Co-Workers for Christ
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
Ministering to people is really a team effort where we seek wisdom from our sisters and brothers. When teaching a class it is always helpful to have another Christian with you. It’s necessary to know the other Christian so that you work together in the Spirit to teach the class. The Eternal Walk Ministry has a team of strong Christians and we work well together.
Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits (Mark 6:7). Jesus sent the apostles out in pairs, and we minister to the world in pairs whenever possible. The Christian brothers or sisters that we team with become close friends. I have found that after teaching many classes with a Christian brother, we work together smoothly to interpret scripture, bringing a deeper understanding. One person definitely sharpens another.
When there are two people teaching we can trade off who is leading the class, or we can work together as equals in teaching. I co-teach one class where the two of us work equally together, showing respect for each other in allowing each person to comment. This works very well but takes practice to make sure both teachers’ comments are in agreement.
It is important that we see ourselves as co-workers for Christ. We depend heavily on the Holy Spirit to guide the class, asking the Lord for scriptures and for the correct words to speak. It is amazing how the Lord always provides the scriptures and the words during class, especially when we ask. My Christian brother and I are co-workers as Christ teaches the class through his Word and the Holy Spirit.
The more I teach the Word with my Christian brother, the more I learn about Christ and his ways. We learn more by teaching than we do by sitting in class and listening. The more questions and interaction we get with the class, the more they will understand and remember. Therefore in preparing we write question for the class.
When the class asks a question, it is sometimes difficult to answer, but with a Christian brother we can usually find the answer that is God’s truth and the class agrees. During this time we are seeking the Lord’s wisdom and guidance. I cannot over-stress the importance of inviting the Lord into the class Bible study.
Today remember that ministering with a brother or sister in Christ has great advantages. If you are teaching a class, seek a brother or sister to join you if possible. Work together as a team, defining the meaning of scripture together with the class. Get the people in the class to think deeply by providing thought provoking questions about scripture.
Let’s Pray: Lord, guide me to minister with a Christian brother or sister, and help us to work together as the Holy Spirit works through us. When I go out to minister with my brother or sister, let our ministry be more powerful and more receptive to the people we minister to. We pray that we will reflect twice your love and wisdom. In Jesus name, Amen.