Gospel Centered Relationships

Gospel-centered relationships from Philippi

Philippians 1:1-2

GBCCR 2/4/24

Introduction

Opening- I’m excited I finally get to open the word with you

Prayers

Lord, open our eyes to see wonderful things in your word

Catch- It doesn’t matter how strong a structure is if the foundation underneath it is weak

A few years ago I was walking along a beach in Orange County that we had been many times with our little kids

It had a long concrete sidewalk with a hill and going into the sand

But this time as we walked we saw half of the sidewalk had fallen into the beach because the ocean storms had eroded the beach and hill causing the ground underneath to fall apart

Concrete is strong right? It’s held together by strong covalent chemical bonds that do not break easy

Sand also seems to hold together if you pick it up in a clump but it’s connection is paper-thin and only requires to the weakest of forces to pull it apart

So Jesus was right when we talked about the dangers of building your house on the sand, right

What I want to point out is that like how concrete and sand both seem to stay together, there are all kinds of relationships between people that group when times are easy

But people scatter easily in weak relationships

What God wants for the church is a strong joy that can needs a strong foundation of certain relationship

The Book

Paul is writing from Jail in Rome

Imagine you live in this little port town, an island of Roman culture among all the Greeks& Paul’s letter comes to

& Paul’s letter comes to us

Most of us don’t know Paul..maybe a few remember him 15 years ago when he was here

But his impact on everyone has been tremendous as he started our church and the people who shared the gospel with you first were saved through his preaching.

We may not be in Phillipi, but the Beauty of scripture means:

It is not written to you, but it is definitely written for you!

Even Paul’s introductions are important with the goal the growth of the faith and the progress of the gospel (news of what Jesus has done)

the growth of the faith and the progress of the gospel (news of what Jesus has done)

So let’s see

3 relationships to develop around the gospel of Christ.

Friendship defined by fellow slavery

Paul and Timothy to the Philippians

Paul meet Timothy in Acts 16 at Lystra, where Paul noted the love this young man had for Christ

then went to Philippi and shared the gospel with the women, Lydia, and the Philippians jailor.

So the church was started

Timothy is so important to Paul that he said to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 4:17- That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

So Paul wants to send Timothy 1:19-20

These men just oozed love for each other

And Paul’s love for his friends at this church saying

he has deep affection for them (v 7-8)

Notice this introduction is different than other books:

No use of term apostle

1:5- note how they have fellow partnership

Paul writes the letter to make up for his absence (1:27, 2:12)

But why did they love each other?

Because they all loved the outdoors? Because theywere from the same generation?

While these things can be enjoyable together… but something far more important bound them….

Slaves of Christ

Paul begins by identifying himself and Timothy as "slaves" of Christ Jesus (1:1)

Your bible may say servant or bond servant

But this is not the Greek word misthos, meaning hired servant who can leave, this is slave, without choice.

You know..Not slavery we had in America, it wasn’t about race

Could become a slave by being defeated in war

Could sell yourself into slavery to pay off a debt

Could be born as a slaveBut anyone could become a slave

But anyone could become a slaveIt wasn’t about ethnicity like in this country’s sad

It wasn’t about ethnicity like in this country’s sad history

But Slavery was not a popular thing to be to Greeks or Romans either

A slave has to serve whether he likes to or not

The greeks valued independence, being the master of your destiny (Wonder we get it from)

But a slave meant his will was not his own

Like being in prison but no one was paying for your cell

We hate to think of anyone as a salve, but the truth is:

Everyone is slaves to something, no one is his own master

Jesus said

John 8:34- Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.

People feel trapped in their negative behavior or emotions. They feel they can’t change. And in one sense they can’t. Trying to change behavior alone doesn’t work because the lies that create that behavior are still there.

Romans 6:22- When you are freed from sin you become a slave to god.

But most importantly, Jesus himself had become a slave by becoming a man and dying on a cross (2:7-8).

