Philippians: Thankful Partnership In the Gospel

Bristol Missionary Baptist Church

As many of you know, I was saved when I was twenty two years old. God immediately connected me to pastor Dave Futral. He pastored a small church in Winona, MN, the town where I was attending university. Cornerstone Community Church is the church family I was spiritually raised from my infancy in the faith until I left as a spiritually mature, yet still growing, bi-vocational pastor.

God called Dave in July of 2005 to Bristol Missionary Baptist Church in Bristol, TX. A year later they were in need of a youth/ help wherever you can pastor. Dave called and asked if I were interested in serving in Texas with him. It would be bi-vocational. We would live in the parsonage next to the church. The church was small, maybe 60 people on a Sunday. We accepted the the call and moved to Texas.

For three years I served as a bi-vocational pastor and worked as a teacher/coach. For three years, we did life with this community. We married people, buried people, celebrate milestones, and grieved the struggles of a small church. We were a community of believers who shared a mutual passion and interest to joyfully advancing the kingdom of God. So much so, when God called Stacy and I to seminary, the church affirmed the call and supported us prayerfully and financially.

We left for Louisville, KY to attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on June 6, 2009. Bristol Missionary Baptist Church paid for all of our moving expenses and put a thousand dollars in our hands as gift. Furthermore, for the next five years until I landed in Litchfield and received my first check, Bristol Missionary Baptist Church sent us $400.00 every single month, plus individual gifts from time to time. This small church of 60ish people, who did not have a trust fund or liquid assets in a money market account, who, furthermore, still had financial demands and needs to meet; like broken air conditioners in a hundred year old building in the Texas August heat, gave us over $25,000 in support of our commitment to ministry. And would you have it, they still support us today. Dave calls me every 2-3 weeks to offer encouragement and to see how they can pray for us. Bristol Missionary Baptist Church is watching from Texas the fruit of their investment in the kingdom blossom in Litchfield.

When I think of Bristol Missionary Baptist Church, I cannot help but to be grateful to them for their partnership in the gospel with us and our ministry. My heart is filled with thankfulness, gratitude for their commitment to Jesus and their obedience. I have such gratitude for them that when I read Paul’s letter to the Philippians, I cannot help but think of Bristol Missionary Baptist Church, the work and partnership God established and continues at Bristol Missionary Baptist Church today, and I am convinced will remain until the day of Christ Jesus.

As I gaze upon the community at FBCL, I cannot help but feel the same way here. For the last eight years, God has worked powerfully in our body to proclaim his gospel, to mature us as a church, and to show us the way forward. I stand on the shoulders of many pastors who have served here over the last hundred plus years. We, as a body of Christ, enjoy the fruit of countless prayers that were offered by saints of old in Litchfield who were passionate about seeing God’s kingdom advance in this community. God established a work here one hundred and forty years ago. He brought together people who partnered in the gospel to joyfully advance his kingdom by making much of Jesus. As my heart is, so your heart should:

Be thankful for the work and partnership God established and continues at FBCL until the day of Christ Jesus.

This morning, I want to stir your heart up in gratitude toward God for His commitment to our church community. God has established a work in Litchfield through FBCL, and he continues to work through FBCL. For this we must be thankful. But our gratitude cannot be be stagnant. An attitude of gratitude to overwhelm your heart in such a way that you honestly, genuinely, joyfully partner in the gospel with each other to radically much of Jesus with your time, talents, and treasure. To get started, we need to understand what Paul means by partnership.

You are likely familiar with the Greek term koinonia. It is used twenty times in the New Testament. In eighteen of those times it refers to fellowship participation. It conveys the idea of a close association of mutual interest and sharing. On the surface, that may look like a business deal or an agreement between two politicians. Paul’s understanding of partnership goes much deeper than that, and I am afraid, what most churches experience in modern Western Christianity. Paul gives us three distinctions, cords, of koinonia that bind us together and make our partnership more than business as usual.

