The Chosen One's: Companion
Sermon Title: The Chosen One’s: Companion
Sermon Text: Ephesians 6:21-24
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to fulfill their responsibility as a chosen companion.
Sermon Proposition: There are 3 characteristics of a chosen companion.
B. Chosen companions characterized a given ministry. V.21b
B. Chosen companions fulfill an assigned passion. V.22b
A Chosen companions communicate a universal assurance. V.23
B. Chosen companions communicate a unifying affirmation. V.24
Different Kinds of Relationships
Paul had many levels of relationships with people. He had thousands of acquaintances, many friends, but fewer companions.
Calling someone an acquaintance usually implies that one has a superficial knowledge of a person. Most of the time an acquaintance is merely a person you know, but know little about. An acquaintance may know your reputation or a few things about you but may not have the time to be a meaningful part of your life. Looking at people according to their status, reputations, or influence will prevent one from being a godly companion. Instead, we should always see one another as coworkers and fellow servants under a common Lord.
There are various levels of friendship. At the lower level are those who may be related to you or have regular contact with you but do not sense an obligation or desire to walk with you in difficult circumstances. They do not have a high degree of loyalty because their other interests take precedence.
Partners have a common interest and shared goals and sometimes have major personal investments in you, your company, or your ministry. They know enough about your character and background to trust you and to work with you. They are willing to sacrifice (to a point) with you to achieve your common goals, but their interest is more in achieving the goal than in your life personally.
Companions have the key component of koinonia in their relationship, that combination of deep affection, partnership, fellowship, and willingness to sacrifice for one another that is so rarely seen today. They have a clear understanding that their love for God is to be expressed in their love for others and withhold nothing in the relationship to achieve that expression. A companion’s bond of love and commitment can be lifelong and very significant at different points in your life. Companionship leaves a mark on you for the rest of your life, for you will be different because of the relationship.
-Taken from Annointed to be God’s Servants by Henry Blackaby & Tom Blackaby, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 2005, p.42-46.