pounds
! What was going on with that?!Slide23
Example of Synergy From Nature
So they naturally thought 2 average sized horses pulling the same cart would pull 4,000 pounds. But they were wrong! 2 horses together pulled 24,000 pounds! What was going on with that?! They realized that when the horses understood they
were together
pulling the same weight, there was an energy released that wouldn’t happen if they pulled alone. But together they pulled
6 times what they could do alone!Slide24
Example of Synergy From Nature
When they put blinders on the horses so they could not see they were pulling the same object together, they managed to pull only 4,000 pounds. So knowing they are working together was the only difference!Slide25
Example of Synergy From
HistoryAfter the flood of Noah God told him, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Genesis 9:1). To fill the earth is to spread out all around.
Life-sized ark replica at Ark Encounter, Williamstown, KYSlide26
Example of Synergy From
HistoryMany years later Genesis 11:4 describes why the Tower of Babel was built: the people said, “Let us make
a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”Slide27
Example of Synergy From
HistoryAnd
the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from
them” (Genesis 11:6).Slide28
Example of Synergy From
History
And
the LORD said, “Indeed the people are
one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them
” (Genesis 11:6).
Look at what can happen
when people are truly unified:
“Nothing they propose to do
will be withheld from them.”
In other words, whatever they
can think of they can do! And
this is God’s commentary
o
n this event, not a human
perspective. He knows how
he made us.
AND
they were
being
completely
disobedient
,
not following God’s ways. Slide29
Example of Synergy From
History
And
the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now
nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them” (Genesis 11:6).
While the
w
ord
“synergy”
is not found
in this story,
this is still
Synergy in
action!Slide30
For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I
am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So
then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
(verses 4-7)
How Synergy Works: 1 Corinthians 3Slide31
Consider
1 Corinthians 3:4-7Explanation
For
when one says, "
I am of Paul," and another, "
I am of Apollos
,"
are you not carnal
? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Corinthian Church members rallied around their favorite Christian personality (not unlike today). They seemed to be very loyal, almost like political parties. Paul said this was “carnal,” a worldly kind of thinking and behaving.Slide32
Consider
1 Corinthians 3:4-7Explanation
For
when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one
? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Paul said that he and Apollos were simply church servant leaders that God gave to the church. Making servant leaders greater than God really turns things
upside down
.Slide33
Consider
1 Corinthians 3:4-7Explanation
For
when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but
God gave the increase
. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but
God who gives the increase
.
The Corinthians had their eyes on their favorite leaders, automatically taking their eyes off God. The church would not grow under that situation. Paul says only God gives the increase, no matter how good or bad a leader might be.Slide34
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building…But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” (verses 8-9,10b)
How Synergy Works: 1 Corinthians 3Slide35
Consider
1 Corinthians 3:8-9,10bExplanation
Now
he who plants and he
who waters are one
, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's
building
…But
let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
Paul explained that all of Corinthian church
leaders (and the members too) were all “one,” meaning they were united in purpose and effort. There was no competition or rivalry. Different ministry efforts but the same goal:
God blesses with growth
.Slide36
Consider
1 Corinthians 3:8-9,10bExplanation
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are
God's fellow workers
; you are God's field, you are God's building
…But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
Finally Paul tells them why he says these things: they (and we) are all God’s
fellow workers
! This sunergos in the Greek. So if God is using us in multiplying the impact for his glory, we should be diligently working together united for his kingdom.Slide37
Consider
1 Corinthians 3:8-9,10bPerspective
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are
God's fellow workers
; you are God's field, you are God's building
…But let each one take heed how he builds on it.”
Slide38
Consider
1 Corinthians 3:8-9,10bExplanation
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building
…
But let each one take heed
how
he builds on it.
”
This point about being God’s fellow workers (united with all believers to serve God and extend his glory in the world) is so important he adds a warning: “take heed,” or seriously look at what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.Slide39
Did the Corinthians Get It?
We then, as workers together with
him
also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain
.
– 2 Corinthians 6:1Slide40
Consider
2 Corinthians 6:1Explanation
We
then, as
workers together with him
also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul reminds them that they are
workers together with God
, drawing their minds back to his first letter and his warning to “take heed.” Slide41
Consider
2 Corinthians 6:1Explanation
We
then, as workers together with him also
plead with you not to receive the grace of
God
in vain
.
The Corinthians already had received God’s grace for salvation. But they were in danger of not going forward with their walk with God, growing in grace and actively working as God’s fellow workers. That’s not a good place to be in or a good thing to do.Slide42
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for
the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because
they went forth for
his
name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
How Synergy Works: 3 John 5-8Slide43
Consider
3 John 5-8Explanation
Beloved,
you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church
. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for
his
name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
John wrote to Christians that showed love to their spiritual brothers and strangers (foreign visitors) and they testified to others about their good works.Slide44
Consider
3 John 5-8Explanation
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church.
If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for
his
name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles
. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
John tells them if they send these visitors on their journey in a godly way, that will be good because they went in Jesus’ name and needed no help from the Gentiles. That was the way Paul did his ministry – not charging those he helped.Slide45
Consider
3 John 5-8Explanation
Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for
his
name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth
.
Now John says if we receive these travelers, they’ll become “fellow workers” (sunergos in the Greek) “of the truth.” In other words, they will be on the same team assisting those that carry Jesus’ name to other areas (missionaries). Everyone can have a role.Slide46
Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who
have believed in God should be careful
to
maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.Slide47
Consider
Titus 3:8Explanation
This is
a faithful saying
, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
A faithful saying was a common expression in the early church that everyone agreed with. There are 5 such sayings in 1
st
and 2
nd
Timothy and this one in Titus.Slide48
Consider
Titus 3:8Explanation
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that
those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works
. These things are good and profitable to men.
Paul knew and reminded Titus to tell the church people he worked with that their testimony was critical to reach outsiders. The best way to do that was to “maintain [doing] good works.”Slide49
Consider
Titus 3:8Explanation
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.
These things are good and profitable to men
.
Such good works were not only a way to be noticed that you were different, they also served as a vehicle to bring good to the larger community. “All men” found such activity to be “profitable.” It was undeniable.Slide50
Titus 3:14
And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet
urgent needs, that
they
may not be unfruitful.Slide51
Consider
Titus 3:14Explanation
And
let our people also learn to maintain good works
, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Paul repeats to Titus the reminder about the necessity of continuing doing good works. And even though the word “people” is not in the original Greek, the plural “our” means people doing them together:
the
power of synergy at work
!Slide52
Consider
Titus 3:14Explanation
And
let our people also learn to maintain good works,
to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Paul closes his letter to Titus concerned about the well being of the larger community as well as the fruitfulness of the church. Synergy is God’s blessing and gift the church today has sadly lost sight of.Slide53
Will you be that godly seed, that “chosen generation” (1 Peter 2:9) that he is still seeking? Are you aiming to be the kind of worshiper that not only worships God in church or youth group but also out in the community by doing good works. God is doing some of his best work in the world right now. You have nothing to lose except bad stuff and have everything to gain that will last forever. Make the right choice while you’re still young. You’re the most dangerous to Satan’s dominion of darkness when you say
…Slide54
!