Three cords to our of koinonia, partnering in the gospel (Philippians 1:3-6)

Partnership in the gospel is joyfully sacrificial (Phil 1:4-5)

Paul uses the cognate verb of this word twice in Philippians 4:14-15, to commend the Philippian church for their participation in giving financially to the Jerusalem church. Surely, koinonia can include prayer and encouragement, but giving financially is at the forefront of Paul’s thinking. Why is Paul so enamored with the Philippians giving? Because of how they gave. The Philippian church gave financially out of their poverty. Look closely at 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

In verse 1, the Philippian church is one of the churches in Macedonia. Look at how he describe the church: 2) suffering a sever test of affliction and impoverished. They had no money to spare and they were being persecuted for their faith, and yet they gave what they had. More than that, they overflowed in a wealth of generosity, beyond their means to give. That implies that they had to do without in order to ensure the Jerusalem church had what it needed to advance God’s kingdom. Their giving was sacrificial, but it was more than that, it was joyful.

Look how Paul describe their heart to give. In their giving, they have with an abundance of joy, so much joy that they were eager to give more than they had, begging even, to give more in order to bring relief to the saints. They seemed to be impressed to out give each other for the sake of their brothers and sisters who were suffering like them in Jerusalem. It was if they loved to opportunity to give so much that suffering more poverty seemed light and momentary to them, as compared to the glory of seeing Jesus made much of in Jerusalem and they their brothers and sisters cared for. Ralph Martin gives us a nice lens to help us understand and measure the depth of the Philippian churches commitment to Paul and the kingdom of God. He says,

The sign of our professed love for the gospel is the measure of sacrifice we are prepared to make in order to help its progress.

Ralph P. Martin

What are you willing to give? How much are you willing to sacrifice? That is the measure of your love for Jesus? If you take the same measurement and put it on Christ and measure his commitment to you, His koinonia with you; He gave everything. He who was rich became poor for your sake so that by his poverty you can be rich. (2 Cor 8:9). For the joy set before him he endure the cross, despising its shame, for your sake (Hebrews 12:2). He sacrificed his own life to ensure you would have life, abundant life, eternal life in His name. Jesus is committed to His partnership with you. Are you as commited to Him?

Keep in mind, Paul is writing from a prison because of his commitment to the progress of the gospel. The measure of his sacrifice is a testimony of his love for Christ, and he commends the Philippian church for their measurement of sacrifice for the progress of the gospel. So much so, that he says that it testifies that the church is genuine it is faith.

Partnership in the gospel is evidence of real faith (Phil 1:6)

Paul says in verse 6

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 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.

The ESV says, “And I am sure of this.” The NIV translation says, “being confident of this.” The point that both translations are making is that Paul has been absolutely persuaded and convinced that God began a good work in them and will complete that work until the day he sends Jesus back to earth. What is the work and why is he so convinced of it? The work Paul is referring to is God’s salvation work.

Paul is persuaded that the faith of the Philippian church is genuine faith. These people are true believers. Why is he convinced of the authenticity of their faith? Because their love for God spills over to meet the needs of their neighbor. They give with joyful hearts because they love Jesus. Their love for Jesus compels them to meet the needs of their neighbor, even at great sacrifice to themselves. Paul makes this clear in his testimony to the Corinthian church of the Philippian churches’ giving in 2 Cor 8:1-5. Look once again,

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Paul wants the Corinthians to know about the grace of God in the Macedonian churches. What is the grace of God? It is both his work salvation that moves the Philippian church to joyfully give above and beyond their means to the struggling church in Jerusalem. Their giving testifies both to God’s work of salvation and their love for Jesus and neighbor. You only suffer for Jesus with joy when you love Jesus. Paul says to the Roman church,

Romans 5:3–5 ESV

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

God’s love has been poured into your hearts through the Holy Spirit. His love works in you and through you. It spills over onto your brothers and sisters, your neighbors, even, your enemies. Paul prays for the Thessalonian church’s love to spill over onto everyone (1 Thess 3:12). The Philippian church’s love for Jesus is spilling over onto the Jerusalem church with joyful and sacrificial giving. You might say, how do know its love for Christ that spilt over? Because they gave to the Lord first (2 Cor 8:5). Jesus was the priority. Out of love for Jesus, they loved their neighbor. That is how koinia partnership is meant to work in ministry.

