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Teaming With Christ | Episodes 01 | Rev Paul Jeyachandran
November 16, 2025 · 28 min
Series IDMC Movement November 16, 2025 · 28 min · IDMC Movement
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Rev. Paul Jeyachandran leads the Intentional Disciple Making Church (IDMC) Movement, which is all about calling churches back to its disciplemaking roots. Visit us at idmcmovement.com
316K followers
0:00 At IDMC Movement, we believe that the heart of the church lies in intentional disciple making. We are calling churches globally to return to their disciple making roots, to intentionally walk this journey of0:12 faith transforming hearts and lives. Let's walk this journey together and discover what it truly means to live out Christ's great commission and build a legacy of faith that impacts families,0:24 communities, and nations. This is The Call, a journey of intentional discipleship. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this wonderful privilege. I thank you,0:36 Lord, for this day. I thank you that your Word is active and alive. And Lord, I pray that even as we open our hearts to receive your Word, I pray that you prepare our hearts, Lord. Give us a listening ear and a heart0:47 that is ready to obey your word. Holy Spirit, be our teacher. We thank you in Jesus name. And the people of God said, Amen and Amen. Teaming for Christ. 1 of the common0:59 problems that we find today is this: that the church has become a spectator sport. In other words, when we went through COVID,1:11 only a few got to engage in actually doing ministry. The rest of us were watching it on TV or just watch church happen in front of1:23 us. But I want you to understand that this has created a problem across the churches all over the world. That church has become a spectator1:34 sport. You know, a young reporter once asked the coach of the powerful Oklahoma Sooner football team. His name is Bud Wilkinson. So the1:46 young reporter asked the coach, How has the game of football contributed to the health and fitness of America? To the reporter's shock,1:58 Wilkinson, the coach replied, It has not contributed at all. What do you mean? Stammered the reporter. Wilkinson said, I define football as 22 men2:10 on the field desperately needing rest and 22 thousands in the stadium desperately needing exercise. 22000 fans2:21 desperately needing exercise, whereas 22 men desperately needing rest. See, in the in the church world, there is not only in the church world, even in2:32 in businesses, there is a principle called the eightytwenty principle. It's the Pareto principle. What it means is this, that 20 percent of people do 80 percent of the2:44 work while the 80 percent attend church, enjoy the service and leave without ever getting involved. I want you to think about this. That means that 20 percent of the people do the work2:56 and 80 percent just receive. 1 of the core things that you and I, we need to recognise is this. As the Lord continues to bless the ministry, as the Lord continues to expand the work of the3:08 gospel, we need more laborers. So 1 of the core things that I want to place before you as a congregation is this. How can we team together for Christ?3:20 In other words, we need to build an engaged and empowered team. And when I look in the scriptures, that's what I see. You know, in Colossians chapter 4, after Paul had addressed3:31 the Colossian church about the about the Colossian heresy and how they need to stand in the truth, how they need to be Christ centered in their life and Christ mastered in their life. Paul3:43 gives you a portrait of his own team. In Colossians chapter 4, verse 7 to verse 17. If you read it, you will find about 9 names that Paul mentions. Usually when3:55 we study the Bible, we ignore these passages. Many of them will stop probably by verse 6. The reason is because verse 7 onwards, there are names that we may not know who these people are. So we4:07 tend to ignore or marginalize these, this kind of passages. But I want to highlight this passage this morning because it gives us an insight into how Paul and the others who4:19 worked alongside Paul, they engaged in gospel mission, how they engaged in church planting and building the kingdom of God. I want you to think about this. Colossians chapter 4, verse 74:30 onwards. Let's read it together. Tychicus will tell you about all my activities. He is a beloved brother and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for4:42 this very purpose that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts. And then with him, Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who4:54 is 1 of you, they will tell you of everything that has taken place. Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions. If5:06 he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus, is called Justice. The reason why they called him Justice is because they didn't want to confuse him with Jesus, the Saviour. These are5:18 the only men of the circumcision, meaning they are Jewish men, Aristakos, Mark and Justice, among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God. And they have been a comfort to me.5:29 Epaphras, who is 1 of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God for I5:41 bear Him witness that He has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Herapolis. In other words, Epaphras was the pastor of the Colossian church and he had labored in prayer for his church5:53 while he was visiting Paul in Rome. Luke, the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea and to6:04 Nymphah and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodicea and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And then6:16 verse 17, And say to Acupas, see that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord. Now, when I study this passage, I want to give you 3 things6:28 that I observe from here for our meditation this morning. This is a portrait of Paul's team. I want to give you 3 core observations, 2 cautions, and then 16:40 challenge from this text. 3 core observations, 2 cautions, and 1 challenge. Observation number 1. God gave Paul6:52 a diverse team with a core identity. A diverse team with a core identity. The first thing about the diverse team is this that I notice. It is made up of7:03 Jews and Gentiles. Look at this verse 9. Verse 9 says, these are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of7:15 God. Paul lists about 9 names. Out of that 9 names, he talks about 3 that were of the Jewish sect. I want you to listen to7:27 me. He says, they are the only men of the circumcision. And then he goes on to say, they have been a comfort to me. In other words, look at this beautiful picture.7:39 A team that Paul had together with him. These are the men that God joined together. These are the men that were involved in church planting among the Gentiles. These are the men who travel7:51 far and wide with Paul so that they can preach the gospel to places where the gospel has not been preached and build churches where there has been no church. I want you to listen to me. The team consisted8:02 of Jews and Gentiles. You know, this was revolutionary in that time because the Jews don't necessarily mingle with the Gentiles. The Jews consider the Gentiles8:14 dogs. That's the mindset they carried, isn't it? And 1 of the core things here in the church, in the body of Christ is that they work together. God brings together the Jews and the Gentiles and the8:26 team of people that are from diverse cultures coming together, united by the gospel. They serve God's purposes. This is a diverse team. When I8:38 look at this team, he mentions 3 names, Aristarchus, Mark, and Justice, and said they had been a comfort to me. When I put on a lens of as a pastor8:50 who, when you're building God's kingdom, you're serving and building God's church together with Lord Jesus, sometimes that journey is lonely. And here he says, these men9:01 had been a comfort to me. When I think of that, I think like this. Paul was called to be a missionary, an apostle to the Gentiles. You know, the Gentiles know nothing about the9:13 Mosaic law. The Gentiles knew nothing about the practices, the sacrifice that the Jewish people do. But Paul is well trained in all this. But when he goes into a Gentile world,9:26 many times they didn't receive Paul. They even beat him up. They left him to die. So in this kind of difficult persecution and situation where they don't really understand him, they don't really welcome him.9:38 There are 3 Jewish men that took the journey with Him and they were comfort to Him. Hallelujah. I want you to listen to me church. 1 of the core things that the Lord laid in my heart as I was9:50 studying this is no matter who you are, as long as you're serving the Lord, whether you're a life group leader or a zone shepherd or a pastoral staff in a team, or you are the senior pastor of a church,10:02 we all need people around us who can come alongside to say, I want to be a comfort to you. Hallelujah. You know, story was told of Abraham10:13 Lincoln's assassination. You know, Charles Swindoll, he writes this in a newsletter. This is what he writes. Stored in a safe place at the Library of Congress is a small blue10:25 box. The label reads, contents of the president's pockets on the night of April 14, 18 65. The terrible night when Abraham Lincoln was10:36 assassinated. The box contains 5 things. A handkerchief embroidered A Lincoln, a country boy's penknife. Thirdly, a spectacle case repaired with10:48 string, A purse containing a 5 dollar bill in confederate money. Fifthly, some old worn newspaper clippings. The clippings mention the great deeds11:00 of Abraham Lincoln. 