Unity in the Church from afar.
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Have a reif time of reflection on the experience fo memorizign the whole book of philippians. Ask about what the kids got out of it, and let thme know how much fun it was to teach, and spend time witht hem, and then tell them that you are looking foreward to the next year with them.
Why should we be giving money to the Gospel ministry?
Throughout the whoel book of Philippians, the theme of unity in the church has been promnent. We see this in Phil 1:27-28
Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God.
IN this passage, Paul is encouraging the Philippian believers to stand firm. Together. He wanst them to remember that the struggel agaisnt the world is one that should not be fought alone, but as a fmaily in the church.
Next, Phil 2: 1-4
If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
Paul is developing the tehme of unity here, moving away from teh need for unity to stand against an outward tehreat, and developing it into the idea the churhc needs to be unified becuse of the commonality that they have. Often times, you can becoem friends with people because you share common interests with some one. If i like cars, and I meet someone else who likes cars too, that gives us something in common. It is something to talk about, and something that we can do together. Paul is saying that Christ is the most commonality that you ncna have, The church should be the best friends because they are the peiopel with the most in common.
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here Paul is using the analagy of citizewnship to demonstrate unity . The church is toghether under the rulershiop of Christ, living as fellow citizens. This means that they share a common dwelling place- heaven. A common nationality- Christian. And a common ruler- Christ.
Finally in Phil 4: 10-20 Phil 4: 10-20, we see the theme of unity brough t to full realization in the idea of giving.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Unity is not the first thing that jumps off the page when yo read this passage. It is clearly about giving and contnetment, but what does that have to do with the idea of unity? Any ideas?
One idea is that there is unity between Paul and the Philippian church. Eventhough Paul and the Phlippians are not together, htere is still a bond that ties them together. Think back tho the unity of citizenship. both Paul and the Philippan churhc are citizens of heaven. theya are both under Christ. And they are both working to the same goal- the spread foteh gospel. By financally giving to Paul, the Philippian chuch is participating in the work that Paul is doing. Eventhough they are away, form Paul, they are demonstratign their unity in the work of the Gospel with Paul.
Something that is interesting to noticein verses 14- 20 is the way that Paul seems to be going back and forth between thanking the Philippian church for their gift, and telling them how much he does not need their gift. It almost appears as if Paul is ungrateful for the gift the the Philippins have sent him. Like he is syaing “ You really shouldnt have sent this becuase I dont need it.” That is not at all what Paul is doing. Rather, Paul is making absoluteluy sure that the Philippinas understand what he is meaning. By saying that he does noit need the gift that the Philippinas have snet him, he is reminding them that the gospel work does not depend on them givign to him. The speread of the gospel is not the Philippians work, and it is no9t Paul’s work, it is God’sm work. It will go on with or without Paul and the PHilippians.
What good is the Philippina’s gift to Paul then if he doesent acutally need it? well, Paul wants the Philippinas to know that they were not givign for nothing. Phil 4:17-18
Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Paul uses two different metaohors to communicte that financal giving is not for nothinng. THe first on e in verse 17 is that of a bank account. The idea is that by givign to Paul, the Philippians are increasign teh ammount that they have in their Spiritual accounts. Whuile it is not clear exactaly what they are gaining. Is is clear that one of the reasons that the Philippinas should be giving is so that they hae more credited to them. It is like by giving, the Philippinas are putting theire worldly money into a spiritual and eternal account.
The next methapor that Opaul uses to encourage the Philippians to give is that of an old Testamant Sacrifice. the language of a fragrant offering is often used to describe teh way that God viewes sacrifices in the Old Testamant. This menas that one of teh reasons that the PHilippians should give is that God likes it. it is an act of worship to God. By giving our money to the Gospel mission, we are acknowledging that all of teh money that we have came from God. We worship God by giving.
Finally, we get to the end of Pauls letter to the Philippians, and paul gives only a few words of farewell that we will discuss. He ends his letter by saying to greet every saint. Paul is demonstrating his concern for the members of the Philippian congregation by sending his greetings to each on e of them. “Every saint” is singular which is siginficant because if implies that Paul is not writing to the churhc body as a whole, rather, Paul is writign to each individual member of the congregation. He has each person in the philippian chuch in mind.
Finally, in verse 22, Paul says Phil 4:22
All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
I imaging Paul writing this with a smile on his face. If you remember in chapter 1 Paul said that the gospel has been made known through out the whole imperial guard. Now Paul sends the greetings form the new converts from the guard, it is as if he is saying “see, there is a purpopse to all of this.” He is encouraging the Philippians by showing that their support has resulted in actual converts.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.