It is not your love for neighbor first that compels you to give sacrificially. That implies your love will be sufficient to spend a life time sacrificing and given to their needs. I’m sorry. You don’t have in you, and neither do I. We do not have that kind of self sacrificial love inside of us. We love ourselves way too much to last through the grind of continuously sacrificing and giving of ourselves. No, brothers and sisters, you need the love of Jesus to overflow in you, to spill over onto your neighbor. He told the woman at the well that He is a spring of living water. Whoever drinks of him will never be thirst again (John 4:14). He will satisfy you so well that you will find it joyful to sacrificially give what you have, even your life, for the joy and opportunity to love your neighbor.

That kind of koinonia is not your average Piggly Wiggly Christian partnership that seems to plague so many churches, which makes you wonder if Jesus is their living water, or are the drinking from the cisterns of pragmatism or emotionalism.

They love who God loves. They love what God loves. They give everything they have to God’s mission to joyfully advance the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus. This is evidence that their faith is genuine. Paul is so confident of their genuine faith that he says God is going to sustain it, moreover, complete it, all the way until Jesus comes back to reign and rule at the “day of Christ.”

This brings up a major point about your faith and your koinonia with the church. J. Ronald Blue says,

Merely claiming to have faith is not enough. Genuine faith is evidenced by works.

J. Ronald Blue

If you love Jesus, then the works of joyful obedience to His commands will be evident in your life and partnership. You will be involved in the life of the church. You will be tithing to the church. You will be serving in the church. You will be praying for the church. And some of you, God willing, will be leading the church. There is no place on the periphery of First Baptist Church of Litchfield for genuine believers to rest. Koinonia rooted in a love for Jesus spills over onto a love for neighbor. Moreover, your love for Jesus ties you with cords of love that are deep and eternal to your brothers and sisters.

Partnership in the gospel is tied together by cords of love that are deep and eternal (Phil 1:7-8).

In verse 7-8, Paul expresses what is in his heart.

Philippians 1:7–8 ESV

7 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. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

What Paul feels toward he Philippian church is a single-minded commitment, like that he has for Jesus. I think that is in part what he says in verse 8. I yearn for you all with the affections of Christ. In other words, I am committed to you, and I love you, and long for you with the same commitment, yearning, and affections Jesus has for you. Paul loves this church, and his partnership is rooted deeply with love for these believers. Love, the way Paul expresses it here, was an area the Corinthian church needed to grow.

The point Paul wanted to drive home to the Corinthian church was that he wanted them to express genuine love toward each other and the church as a whole.

2 Corinthians 8:8 ESV

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.

The Philippian church was earnest in their love for Jesus and their neighbor, and so became an example for the Corinthian church. Then Paul gives them Jesus as the supreme example of what proving genuine love looks like.

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

And what you have is a single minded, heart united, loyal love of Jesus sandwich. You have the Philippian church loving Christ and their neighbor so much that they joyfully give sacrificially, proving their genuine faith by meeting the needs of others. Then on the bottom piece of bread you have Jesus leaving his wealth to become poor in order to meet the needs of others, that we might be rich in Him. Both the Philippians and Jesus love this way because they love the Triune God. Their love for the triune God made joyful.