1 of them reports a speech by John Bright, a British statesman saying that Abraham Lincoln is 1 of the greatest men of all time.11:12 Charles Spurgeon writes this, that's not news for us who live over a century later. We all know that Abraham Lincoln was a great man, but in 18 65, the jury was still11:24 out. The nation was divided and Lincoln had fierce critics on both sides as he made decisions that he hoped would restore the union. Remember, Lincoln hadn't read the history books on himself. There is11:36 something poignantly pathetic about picturing this lonely figure in the Oval Office reaching into his pocket and spreading out these newspaper clippings as he reread the encouraging words of a man who believed that11:48 Lincoln was a great man. It gave him courage and strength to go on. Can you picture this? Abraham Lincoln, the great man who is adored by many today and considered as12:00 a great president that ever lived. But you know what? He was lonely in the Oval Office, and he puts the newspaper clippings and reads things that are encouraging12:11 to him. Every man that is doing God's work, every man and every woman that's doing God's work, need people who come alongside to be a12:23 comfort and encouragement to them. And Paul here says, I have a diverse team that is made up of Jews and Gentiles, and some of them were comfort to him. Praise God. The second thing, when I look at this, it's a diverse12:35 team that included a slave and a doctor. Look at this. Onesimus in verse 9, our faithful and beloved brother. Onesimus, you know who he is? He's a runaway slave. He actually ran12:47 away from Philemon's house. That's why you and I have a letter in the New Testament, a letter written by Paul to Philemon to accept, to receive Onesimus back. He was a runaway slave. In12:59 other words, he was not regarded as anything. He was a slave. The slave doesn't own anything. He doesn't have anything to his name. They, in those days, they have no rights, no13:11 privileges. But the Bible says, we ran away to Rome and there he met Paul and he got born again. And now he is part of the kingdom of God. And now God not only redeemed the slave, but gave13:23 him a purpose in his life to plant the churches, to go and preach the gospel, to work alongside Paul. So now Paul says, I have a slave who is part of my team. Isn't that13:35 beautiful? Secondly, there's also Luke, the beloved physician. So it's not the diverse team, not only is made up of Jews and Gentiles, it's also made up of people who are literate and illiterate. Here's a13:46 doctor. And when Paul writes about Luke, he uses a very special word. He says a beloved physician. You know, Luke came from Thessalonica and13:58 Luke left his practice as a doctor and followed Paul. And I believe the reason is this, you know, you know, the first mission trip that Paul took, Paul was, Paul nearly14:10 died because he was so sick. And Luke must have heard about this. So the next trip that Paul was going to make, Luke says, no, no, no, I'm going with you. That means he left a good practice as a14:21 doctor and came alongside Paul so that he can be of help, be of comfort to build the kingdom of God. Listen to this. In other words, this is a diverse team that God had raised to build his church14:33 together. So a diverse team with a core identity. That's my first observation. What is the core identity? The core identity is we are the family of God. I want you to think14:45 about this. The core identity that I find in this passage is Tychicus is a beloved brother. The description is he's a brother. Oh, hallelujah. Not only that, Onesimus, faithful14:57 and beloved brother. What Paul is saying is, these are my brothers now. That means we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. We now belong to 1 family.15:09 Hallelujah. If you are watching this at home and your family members are around you, you know, I want you to turn around and tell them, We are family. But not only that, you have a family of15:21 faith. You have brothers and sisters from different parts of the world that are gathered together. You have people from different ethnic groups, Indians, Chinese, Filipinos,15:32 Indonesians, Australians. We are people of God that are gathered from various nations. The reason is because we are a diverse team, but we have 1 core identity that is we belong to Christ.15:44 Hallelujah. How do we belong to Christ? The only reason why we belong to Christ is because we are born again into the family of God. We are born again because we believed in Jesus who died for15:56 our sin and His blood has washed us and cleansed us. And today He has forgiven us our sins and He has reconciled back to God. As a result, we are now family of God. Hallelujah. And because we are family of16:08 God, we partner together in partnering in the father's business. Jesus is building his church and we are co laborers with him. As brothers, we come together so16:20 that we can build the kingdom of God. Hallelujah. That's why you and I, we need to carry this core identity. We're a diverse team and we have a core identity and the identity is this. Colossians chapter16:32 3 in verse 11 says, Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in16:43 all. Hallelujah. Christ is in you and Christ is within you. Here he says Christ is in all and in all. That's what makes us16:55 children of God because we have Christ in us. Hallelujah. So the first thing is a diverse team with a core identity. The second observation