Partnering with Grace

The great thing about the Bible is it has lots to say about so many dimensions of a human’s existence – not the least of which is how we should relate to one another in the context of how we relate to our creator God.

Old Testament narratives of individuals, families and nations – under God, in submission to His will for them, faithful and obedient – acting most like their “image bearing of God” (Genesis 1:27) status would ask of them. New Testament narrative of Jesus’ perfect modelling of a human’s relationship with God; the early churches (and their leaders) endeavours to live out the call on their lives following Jesus required.

The uncomfortable part (for us one quarter of the way into the 21st century) is that the Bible was written all that time ago. Sometimes it is not clear, at other times there are a multiplicity of interpretations, as to how we live out elements of our faith-filled existence in the light of our salvation, the Lordship Christ has in our lives, and the cultural context we find ourselves in.

Our cultural moment is complex; what suits (and is a call on Family A) may not be where God is asking Family B to be. And – over time (years, decades, lifetimes) – perspectives change and understanding deepen in the secular context; the call on our lives as Christians is to live out being part of God’s current mission here on earth, applying Biblical truths as we understand them.

Let’s take four passages that reflect on our responsibilities to each other, in the context of being in partnership:

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if either of them falls, the other will lift him up. But woe to the one who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up”. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Traditionally seen as a “classic” passage for use at a wedding, it can easily – and should – be more widely applied to how we deal with each other. It highlights support, working for the other, lifting the fallen and affirming the other in their strengths.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” 

1 Corinthians 12:12,24b-26: 

The full passage (from which these verses are taken, uses the analogy of the human body to illustrate how the church, as a whole, should function as one body with different parts (members) working together for a common purpose. Moreover, it highlights what happens when one part of the body is not supported by other parts, not fully functioning “in Godly partnership” with the other.

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3

This verse calls for unity and understanding within relationships, emphasising the importance of working together in love. Sometimes this requires a grace-filled response in the first instance, as part of ensuring that – overall – the relationship dynamics will become ones that reflect God’s perfect plan for high functioning relationships amongst His people.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

This self-explanatory verse reminds us that discipleship will always place others’ needs in front of our own; and highlights the need for disciples together to focus on and carry the other’s burdens, rather than constantly reminding them of “their own needs”.

Act justly; love mercy; walk humbly with God. 

In partnership, we see these actions described in Micah 6:8 expanded on more fully in the verses above. 

We are a school that actively seeks God-honouring partnership with our parents as part of how education is delivered in our classrooms, each and every day. It is deeply rooted in relationships – between believers – in the pursuit of God-ordained outcomes for every participant. What happens in our classrooms impacts students, teachers, leadership, parents and the wider family.

As a community, our collective responsibility is to explore how we do gracious partnership together.

To kick things off, as a way of getting to the heart of a question or uncertainty, our Primary and Secondary leadership have added two tiles to SchoolBox, essentially summarising “who you gonna call”.

You might call it a pathway towards a partnered solution! 

There’s a tile for Primary and a tile for Secondary.  

Because of the nature of their timetables and their program differences, there are different pathways in the two sub-schools. We trust it helps, as a way of easing communication uncertainties and so that we might partner well, with grace in our heads, hearts and hands.

Shalom.