Kingdom Partnerships

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Recap Kingdom Partnership with Foursquare

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DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit, and we are missionaries.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

NEW SERIES: Our Distinctives (What makes us who we are)

WHAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS MESSAGE IS BEING SHARED / WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THIS MESSAGE IS ANSWERING?…

In a world filled with division and conflict, understanding Jesus’ call for unity can help believers foster healthier relationships and witness more effectively to non-believers.

BIG IDEA FOR TODAY: We reflect Christ best when we link arms with other believers to support the advancement of God’s Kingdom together.

WHAT IS THE PICTURE OR ILLUSTRATION FOR THIS BIG IDEA?

Have you ever tried to move a heavy piece of furniture by yourself—

Friends moment: “Pivot”

Something like a couch or a refrigerator alone? You pull, twist, strain… maybe even hurt yourself. Then someone walks in, grabs the other side, and together—you lift it with ease.

It’s a simple moment, but it tells a deeper truth: Some things were never meant to be carried alone.

The same is true in the Church. Jesus didn’t call us to solo Christianity. He prayed for us to be one, just as He and the Father are one—not just for unity’s sake, but so that the world would believe.

We live in a world divided by opinion, politics, preferences—even denominations. But what if the greatest witness to a watching world isn’t how gifted we are individually… but how united we are missionally?

Opening Scripture:

John 17:20–21 “20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Summary: In Jesus' final prayer before the cross, His deepest desire was for our unity — not uniformity, but Spirit-birthed oneness that mirrors the Trinity.

Our unity is missional: so that the world may believe.

Three Ways of Answering Jesus’ Prayer to be ONE:

1. One Body, Many Limbs and Organs

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 “12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.”

UNITY!

The Church is not a collection of isolated individuals — it is a living body.

We are different by design — different backgrounds, cultures, and gifts — but made one by the Spirit.

Kingdom partnerships honor and activate the diversity of Christ’s body, not erase it.

Are you embracing believers who are different from you, knowing they complete you?

Three Ways of Answering Jesus’ Prayer:

2. Partnered in Prayer

Philippians 1:3–5 “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Paul didn't just plant churches — he partnered with people.

Real partnership is rooted in prayer — grateful, joyful, consistent.

We don’t just “network” — we carry one another in prayer.

Prayer List: Unbelievers, SVC, Foursquare Region

Who are you thanking God for right now as a partner in the gospel?

Three Ways of Answering Jesus’ Prayer:

One Body

Partnered in Prayer

3. A Global View

Acts 1:8 “8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

The Kingdom is bigger than my circle, my town, or my comfort zone.

Pentecost Sunday is celebrated today 6/8/35

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit didn’t just fill individuals — He formed a community. In Acts 2, Jewish people from different nations heard the Gospel in their own language, and what followed wasn’t just personal revival but the beginning of shared life, shared mission, and radical unity. Kingdom partnerships were born that day — across cultures, languages, and backgrounds — revealing that the Spirit empowers us not only to witness, but to walk together as one Body for the sake of the world.

Partnership stretches outward — Jerusalem (local), Judea (regional), Samaria (cross-cultural), ends of the earth (global).

We are part of a global family that shares Christ’s love across cultures and continents.

Our Foursquare Family lives this out globally. We are a family of believers united in relationship, where leadership happens not by control, but through a unique partnership of individuals, committees, and church members.

Our US structure (called a modified episcopal system) ensures that local churches like ours are strong yet connected — not isolated, but interdependent.

Through Foursquare Missions, we aren't just sending missionaries — we are forming partnerships with leaders around the world who are reaching their own nations for Christ.

Who beyond your immediate circle is God calling you to partner with?

Conclusion/Reflection:

Kingdom partnerships are not simply helpful; they are essential to the Gospel mission.

When we partner across boundaries — generational, cultural, denominational — we mirror the oneness of God in three persons: Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit to a watching world.

Am I building walls or bridges within the body of Christ?

The towering redwood trees in California can grow over 300 feet tall—but what’s surprising is that their roots are incredibly shallow, often just 6–12 feet deep.

How do they stay standing? Redwoods survive because their roots are interconnected. Beneath the surface, their roots stretch wide and intertwine with neighboring trees, creating a vast underground support system. They literally hold one another up in storms, fires, and droughts.

(Source: https://www.nps.gov/redw/learn/nature/about-the-trees.htm)

Just like the redwoods, the Church stands strong when we are rooted together—in partnership, prayer, and unity.

Alone, we’re vulnerable. But together, we reflect the strength, beauty, and reach of the Kingdom.

Are you more committed to your personal preferences or to the purpose of advancing God’s Kingdom in partnership with others?

PRAYER: Lord, search my heart and reveal where I’ve HELD to personal preferences over Your greater purpose. Teach me to value unity over comfort, and mission over opinion. Help me to partner with others—across differences—for the advancement of Your Kingdom. Give me humility to link arms with those You've called me to walk with, and the grace to celebrate what You are doing beyond my own circle. Align my heart with Yours, and make me a builder of bridges, not walls.

Talk It Over

What does it mean to say that everyone is part of a single body in Christ according to 1 Corinthians 12:12-14?

In what ways can we actively foster unity among believers with differing backgrounds and experiences?

What steps can we take in our church to ensure we are partnering with those outside our immediate comfort zone?

Reflecting on the redwood analogy, how can we create a support system within our church community?