2. Partners in the Gospel

Introduction

Philippians 1:3–11 ESV

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

I don’t like football, but I used to envy Football Fans - though I wasn’t one, my friends were. Instant connection!

Music fans of obscure bands. Play the same game. Immediate access to shared experiences and a relationship.

Meeting Sammy in Bethlehem. Nothing in common except the Gospel. Immediate understanding and depth to our relationship - partnership was already there.

Main point: Koinonia - Partnership - common sharing in the the Spirit. Asking God why it is so important we journey together.

The koinōnia of believers is more than partnership; it is “communion in the Spirit,” common sharing in the Spirit.

G. Walter Hansen

1. Together for the Gospel

Philippians 1:3-5 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Paul lets his friends listen in to one of his prayers for them. Thanksgiving is the theme.

“I thank my God as I remember you” is the better translation. Paul remembers his friends in prayer; Lydia, the slave girl, the Jailor. “He really knows us; he is praying for us.” Real relationships.

Things to notice:

“always in every prayer of mine” - frequency.

“for you all” - everyone; none left out!

“prayer (δεήσις)” - Specific prayers and not general, begging - making specific requests of God.

“making my prayer with joy” - Joyful heart, despite his chains. God present even in suffering.

MAIN POINT: The reason for his thanksgiving - their Partnership in the Gospel.

κοινωνία (koinōnia)

Fellowship; Partnership; very common Greek word, used in business, family, friendships - working together towards a goal.

Film campaign - star wars remastered trilogy. Advertised everywhere! Star Wars Tazo Collectors force pack - lots of Doritos and Walkers! All these different companies, partnering together to get the message out - go see star wars, go buy the films.

Our message is altogether bigger - the Gospel

In all our different fields, in our family, work, leisure time, as a Church, together we stand and speak for Jesus. We are His arms and legs. Communicating through what we say and what we do.

Works are essential in witnessing to Him: 1. Love for one another, 2. Love for your neighbour. Both important witnesses to the Gospel - supporting actions that must be accompanied with words.

Jackson Club - cheesy beans - perfecting cheesy beans isn’t the focus.

Focus on loving each other you can become a social club, cliques form and you’re closed and judgemental.

Focus on loving your neighbour - and you burn yourself out trying to save people and meet their needs. And you judge others when they don’t work as hard as you.

Do both, and use words - be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope we have - Jesus. He can’t be forgotten, His name must be central to everything we do!

2. Together For Love

Love is clearly important for Paul - look at his language!

Philippians 1:7 “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart...”

Philippians 1:8-9 “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more...”

This partnership, unlike Star Wars and Walkers, is not a cold business relationship. It is underpinned by love - genuine affection.

John 13:34 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

Jesus is the source - “just as I have loved you...” His example, His sacrificial love. John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Love motivated Jesus to go to the cross. How might our love for each other motivate our friendships and service. Q: Ask God how you might bless someone today.

There are no shortcuts to love - and the kind of love Jesus experiences and seeks to encourage in the Church takes time.

Study on love - someone in relationship for 1 vs 10 years looked at a picture of their partner.

1 year: Anxiety and stress flooded the brain.

10 years: Comfort and relaxation

To go from anxiety to comfort - Takes time. HUGE CHALLENGE to UK Church life!

Sammy in Bethlehem (1 Church), has to persevere vs Simon in Canterbury has 30 different Churches/communities to choose from! Then there’s ONLINE...

Serious threat to spiritual health of Christians - endless first dates, without even settling down - eventually you give up! Who wants 100 first dates? Speed dating, 1 min with each!

If you’re on a first date with us, you’re very welcome but stay awhile - don’t fall into the trap of superficial Church - options aren’t the blessing they seem to be… choose quickly.

Online Church: I was not careful with my language over lockdown - Online Church is different, it must be paired with community and relationship. We already watch enough TV, we need to join together in worship - not just watch from home.

VISION: Struck as a seeker the picture of Church - where in the world are you likely to find a group of people as diverse as the Church? Not many places. Young - only, rich - poor, different ethnicities, personalities, different thin - all joined together by Jesus. Like Sammy and I, across worlds and cultures.

The Church is a witness to the power and grace of Jesus and HIS LOVE AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE!

3. Together For Growth

This partnership in the Gospel not only joins us together in love, and for the Gospel, but also for our growth.

Diverse voices produce a richer person - God knows this and so He brings us together. Nothing is worse for us than an echo chamber!

Rehoboam and his advisors...

Instead, Paul prays for the Church to grow TOGETHER - as well as individually.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

This partnership that began in the Gospel is being threatened from within and without - Paul reminds the Church that their partnership will continue and be perfected (completed) when Jesus returns and eternity begins.

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

“with knowledge and discernment”

Knowledge = morale understanding, what is right and good. But not without love!

Discernment = wisdom, not just what is right, but when it is right to act/speak or not, and even how to act/speak - intangibles.

Together, love may abound more and more.

Give yourself every opportunity to be heard clearly - Don’t text or email something difficult. Missing context and tone!

“We need to talk!” or “Would you like to grab lunch this week?” Then what happens when they don’t respond straight away?! Stress!

It’s not that you can’t, it’s that it is unwise. If there’s an important or difficult conversation to be had, do it in person, or if you have no other choice do it over video call or phone.

Pursue what is “excellent” - not what is easy! Excellent, what is best for the other person.

“so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ”

Intimidating verse - but it sets a trajectory not an expectation of perfection.

Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Set up your life on the trajectory of righteousness.

Righteousness a trajectory, not work based - heart based. See David as an example. Set up your plants to grow - set out on the path.

Weeds come in, so do robbers, sometimes you fall, but keep on the path and you will see the fruit. And walk together!

Conclusion

Together with God’s grace and power we can set ourselves and Canterbury Baptist Church on the trajectory of righteousness. Love one another, be wise and generous with each other, and partner together for the Gospel in this community and beyond.

“All to the glory and praise of God” that His name would be worshipped in this land.

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language Chapter 6

24  GOD bless you and keep you,

25  GOD smile on you and gift you,

26  GOD look you full in the face

and make you prosper.