Partnering Together

Series: Together In Christ 9/2/12 The Bible emphasizes that there is much to be gained and much can be accomplished when we partner together. That is the focus of our message this morning, as we being a new series titled “Together in Christ.” One of the images that best depicts the power of partnering together is that of rowing. Galley ships in ancient times were powered by rowers. The rowers on the lowest level were generally slaves in chains, and they were called “under rowers.” The word “under rower” is found in 1 Cor 4:1, the text of this mornings message: NIV - This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.  Of all the words that Paul could have chosen for servant, he uses the Gk hyperetas- “under rowers.” He says I don’t want you to put me on a pedestal, I want you to view me as an under rower. This would have been a particular powerful image to the people at Corinth, because Corinth was surrounded by water, and had 3 major ports, so the concept of an under rower was a very familiar one. Paul chose this word because this church torn by disunity needed to hear the message revealed in this word, and so do we today.