is a distinctive17:07 team with a core purpose. A distinctive team. Look at that. Why do I say a distinctive team? Look at the names that he has listed. Each 1 is unique.17:19 Not everyone did the same thing. You know, when I look at the names that are listed, you know, the 7 names that are that actually worked with Paul as in their team and17:31 played different roles. You know, when I look at Tychicus, for example, Tychicus is a man with a servant's heart. You know, in this house, we have a philosophy17:43 that we don't call leaders to serve. We call servants to lead. We don't call leaders to serve. In other words, it's not like you are a leader and therefore come and serve. No, no, no. You are a servant. Therefore17:55 we invite you to lead. In other words, you've got to have that servant's heart. Tychicus was a man who had a servant's heart. And here Paul used Tychicus in different manner. You know, Bible18:06 scholars will tell you that Tychicus is the man who carried the epistles that Paul wrote. In fact, this episode of Colossians, along with Ephesians and Philemon were all written and18:18 delivered by Tychicus. Paul wrote it. Tychicus delivered it. In other words, he was the courier boy. He was the FedEx. He delivered it. You know, those days, the journey18:30 to deliver even a courier came at a great risk, great sacrifice. It would take months. They have to go via water and land and face18:42 all kinds of situations. And he did it. Not only Tychicus was a career man, church leaders, church Bible scholars tell you that Tychicus was also an interim18:54 senior pastor when Paul needed help. Like, for example, when Paul writes in Titus to his son, spiritual son, Titus in Crete and says, Titus, come and see me.19:06 But he sends Tychicus there so that he can relieve Titus to be able to go back. So Tychicus becomes the interim pastor over Crete. The same thing. The last letter that Paul penned was in 219:17 Timothy. And he says, Timothy, come and see me before winter and bring my coat and bring some books. And he says, I'm sending you Tychicus. Why? Because Tychicus will step in as the interim19:29 pastor so that Timothy can go fellowship with Paul. I want you to listen to me. This man had a servant's heart. You won't hear, you won't read about him in the acts of the apostles as a man who healed the sick or19:40 delivered the poor or did some great miracles. But he was a man who was obedient to the voice of God and served with a servant's heart. Hallelujah. That's what the people of God need to do. We just need to19:53 surrender ourselves and say, this is all I can do. All I can do is just be a delivery boy. All I can do is just just do something. And God can use us. Whatever gifts we carry, talents we20:04 carry, as long as there's a willingness and an availability, God can use us. When I look at Aristarchus, you know, he's a man with a sympathetic heart. You know, I believe that every church20:16 needs Aristarchus. You know, Aristarchus was a man who 1 day heard the gospel through Paul, and he wanted to follow Paul. So when Paul was leaving a city, he jumped on the ship with him and said,20:28 I'm going with you. And then when the mob attacked Paul and they were throwing Paul in prison, Aristarchus volunteered and said, I'm coming with you to prison. So he became a person who walked into the20:40 prison with Paul voluntarily. That's why Paul writes and says he's a fellow prisoner. He wasn't arrested for anything else except his association20:52 with Paul. I want you to think about the next guy, Luke. Luke was a guy with a special talent. He's a man with a special talent. In other words, Luke, he gave up his21:03 practice. I mentioned to you that he would have had a successful practice in Thessalonica, but he gave that up and followed Paul. You know, in the acts of the apostles, when you read about the way the gospel moved from21:15 1 location to another, how the church spread, how the gospel spread among the nations. The Bible actually records there are people who gave funds for those things,21:27 because it takes a lot of funding to do the gospel work for the expansion of the gospel, for the expansion of the kingdom of God. It takes funds. So some people gave generously funds to do this. But21:39 then there are others who gave themselves, not just funds, but they gave themselves. These are the people that are listed here. They surrendered their own life. Oh, hallelujah. The only21:50 reason I believe they did all this is because they are a distinctive team with a core purpose. You know what is that core purpose? The core purpose is that22:03 everyone is useful. I want you to listen to me carefully. Look at this in Tychicus. Paul writes in verse 8, I'm sending him for this very purpose that he may22:14 encourage your hearts. That He may encourage your hearts. In verse 12, he says about Epaphras, that you may stand mature and22:26 fully assured in all the will of God. Epaphras is a man of prayer. He's praying all day, all night for only 1 reason. He says that you may stand mature. Tychicus did all