Euclid was a great mathematician who lived about three hundred years after Christ. He is best known for his thirteen-volume series of books called Elements. Two of his axioms of geometry have been revised to produce the modern saying: ‘The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’ Another way of saying this would be ‘something happens in a group that doesn’t happen alone’. That ‘something’ is called ‘synergy’. It comes from the Greek word sunergia, meaning cooperation and working together. The New Testament church practised it: ‘All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer’ (v. 42 NLT). Jesus described spiritual synergy in these words: ‘I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them’ (Matthew 18:19-20 NKJV). The Holy Spirit hasn’t revealed everything to anyone. We learn and grow as we come together. Spiritual maturity happens in two ways: 1) By being willing to share what God has taught you. 2) By being willing to learn what God has taught others. Note what the Bible says about the Christians in Berea: ‘They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed’ (Acts 17:11-12 NKJV). Are you fellowshipping with other believers? If not, you are limiting your own spiritual growth and being robbed of blessing.

© 2024. Written by Bob and Debby Gass. Used by permission under licence from UCB International.