Philippians: Partnership in the Gospel

Bond of Shared Affliction

Home from Viginia

Why do I still wonder about my fellow travellers?

Sam the Muslim

“Annie” the missionary

“The Andersons”- the family that Loved each other

Paul writes a letter of encouragement to a church that has been through some stuff- together.

Acts 16:11-40.

Spiritual desert (fertile ground)

Conversion of Lydia Acts 16:11-15.

Spiritual Battleground

demoniac liberated Acts 16:16-24.

Escape or Harvest?

Philippian jailor is saved Acts 16:25-34.

Philippians 1:1-11.

Greetings

Philippians 1:1–2 “1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thanksgiving

Philippians 1:3–5 “3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,”

Central Theme

Philippians 1:6 (BSB)

6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:7–8 “7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 8 God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

in the face of adversity Paul wants them to know

they are not alone

things will make sense…eventually

Paul’s Prayer

Philippians 1:9–11 “9 And this is my prayer: that your love (agape) may abound more and more in knowledge (epignosis) and depth of insight, (aesthesis/discernment) 10 so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

To the Church in Northwood

Paul, a follower of Jesus and Pastor by the grace of God the Father, to the saints of Northwood Community Bible Church: Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who has called us from so many walks of life that we might walk in paths of righteousness for the sake of the glory of His name.

I thank God that His grace has afforded me the opportunity to serve in your midst. For His purposes He called you as a household of faith to proclaim the Gospel of His son and the unyielding truth of His word.

This is my prayer: that you may continue to grow in compassion for one another and for the world around you, that you might come to experience the transforming and sustaining power of the indwelling Spirit of God in your spiritual lives, in your families and in your marriages, so that your faith might not merely be theologically correct, but practically experienced so that you may know the joy of obedience to the will of God that is yours for this life in Christ Jesus.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.