Joy interweaves both the Corinthian text and the Philippian text. Love for Jesus gives you joy. Paul conveys joy in Jesus all throughout his letter to the Philippians. He says crazy things like to die is gain because being with Jesus is far better. He says know the surpassing worth of Jesus is worth loosing all of his worldly gain. He has learned to be content with much and little because knowing Jesus is enough. He commands you to rejoice in everything because knowing Jesus is worth rejoicing, even in suffering and tribulation. Paul loves Jesus, and his love is expressed in joy. So, John Piper sums up love this way. He says,

“Love is the overflow of joy in God which meets the needs of others.” John Piper

Paul’s joy for Jesus compelled his heart to yearn for his brothers and sisters in Christ with the same affections of Jesus to the point he poured himself out as a drink offering for their growth in the Lord, even choosing to live longer on earth, and forsake his greatest joy of being with Jesus, so that they could bear more fruit. Keeping int he same vain, the Philippian church’s joy in Jesus compelled them to love the Jerusalem church in such a way they rejoiced to the degree to give above and beyond their means, even in their poverty. Their koinonia was more than business as usual. It was born out a genuine love for Jesus that bound them together with a cord of love that holds all the way through eternity.

FBCL’s Koinonia

The joy of the Lord was the source of their strength to remain together in humility, unity, and contentment. It helped them to press on to joyfully advance the kingdom of God. Paul celebrated their koinonia with confidence and a heart of gratitude. Confidence and joy go hand in hand. I see this in the coaching world all the time. When an athlete has confidence in his ability to make plays, he has joy for the game.

I read an article that startled me the other day. The author made the point that God’s kingdom will remain, but yours may not. He was speaking about pastors and their ministry, but he made a principle application that applies to the church. God’s church, His bride, will prevail and win the day, but your local church may not. What he means is, do not assume that just because God established a work in the local church that he will not stop it if it refuse to produce fruit. Our local church is not guaranteed. If our koinonia is not rooted in a genuine love for Jesus that expresses itself in sacrificial giving to meet the needs of others, nor is it bound by cords of love for each other, then we are in danger of closing our doors. We are at a cross roads.

We should be thankful to God for the work he established at FBCL. He has done great things through this community of believers. He could do more if we are committed to koinonia. I want you to think about koinonia as Paul has described it in verses 3-8, in your own heart and FBCL.

Does it describe your koinonia to this church?

Is your partnership with this church sacrificial?

Does it testify of God’s work in your life?

Is it a tie of love that binds you to the brothers and sisters in this community now and for all eternity?

Purpose in your heart to partner in the gospel together. Intertwine your faith, sacrifice, and love for Jesus and the saints into the cords of others, making one strong cord of faith, sacrifice, and love that represents FBCL. That is partnership in the gospel. Oh, Lord, bind us together in faith, sacrifice and love.

Be thankful for the work God continues through FBCL (Phil 1:6-7)

Philippians 1:6–7 ESV

6 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. 7 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.

In verse 6, Paul is thankful for God’s sovereign work in the Philippian church. He is absolutely persuaded that the work is genuine that God will continue to work, and remain working in them and through them, until Jesus returns- the day of Jesus Christ. Their partnership warms Paul’s heart because they have been partakers with him of grace. The word partakers is another form of the word koinonia; their partnership. In verse seven it may even carry more of the idea of participating with Paul in God’s grace. Grace is a one word summary of all that God has done for us in Christ (Harmon, Matthew S. 2015. Philippians: A Mentor Commentary. Mentor Commentaries. Great Britain; Ross-shire: Mentor.). He elaborates further on how they participate as partakers of God’s grace in three ways: defending the gospel, confirming the gospel, and suffering well for the gospel

As partakers of grace we partner together to defend the gospel. (Phil 1:7)

The greek word for defense is the same word used for the English word “apologetics.” It is a legal term that was used in a court of law. In the Christian faith, apologetics makes the case for the truth of the gospel (William Craig Lane). When Paul was defending the gospel, he was making the case for Christ as God’s Messiah, the only means of salvation. Along with making his case, he was also defending Christian truth from false claims from pagans and Roman Nationalists. What this implies is that defending the gospel requires more than an emotional appeal. It is an appeal to your reason. Christianity is not advance with the sword of man, but with the sword of the Lord, His word. We do not coerce people into accepting Christ through intimidation or manipulation. We appeal to both their heart and their minds to consider these truth and the consequences of rejecting them. The Philippian church participated with Paul in the defense of the gospel in the Philippian community. They, as Peter exhorts us to do, were ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason of the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). Paul rejoiced in their partnership with him to defend the gospel. FBCL should have the same joy among our people.

