His Part, Our Part: Working Together for His Glory

📖 Sermon Title: His Part, Our Part: Working Together for His Glory

Series: Invitation: Bring People to Jesus – Week 7 Takeaway: Live in the confidence that God’s grace is at work.

🙏 Prayer of Illumination:

Lord God, as we open your Word today, we ask you to open our hearts and minds. Let your Spirit speak clearly through the message. Help us to understand our part in your great work and trust in your grace that draws all people to you. May we be faithful co-workers in your mission. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

🌱 Introduction:

How many of you enjoy gardening or growing things? Whether it's vegetables, flowers, or fields, you know growth is a partnership—between your effort and God’s creation. You plant and water, but you can’t force the seed to grow. That’s up to God.

Just like in gardening, bringing people to Jesus is a partnership. There’s our part—and there’s God’s part. Today, we’ll look at what Scripture teaches about working alongside God in the mission to bring others to Christ.

🌿 We Plant, God Gives Growth → Our Mission in Ministry

1 Corinthians 3:6–9 NASB 2020

I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

🪴 Illustration: The Delayed Tomato Harvest

A pastor tells the story of planting tomato seeds in spring. He watered them, weeded the garden, and checked daily—but for weeks, there was no sign of fruit. Then suddenly, late summer arrives, and ripe tomatoes appear in abundance.

Point: “It looked like nothing was happening, but underground, roots were forming. Growth was happening where I couldn’t see it. That’s what God does in people—we plant truth, show love, but only He brings the harvest.”

Like a gardener with seeds, we each have a role to play in God's work—but growth only happens through His power.

Paul reminds the church that while people have different roles (planting and watering), God alone brings the increase.

Paul Planted

Paul began the work by planting the seed, but it was Apollos who watered it. Without a sower, there’s nothing to water—and without someone to water, the seed won’t grow. Each role matters. God uses both the planter and the waterer to bring about the harvest.

Apollos Watered

Apollos was a brilliant and passionate teacher—well-educated, eloquent, and deeply rooted in Scripture—yet humble enough to keep growing.

Born in Alexandra

Though he didn’t yet know Jesus as the Messiah, he was open to correction from Aquila and Priscilla while in Ephesus, and God used him powerfully to strengthen the early Church and sent him to Corinth, where he met Paul and continued his work by leading countless people to Jesus. (Acts 18:24–28).

God caused the growth

Paul and Apollos were simply servants, each faithfully doing what God assigned to them. Then, God did what only He can do—He gave the growth. Our job is to be faithful in our part and trust God to do His. We must resist the urge to take over what belongs to Him. Paul and Apollos weren’t competing—they shared one goal: to see the Church grow and bear fruit.

🩺 Illustration: The Doctor’s Referral

A general doctor sees a patient and does all they can—but realizes it’s a heart issue. So, they refer the patient to a cardiologist. They didn’t fail—they just did their part and trusted someone else to do theirs.

That’s how ministry works. Paul planted. Apollos watered. But only God brings the growth. Each of us has a part—and we must trust God to do what only He can.

God alone deserves the credit for every blessing that helps us reach others for Jesus—and all the glory for every life He saves. It’s His power, His grace, and His work from start to finish.

This partnership calls us to act faithfully while fully trusting God’s grace to do the transforming work.

We are not in competition with other denominations. We are united with one goal—to lead people to Jesus and let Him do the growing.

“There is no such thing as ‘my converts’ and neither do Christians ‘belong’ to a particular Christian teacher or evangelist.” (Bruce Winter)

It’s not about who plants or who waters. It’s about pointing people to the only One who can give life. The mission is bigger than any one church, leader, or name—it’s about the Kingdom of God.

We don’t claim people for ourselves—they belong to Christ. Our job is simply to be faithful with the role He’s given us.

