Philippians 1:1-7

The Church

Paul is writing to an established church. You see that they have Saints, Overseers, and Deacons. Philippi was a church where Paul went to on the prompting of God. Read Acts 16:9-40 Discuss this and how God used Paul to establish a church that would lead to a Philippian Jailers conversion and how that helped him while he was in prison.

Paul established a church that would take care of him in future ministry. The Philippian church sent a man named Epaphroditus to take care of Paul while he was in prison. While he was helping Paul he got very sick to the point of death. Paul was sending a letter of thank you to the Philippian Church and asking them to honor a man like Epaphroditus.

Thanksgiving

Paul gave thanks for the Philippians in every prayer for their participation in the gospel. What is participation in the gospel?

Receiving the Gospel, Living the Gospel, and Sharing the gospel

They recieved the gospel. Acts 16:14-15

Acts 16:14–15 NASB95

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

They received salvation from Paul’s Message, Lived the gospel by giving Paul a place to live, and shared the gospel by providing for Paul;s needs while he was in prison.

God Will Complete What He Starts

Paul reminds them that God is going to complete their good works just as He started them. God used the Philippian church not only to help Paul but to serve as an example of a what a good church looks like. Most of the letters Paul wrote to churches were churches that had problems. He was writing to them to encourage them.

We too need to be encouraged. God saved us for a reason. We are to live in the good works that he has prepared for us . Eph. 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB95)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

What good works do you see yourself doing?

Partakers of Grace

He said that the Philippian church was a partaker in God’s grace. This means that God has supernaturally gifted them to carry out his will. All believers are partakers in God’s grace. How do you see yourself as a partaker in the grace of God?