Some of you might still be wondering what is the point of defending the faith. You might even reason that God did not call me to be an apologist. Well, you notice that Paul speaks about His defense of the gospel in cooperation with the Philippian church, not just its elders or set aside apologists. It was a community experience to defend the faith. Also keep in mind the purpose of apologetics. Doug Powell is right to say,

It is the goal of Christian apologetics to remove these hindrances that stand between a person and the cross of Christ.

Doug Powell

God uses you to removes the stumps and weeds of unbelief in a persons life whose heart is filled with skepticism. The best thing your neighbor could ever experience, your enemy for that matter, is the salvation that is offered in Christ. Is your partnership so connected to the body of Jesus that you find joy when you get to defend the faith, or you hear of your brothers and sisters defending the faith?

As partakers of grace we partner together to confirm the gospel. (Phil 1:7)

Confirmation of the gospel is proclaiming the gospel. it’s evangelism. Where defending the gospel was answer questions and addressing criticism, confirmation of the gospel was proclaiming that all of sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The wages of your sin is death. His condemnation falls on all who have rebelled against Him. God demonstrated his love for you, however, that while you are a sinner, He sent His Son Jesus to die for you. The wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. He invites you to receive his offer of salvation, peace, and reconciliation. Call upon His the name of Jesus and be saved. Confess with your mouth what you believe in your heart, that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.

This news was not always popular in Philippi. Remember, the city is made up of pagans and retired Roman military and government officials. It was heavily nationalistic toward Rome. Nero was King, a god even. It took courage and boldness to speak the truth of Christ to this community.Paul led the charge. He taught them that evangelism is not a human enterprise; its a divine operation (A Skevington Wood), and that evangelism is not a technique to master in order to win souls, but is ultimately in the hands of the Lord who reserves to himself His sovereignly right to add to His church (John Stott). Simply speak to the community about the one you love and the grace he offers you. Speak truth in love. The Philippian church participated with Paul to confirm the gospel, and Paul rejoiced in their partnership, even as he went to a Roman prison for it.

As partakers of grace we partner together to suffer well for the gospel.(Phil 1:7)

It is likely that he has been in Roman custody somewhere between two to five years for preaching the gospel (Acts 24-28). Romans did not use prison to punish people. It was usually a holding cell as the prisoner awaited execution. Paul was under the impression he could easily be executed for defending and confirming the gospel. He alludes this in Philippians 1:20

Philippians 1:20 ESV

20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Roman prison cells were not living in the lap of luxury. They were cold, dark, and damp. Rome was not responsible to feed their prisoners. That burden fell on family, friends, or a support system like the Philippian church. Paul thanks the church in chapter four for their financial support for his ministry, even while he was in prison.

Philippians 4:14–15 ESV

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

You can see why Paul felt the way he did about the Philippian church. When he needed them the most, they showed big for Paul, proving the work of God in their life and their genuine love for Paul.

There are two things I glean from Paul and the Philippians that teach me to suffer well for the gospel.

Suffering well means my joy is not compromised by my circumstances.

Thankfulness, gratitude, and joy are major themes Paul puts down in his letter to the Philippians. In the first few verses, it is Paul’s gratitude and joy that permeates through the text. He’s happy. He’s joyful. He’s proud of his brothers and sisters in Philippi. He is so strengthened by the joy of the Lord, that he continues to preach the gospel to the Roman imperial guard (Philippians 1:12). He sees his imprisonment as an opportunity to make much of Jesus. He even refers to suffering for the gospel as a gift in (Philippians 1:29).

For Paul, Jesus is good all the time. He’s learned to be content in Christ, not his living conditions. Inside the cold, dark, damp, prison cell, he writes Philippians 4:4

Philippians 4:4 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

“Paul’s joy was not compromised by his circumstances because his heart was content in his Christ.”