Illustration

The relationship that truly bind us together is that of our being stuck

I think we can recognize this

There is a intimacy that come in a short term friendship or in those who even live tgether for a time out of wedlock

But we also know the deeper intimacy that comes from the statement to death do us part… that you push past the hard stuff and say to one another, I’m still here for you

Or even in a friendship and work environment where you say I’m chained to this person, so we’re going to make this work

Your best friendships should be based on being chained together

A Friendship defined by fellow slavery

Application

Your relationship to others should look like Paul’s

What do you build your relationships around?

People often say to me: well, this person or that person is just not being good friends to me

They’re just not making me belong well

Instead, should our question instead be, how does Christ want me to treat his servant

Recognizing that you are slave to something

Whether it is your body’s limitations that cannot do what you want

Or, the opinions of others who will tell you how to live

The strong foundation is one of servanthood to Christ, because He is a kind master

Trans: The letter was written by slaves, to slaves, but that alone is not the christian’s identity

Follow the savior who makes you a saint

Saints by Christ

Saint is not a title given to super christians, but one that represents every christian.

The word means one who is different, set apart, Holy

Illus- Natural separation, like branded horses. You can tell them apart by the marking… but often their training is so different, someone can see the

You can tell them apart by the marking… but often their training is so different, someone can see the differences

Therefore christians are to markedly different by their behavior and way of doing things

Christians should fight sin in a way non believers do not.

Trans: But the problem with “fake holiness” is that separation becomes the ultimate goal. As long as I’m not like that sinner over there. That’s just like the Pharisees.

We are saints IN Christ

“Alex Motyer says the identity of ‘saint’ involves a reorientation away from self and towards Christ. (Motyer 26)

This is the doctrine of our union with Christ…

When we are saved, God sees us within His son.

God the father together with God the son look at you Christian, with all your imperfections and sin

He only sees his perfect son in you and we’ll see how He promises to never give up shaping you into Jesus

Trans: But Paul doesn’t just call out to saints who are living in a cloister somewhere..he calls to them in a city, in the world.

Saints in the world“In Philippi”

“In Philippi”

Their world

Philippi was very prideful city- founded as Roman colony

But with that prestige came persecution

Acts 16- Paul is in the city and sees a demon possessed girl who seemed to tell the future.

The Philippians were experiencing this too

Philippians 2:15- prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

But they also had false religious people

Philippians 3:2- Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;

Philippi was a good church, but it was no picnic

Our world is a challenge too

Christians are to be in the world, but not of the world

You don’t have anything to offer the world if you’re just like them

Give them the hope that makes you different

Christians, we live in this world, but we’re about spreading the warning about God’s judgment and the good news of God’s forgiveness

Trans: However, even Christians are not perfect and have problems so, god has given us leaders to direct us and help us.

Saints still need leaders

Paul especially points out the overseers and deacons

Overseers = elders

Overseeing is one of the many tasks elders do.

Titus 1:7 describes the elders in 1:5 as overseers

And 1 peter 5:2 calls the elders to shepherd which is another word for Pastor.

Therefore, Overseers=elders=pastors.

and you might notice that there is always plural elders

It balances pastoral weakness. No pastor has every gift. Other godly men will have complementary gifts, passions, and insights.

It adds pastoral wisdom. None of us is omniscient

Deacons are the chief servants of the church

As Acts 6 sets the example, Deacons exist to serve the people and allow the elders to focus on the ministry of the word.

Elders serve by leading, deacons lead by serving

Why does Paul address these leaders here but not elsewhere?

And the language is putting them apart from all the other people

Most likely, he is addressing them specifically because of the conflict

Flip over to 4:2- Eudoia and Syntyche

V3- he specifically asks for them to be helped.

So, church leaders are called to do a lot, but one of the key things God wants us to do is to help your relationships be more christ like

You Christian live as a saint, set apart from world

Thus we should be different

just a few months ago, I was at the beach. My back was turned to the

My back was turned to the ocean and he came up to warn me about the strong waves that could knock me down.

it one not just those who go to the beach and hang out.

