Community Thanksgiving Service: Philippians 1:

Introduction

Personal

Good evening everybody. Its good to be together with you all, and I’m grateful to have the unique opportunity to share the stage and platform with so many leaders of other churches in our community.

We all come from differing denominational backgrounds, but tonight our aim is to lay aside our secondary differences in order to collectively acknowledge our primary similarity.

Now don’t get me wrong, these secondary distinctives are important. Beliefs on baptism, gifts of the spirit, and church governance should all be stuided and wrestled with, much like the church in Berea Acts 17:11 “who were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

So according to my examination of the Scriptures, I have landed in different places than some of the other Pastors here tonight, but tonight our aim is to lay aside these secondary debates and unify around what is Primary, namely the Good News of God found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

So that’s what I’m going to preach on tonight: The Gospel.

But a little about me really quickly:

My name is Andrew McClure, and I am the Founding and Lead Pastor of Community Bible Church of Richmond Hill, or CBC Richmond Hill.

We moved here 2 years ago, and our church officially launched in August of last year.

Prior to serving at CBC, our family served as Cross-Cultural Missionaries in Muslim North Africa, and Hindu South Asia.

I’ve been married to my wife Annie for 12 years, and we have 4 kids together, Josiah 9, Hudson 7, Emmy 5, and Denver 3.

But enough about me…

If you have a Bible, and I hope that you do please turn with me to the book of Philippians.

As a church we preach expositionally, which is just a fancy way of saying we choose a book of the Bible, and preach straight thru it.

We have spent the last 20 weeks studying the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and will be concluding that series next Sunday before Advent.

But I’ve been praying a lot about what to preach next, and am strongly leaning toward the book of Philippians.

So thank you all for letting me somewhat verbally process with you about this extrordinary book.

But let’s read, Philippians 1:1-2

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians

Every letter or epistle begins with a peronal greeting that accomplishes a few key points:

First, it identifies the sender who in this case is who?

Paul & Timothy— who quickly remind us that they aren’t anybody special, but designate themselves as duolos, or bondservants of Christ Jesus.

Secondly, a personal greeting identifies the intended recipient

“All the Saints” in Christ… that phrase “in christ” are two of the most important words found in Scripture. It draws a line in the sand, and emphatically proclaims that either you’re in, or you’re out.

And here they are writing to those that are “in Christ” along with their church leadership, in the city of Philippi.

Philippi was a leading city and important stopping place in Modern Day Greece, connecting the Agean and Adriatic Seas.

It was a Roman Municipality, governed by Roman Law, with latin its language and Cesar its god.

But tucked away in a world hostile to Christ, stood a remnant, a small contingent of people that were in Philippi, but not of Philippi, instead they were in Christ.

And in that hostile environment Paul gives them a mini-blessing, “Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

But look with me at verse 3.

Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,”

The first thing the Apostle Paul writes is, “I thank my God.”

And this little expression of Gratitude, really serves as a summary of the entire letter’s tone and tenor.

This is a letter of gratitude, aimed to encourage, expressing joy.

And that’s unique, becuase not all Paul’s letter’s are like this right!?

In most of his letters, he’s responding to the ever present pastoral fire that needs to be put out.

Disgruntled members, disunity, heresy and blasphemy, idoltry, sin… your pastors know what I’m talking about!

I mean When Paul thinks of the Galatians he’s utterly confused at how quickly they had written Paul off, and accepted a different gospel.

When Paul writes to Ephesus, he’s anxious that they aren’t firmly rooted in right doctrine.

And when Paul writes to Corinth, he’s angry at the rampant idolatry and sexual promiscuity within the church.

But in Philippi… he’s not confused, anxious, or angry…

no no no, when he thinks of those in Philippi he’s grateful.

There’s a popular and pretty funny saying on the internet that states, “If Paul could see the church in America today, we’d definitely be getting a letter.”

That’s funny, and probably true. But I wonder which kind it would be...

Would he be confused by us? Anxious for us? Angry at us? Or would he be grateful for us?

I don’t know about you, but I want it to be latter, so as we prepare to celebrate thanksgiving I want to give you 3 reasons Paul was grateful for the church in Philippi, and I pray these are 3 reasons Paul would be grateful for you as well.

First, Paul was Grateful for Gospel Partnership

Paul was Grateful for Gospel Partnership

Look with me at Philippians 1:1–5 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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.”

Not Circumstantial

Paul was Grateful for Gospel Preaching

Not

Paul was Grateful for Gospel Possession

Accurate gospel possession is not that we have made it our own, but that Christ Jesus has made us His own.

The righteouesness that is ours because of the Gospel has no confidence in the flesh. We didn’t earn it. We don’t possess it. He possesses us.