Suffering well means my support is vital to the joy of others.

The Philippians partnership with Paul brought joy to his heart. Their deep and sacrificial support expressed love for Paul in such a special way that his heart was warmed by the thought of them in his prayers. They chose to suffer with Paul in persecution, poverty, and hunger. They worried about Paul and eagerly sought to receive his suffering as best they could. They kind of support was vital to Paul’s joy.

In 1765 John Fawcett was called to pastor a very small congregation at Wainsgate, England. He labored there diligently for 7 years, but his salary was so meager that he and his wife could scarcely obtain the necessities of life. Though the people were poor, they compensated for this lack by their faithfulness and warm fellowship.

Then Dr. Fawcett received a call from a much larger church in London, and after lengthy consideration decided to accept the invitation. As his few possessions were being placed in a wagon for moving, many of his parishioners came to say good-bye. Once again they pleaded with him to reconsider.

Touched by this great outpouring of love, he and his wife began to weep. Finally Mrs. Fawcett exclaimed, “O John, I just can’t bear this. They need us so badly here.” “God has spoken to my heart, too!” he said. “Tell them to unload the wagon! We cannot break these wonderful ties of fellowship.”

This experience inspired Fawcett to write a hymn. “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love! The fellowship of kindred mind is like to that above.”

Pray for FBCL to partner in love to joyfully advance the kingdom of God. (Phil 1:9-11)

Paul begins this section with prayer and he ends this section with Prayer. He is compelled to pray for the church he loves, and I would commend to you, that your prayer life for the church is a barometer reading for your love for the church. You pray desperately for those you love desperately. I can tell you as your pastor, that I pray for you often, almost every day. Sometimes I use Paul’s prayer in verses 9-11, as a guide to help me better pray for you.

Pray our love for each other increases (Phil 1:9)

Philippians 1:9 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

The love that Paul is expressing here is a selfless love. its the kind of love that does not put your own interest above some else’s. Charles Spurgeon says it best. He says

Christians, you are to love one another, not because of the gain which you get from one another, but rather because of the good you can do to one another

Christ’s “New Commandment”, Volume 51, Sermon #2936 - John 13:34, 35

Charles Spurgeon

Pray our love increases with knowledge and discernment (Phil 1:9-10)

Philippians 1:10–11 HCSB

10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Our love must be guarded, tamed even, with knowledge and discernment. Knowledge conveys both and illumination of the mind and a deep abiding experience that transforms the way you live. When I was first saved, the love of Christ overwhelemed my heart. I felt compassion for people that was moved by a deeper love I had never known before. It was transforming considering I was a cynic.

This is the only time the word for discernment appears in the New Testament. It leans toward a moral sensitivity. You revere God’s name as holy in your heart, and you live rightly before your neighbors. Your holiness is not a grind, but a joy in the Lord. To be pure is to have Christ honoring integrity. To be blameless is to have such an outstanding character, that you will easily survive and false accusations.

Can you imagine the fruit of our church if we all prayed every day for our love to increase toward each other for doing good to each other. That our love would be governed by truth, truth that transforms our minds and hearts and lives to such a degree that the world took notice of our Godly integrity and character. That we would be filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Pray our love is missions minded (Phil 1:11-12)

Philippians 1:11–12 ESV

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

The phrase filled with the fruit of righteousness expresses how a person attains purity and blamelessness. Righteousness is the character of those whom God declares righteous. Paul’s attitude was that all that had happened to him served to promote the gospel. Advancement meant to blaze a trail (e.g., for an army). Paul’s difficult circumstances opened new opportunities for gospel witness.

What is the future of FBCL?

Does it describe your koinonia to this church?

Is your partnership with this church sacrificial?

Does it testify of God’s work in your life?

Is it a tie of love that binds you to the brothers and sisters in this community now and for all eternity?

What possibilities await us if we koinonia together the way Paul and the Philippian church did, and pray for each other?