No we are the lifeguards. We are here to save people.

And I get it, my instant response to the lifeguard was not thankfulness, but annoyance… I’m not dumb, why are you telling me?

Which is our worldly response, right?

Christ makes us saints

Let me try to give some application thoughts about sainthood

Brothers and sisters, spiritual authority is here to help you. Don’t disregard it.

When you have a problem go to your leaders

The gospel informs us that we are all sinners who fought against God… therefore it is no surprise when we need help dealing with sin in and around us

You need to reach out to and let your elders help you follow Christ

Also, You may not feel like a saint all the time

You are doing what you should not do… then you are in good company

This is exactly what Paul calls us to do, we are saints, a temple for God, so we are to strive every day to live that way

2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1- For we are the temple of the living God…. Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul never puts what God has done against what we are to do, but they fit together like a glove

You can strive even more because of what god has made you

Trans: And the most important relationships are only made possible because of what Jesus has done:

Fall at the feet of the king who sustains

Explanation

Paul takes the normal greetings of the time, “chairein (which meant greetings) and turned it to charis, which means grace.

Therefore not just a simple greeting, he is making a point

Grace is God’s unmerited favor, his gifts towards the people he chooses to love

Peace is the opposite of war, harmony, coming from the God

Grace and Peace from paul to them is only possible because they have been given grace and peace from the Father, the king of the universe.

Gospel is brought it throughout this book. Mentioned references to the gospel per word of this book than any others

Illustration

We need constant reminder of our peace with God

Peace is so much more than the absence of fighting

Consider the post WW1 conflict of Germany and France

Versailles Peace Treaty was called peace, but heavy burden of reparations upon Germany.

The great anger over the consequences of the war and the retribution from that war is one factor leading to WW2

And you may be tempted to think God’s peace is like that

Yes, you’ve received forgiveness, but now you better pay off the pain you’ve caused

But God is reminding Christians that you have peace and you have the gift of grace

It is a great thing to go the father ever day in need because he gives

Application

Is it not interesting that Paul starts with letter reminding them of the gospel

What is the gospel except that though our sin puts at war with God

You are are were born and raised as enemy combtants o the God the universe

Yet, God made peace by paying for sinner’s crimes with e blood of His son

Like God tells us to daily put on the armor of God, so every day you need to be reminded of this gospel

Christians still need things

If you’re not a Christian, you are not at peace with God

Your own way make may sense to you, but I think we all have experienced how someone has wronged you creating conflict and they are sure they’ve done nothing wrong

By rejecting the good God’s way, you are in a losing battle against the God of the universe

But God is so kind that He doesn’t wait for us to come to him… he came to us in Jesus Christ.

you too can be forgiven and changed

But Christian, you too need this gospel message

The foundation of pursing joy is the recognition that no matter how mature in your faith, you need to be reminded of Grace and Peace

You need to remember that you have this because Jesus died for you

And then as we look at each other, we remember, this person still needs the gospel to

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)- 3 relationships defined by the gospel

Friendship with fellow slaves who have the same mission

Following as saints the god who rescued us

Dependence as supplicators

We know we must (Resolution)- We do not know much about Pastor Edward Motte

But in 1834 he wrote a poem he titled “The Gracious Experience of a Christian.”

Then American musician William Bradbury wrote a tune for the words in 1863, it became a dearly loved gospel song under the title, “The Solid Rock.

You know the line.. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand—all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.

Near the end of his life he forced to resign because of poor health one year before his death. He commented, “The truths I have been preaching, I am now living upon and they’ll do very well to die upon.”

There are so many things to build a church and community around:

There are singles groups, new married bible studies

Cowboy churches, motorcycle churches, arts churches

There are churches build around addressing felt needs

But we want to build our church around the hope that will last forever

Closing prayer

Lord, may you please build up your church, to the glory of the father’s name