This is a guest post by Mike Law, which is part of a larger series (featured here on the 9Marks blog) called "Applying God's Word to the Whole Congregation".

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One of the things I hope is helpful in this series is seeing how even though book of the Bible repeat themes, there is always new application to glean for our congregations.

Sermon Text:  Galatians 2:1-10 (Application from 2:10)

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do

Paul and the Jerusalem Apostles part ways united in the same message and having a concern for the welfare of one another.  Reflected in Galatians 2:10 is the idea that Christians have the opportunity to extend care to their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  As a part of our church’s budget we have a benevolence fund set up to help facilitate that care. 

So, if you’re a member of this congregation and at some point you find yourself in need please come and speak to one of the elders.  It may be appropriate for the church to come alongside you and care for you.  You may have a need that is not financially related, but physically related, don’t hesitate to speak out and ask for help.  The New Testament seems to command local churches to place a priority on extending care to those in need within their membership, and so we want to do that when and where we can.

What the New Testament teaches about the Apostle Paul gives an example of a group of churches helping another group of churches, and I think that is especially what is in view in Galatians 2:10.  So, I’d encourage us as a congregation to be open to extending care to other congregations in need.  I would hope that if we saw a need arise within a sister church we would be willing to send funds and resources to help that church in a time of need.  We want to remember the poor within our own church and when we can, we want to remember the poor in other churches.

Galatians 2:6-10 not only model for us concern for other Christians, these verses also model for us cooperation among Christians.  The Jerusalem Apostles encouraged Paul to continue his work in the ministry – they gave to him the right hand of fellowship.  As Christians we want to rejoice when our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ preach the same message.  We want to give them the right hand of fellowship and support our brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer and in other ways. 

A spirit of cooperation, when rooted in the gospel, could usefully bear fruit in the lives of local churches.  So many churches these days are territorial.  They are secretly concerned about other churches coming in and having success in reaching the people that they wanted to reach when instead they should be giving God praise that the lost have been reached. 

Whenever we can, I think we want to partner with other local churches in preaching the gospel.  We want to give God praise when he is pleased to prosper other local churches around us, and we want to pray that God would prosper them.  That’s part of the reason that we pray for other local churches around the DC area each Sunday. 

We want to remember that we are not God’s last hope for Arlington, or Northern Virginia, or the world.  God is God’s last and only hope for advancing his kingdom.  Pray that the elders would have wisdom in thinking through cooperating with other local churches here in our area.  If you have ideas about how we can cooperate with other local churches, or want to recommend to us other local churches we should think about partnering with, then please talk to one of the elders.  We’d love to hear your ideas about this.

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Mike Law Jr. is the Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Arlington in Arlington, VA.  He is husband to his dear wife, Lisa, and father to three wonderful children.  Mike was called to serve as the first Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Arlington in July of 2009 after having served on staff at Capitol Hill Baptist Church as a Pastoral Assistant and intern.