that22:38 so that he can encourage the church. Epaphras did everything so that they can continue to mature in the body of Christ. You know, 1 of the things, the reason why these men lay down their22:50 lives to do all that is necessary is because they have been touched by God. You know, years ago, I read a poem called The Touch of the Master's Hand. This is how it23:01 goes. In 19 21, Myra Brooks Welch told a story of an old violin that was put up for auction in a poem called The Touch of the Master's Hand.23:13 It was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it was scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile. What am I bidding, good folks? He23:25 cried. Who will start the bidding for me? A dollar, a dollar, then 2, only 2, dollars 2, and who will make it 3? 3 dollars once, dollars 323:36 twice, going for 3, but no. From the room far back, a gray haired man came forward and picked up the bow. Then wiping the dust from the old violin and tightening23:48 the loosened strings, he played a pure melody and sweet as a caroling angel sings. The music ceased and the auctioneer with a voice that was quiet and24:00 low said, what am I bid for the old violin? And he held it up with the bow. 1000 dollars, who will make it 2? 2000, who will make it 3? 3000,24:11 once. 3000, twice. And going and gone, said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried. We do not quite understand. What changed its worth?24:23 Swift came the reply, the touch of the master's hand. And many a man with life out of tune and battered and scarred with sin is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless24:34 crowd, much like the old violin. A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, a game, and he travels on. He is going once and going twice. He's going and24:46 almost gone. But the master comes and the foolish crowd can never quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that is wrought by the touch of the master's24:58 hand. Isn't that beautiful? The only reason why people give themselves and say, Yes, I want to serve on KAPAC. I want to serve in the kids25:10 ministry. I might miss hearing the sermon live. I'm there serving the needs of the children. But the reason I can do that, the reason I can lay down my own preferences, the reason I can lay down my25:21 own rights and privileges, and I can serve others willingly is because my life has been touched by the Master's hand. My life has been turned25:33 around by Him. And when you and I recognize that we can be helpful. You know, the reason why we do anything we do, the reason why someone comes25:45 to the studio to mix the audio, to play the worship, to preach the sermon. The reason why we come and do anything we do in the on-site services is25:57 because of this 1 conviction we all carry. We are here to build the church of Jesus Christ. And what are we building? Look at this in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 28. This is the reason why Paul says we26:09 do anything. The reason why we do it is because Him we proclaim, warning everyone, teaching everyone with all wisdom that we may present everyone mature in Christ. That process of26:21 growing up, that process of becoming like Christ, that process of being mastered by Christ daily until we become like Him, it takes time. It takes laborious work, church. It takes a lot of26:33 people doing this consistently over and over again until God will chip away all that personal preferences and carnal desires and ambitions. And finally, we look like Him. Hallelujah.26:45 At IDMC Movement, we believe in the great commission to make disciples of all nations, bringing the hope and truth of Jesus Christ to the world. Through our global outreach,26:57 we have the incredible opportunity to share the gospel in homes across the globe and journey with people toward authentic discipleship. Throughout scripture, we see how the27:09 early church came together, giving generously to ensure the ministry of the gospel could continue. Today, you have the opportunity to partner with us in the same mission.27:21 Your financial support is more than just a contribution. It's a way to join God's work, bringing the light of Christ to places where your presence may never reach, but where your giving can. As27:33 Paul reminds us in Philippians chapter 4 and verse 17, not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. By partnering with us at IDMC Movement, you are27:45 investing in lives being transformed, families being restored, and communities being renewed through the power of the gospel. To give, simply visit us online or scan the QR code27:57 on screen. Thank you for your generous gift and for partnering with IDMC movement in spreading Christ messages across the globe into every28:08 heart and home among the nations. Thank you for joining us today. We hope that this message was an inspiration to you and help you in your28:20 journey of discipleship. Join us next time on The Call, a journey of intentional discipleship.
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