"As iron sharpens iron" one friend can influence another. "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.... And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Eccl. 4:9-12, ESV). Jesus sent the disciples out two-by-two in Mark 6:7, and in Luke 10 He also sent out the seventy in pairs. It is a fact that "iron sharpens iron," Prov. 27:17.
We all are part of a team and need each other as the eye needs the ear and the body is incomplete without the foot or the hand. The body is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps, it has been wisely put. 1 Cor. 12:12ff makes this clear that all members work together and are dependent on each other--no one has all the gifts and can do it by himself.
We all are part of a team and need each other as the eye needs the ear and the body is incomplete without the foot or the hand. The body is a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps, it has been wisely put. 1 Cor. 12:12ff makes this clear that all members work together and are dependent on each other--no one has all the gifts and can do it by himself.
Paul makes mention in 1 Cor. 3:6-9 that one plants or sows, one waters or fertilizes, and one reaps--but it is God who gives the increase! No one is meant to be a one-man show or lord it over the others in the work. The model in the book of the Acts of the Apostles is teamwork such as Paul and Silas, or Barnabas and Mark, and this book is the paradigm for evangelism technique.
The Great Commission was given to the Church at large and it is to be done cooperatively, though we are each individually commissioned. This is why the duty is not just to preach the gospel and make converts, but to teach them to do all that Christ commanded and to baptize, and disciple--a task only a body of Christ working jointly can accomplish. Getting them saved is only part of the marching order.
We are all ambassadors for Christ and have the ministry of reconciliation per 2 Cor. 5:18, 20. There is no elite in the body or partiality with God and no one's work is insignificant, and he will be rewarded according to his faithfulness, not the opportunities, which are given according to ability. "He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much," Luke 16:10.
Don't go it alone in evangelizing because there are no spiritual lone rangers in God's service; however, the Great Commission says literally "as you are going" implying that we are to be witnesses in our daily walk and circle of friends and opportunities or open doors that God gives--it doesn't mean you have to "go" somewhere out of your way. Soli Deo Gloria!
The Great Commission was given to the Church at large and it is to be done cooperatively, though we are each individually commissioned. This is why the duty is not just to preach the gospel and make converts, but to teach them to do all that Christ commanded and to baptize, and disciple--a task only a body of Christ working jointly can accomplish. Getting them saved is only part of the marching order.
We are all ambassadors for Christ and have the ministry of reconciliation per 2 Cor. 5:18, 20. There is no elite in the body or partiality with God and no one's work is insignificant, and he will be rewarded according to his faithfulness, not the opportunities, which are given according to ability. "He who is faithful in little will be faithful in much," Luke 16:10.
Don't go it alone in evangelizing because there are no spiritual lone rangers in God's service; however, the Great Commission says literally "as you are going" implying that we are to be witnesses in our daily walk and circle of friends and opportunities or open doors that God gives--it doesn't mean you have to "go" somewhere out of your way. Soli Deo Gloria!
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