Ephesians 4:4–7 NASB 2020

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

We are individuals, each uniquely gifted by God for a specific purpose. We're not meant to be the same—because reaching the world takes all kinds of gifts. If we all had the same talent, we’d reach only one kind of person. But God designed us differently so that, together, we can reach people in countless ways and point them to Jesus.

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:6 – “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”

We Are Co-Workers → Our Identity in Christ 🤝🔥

🧤 Illustration: The Work Glove

Hold up a glove: “This glove can’t do anything on its own. But once my hand fills it, it can lift, build, write, and work. That’s what we’re like in God’s mission.”

Point: “You are the glove. God is the hand. On your own, you can do nothing. With Him, you’re equipped for every good work.”

God gives each believer natural and spiritual gifts to use in His mission—none of which come from our own merit.

The word “synergism” means we work with God; He invites us to partner in His ministry of reconciliation.

We are God’s

Fellow workers—just as Jesus came to serve, we’re called to serve. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we’re united with Christ in that mission. Paul and Apollos weren’t competitors—they were teammates working for God.Now it’s our turn. Join the team. Serve the mission. Let God use you.

God’s field—Corinth was Paul and Apollos’s mission field. Ours is Alva, our region, our state, and the world.

Every time we give, pray, or send support to a missionary, we’re taking part in God's global harvest. Through their hands and feet, and our faithfulness, people are being reached for Jesus—because we’re doing the part God has called us to.

His building—the Church is God’s treasured possession, built under His leadership and for His glory.

God is the Architect, and we are His builders. Just as a contractor follows the blueprint and brings the architect’s vision to life, God expects us to build faithfully according to His plan. And He cares deeply about how we build—because every part of His Church matters.

One mission. One field. One building. God is not building a divided church, but a united one—joined together in purpose, love, and truth.

Whether you teach, serve, give, or speak, it’s God’s grace working through you for His glory.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB 2020

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all things for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 1:31 NASB 2020

so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 3:9 – “For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

We Invite, The Father Draws → Our Role in Evangelism 📨💖

John 6:41–44 NASB 2020

So then the Jews were complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” And they were saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’ ?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop complaining among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

💌 Illustration: The Sealed Invitation

Imagine mailing a wedding invitation. You decorate it, seal it, address it—but you can’t make the person come. Only the love they have for the sender draws them in.

Point: “We are the messengers. God is the host. We extend the invitation, but it’s the Father’s love that stirs the heart to respond.”

Our role is to invite people into a relationship with Jesus—but only the Father can draw hearts by grace.

We reflect Christ to the world with our thoughts, mouths, and actions.

In turn, God pursues and draws them unto himself so that he may work on their hearts.

This truth frees us from pressure and empowers us to live an invitational lifestyle: praying, watching, speaking, and sharing naturally.

The Gospel doesn’t spread on its own. It’s through the faithful, tireless efforts of believers that the message of Jesus reaches the world. God uses the hard work of ordinary Christians to carry an extraordinary message.

Pray for God to show you how to reach others in your own, unique way. We are different for a reason.

As we do our part, we trust God to do His part in drawing people to salvation.

Key Verse: John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.”

💬 This Week’s Takeaway:

Live in the confidence that God’s grace is at work.

🧩 Conclusion:

You don’t have to carry the burden of someone’s salvation—God does that. But you are invited to be part of the journey. Whether you invite, teach, serve, or encourage, your role matters. And God’s grace is already working. So pray, stay watchful, speak when the Spirit opens the door, and trust Him with the results.

🙏 Prayer After the Message:

Gracious Father, thank you for inviting us into your mission. Help us recognize the gifts and opportunities you have given us to plant seeds, invite others, and serve in love. Strengthen our confidence in your grace. May we be faithful and bold as we partner with you to bring people to Jesus. In Christ’s name, Amen.

✝️ Benediction:

Go now as co-workers in God’s kingdom. Plant seeds of faith, water with love, and trust in the God who makes things grow. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always. Amen.