Partners in the Gospel

Introduction

Think about someone in your life who always shows up for you—someone who prays for you, encourages you, and walks with you in your faith. That’s a gospel partner, and that’s what Paul writes about in Philippians.

When we hear “partnership,” most of us think marriage, or maybe a business partner. But Paul is talking about something a little different—gospel partners. These are the people who come alongside you to live out the good news of Jesus. They help you share it, and they help you live it out—praying with you, encouraging you, keeping you accountable, walking life with you under God’s grace.

Maybe someone just popped into your mind. Maybe it’s your spouse. Maybe it’s that friend who lives far away, the one you can talk to for hours, who prays for you and you pray for them. That’s what Paul means by partners in the gospel.

When Paul opens his letter to the Philippians, he opens it with gratitude. And that gratitude shows a deep partnership in the gospel—one that shows up in prayer, in shared love, and in confidence that God will finish what He started. That’s what we’re going to see today as we turn to Philippians 1:3–11.

Philippians 1:3–11 NIV

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern 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.

Partnership shown in prayer (v. 3–4)

Paul’s first reaction when he thinks about the Philippians is thanksgiving and prayer.

He does not merely remember them. He continually thanks God and prays with joy.

Partnership in the gospel begins with intercession. If you want to be a partner with Paul, start where Paul starts: pray.

Notice three features of Paul’s praying here. • It is thankful prayer. Thanksgiving names God’s work and invites us into gratitude. • It is persistent prayer. Paul prays continually. Partnership is not a one-time gift but an ongoing commitment. • It is joyful prayer. The gospel produces a joy that sustains prayer even when circumstances are hard.

Think about this who will you thank God for this week?

Who will you intentionally pray for until you see change?

Partnership formed by affection and shared life (v. 7–8)

Paul says he holds the Philippians in his heart with the affection of Christ Jesus. This is family language.

Partnership is more than transactions. It is shared life, mutual care, and sacrificial love. In Philippi Paul found a church that had entered into his ministry. They were not mere donors. They were companions in the work of Jesus.

People who only want to speak into others but won’t let others speak into them, or people want all the attention and never give anything back. Watchout for

Two implications: • Partnership reshapes relationships. The gospel creates family where there was once distance. • Partnership costs. Paul praises their companionship in suffering and in the mission. True partnership will ask something of us.

Identify one person in our congregation you can build deeper partnership with by praying together, offering support, or serving side by side.

Partnership confident because God will finish the work (v. 6, 9–11)

Paul moves from gratitude and affection to a doctrinal anchor: God who began a good work will carry it on to completion.

That conviction changes how we partner.

We partner not out of panic or self-reliant effort, but from trust in God’s faithfulness.

Paul’s prayer for love that grows in knowledge and discernment so that the church may be pure and blameless at Christ’s return. Partnership is not only emotional.

It is spiritual formation.

Practical implication: partner with the confidence that God is at work. That means we invest in loving, discerning maturity in each other, not just in programs.

Next Steps

Pray like a partner. Commit to a regular, persistent prayer rhythm for the mission and for at least one person in the congregation.

Love like a partner. Look for practical ways to share life. Invite someone into your home, serve together, or encourage someone who is tired.

Trust like a partner. The gospel work is ultimately God’s work.

He is the one who changes hearts and carries His people forward. We serve as instruments in His hands, not as rescuers. Our role is to be faithful, to show up, to love well, and to point people to Christ. Our faithfulness matters because God Himself is faithful. He is the one who begins the good work, sustains it, and brings it to completion.

Conclusion and prayer gospel partnership means praying, loving, and trusting together.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of partnership in the gospel. Thank You for calling us to serve alongside one another, not in our own strength, but in Yours. Lord, grow our love for each other, deepen our understanding of Your truth, and give us discernment to walk in ways that honor You.

Help us to be faithful instruments of Your work, trusting that the good work You have begun in each of us will be brought to completion. Stir our hearts to pray for one another, to encourage one another, and to serve side by side in the mission of Your kingdom.

Now, Father, as we reflect on the ways You are calling us to participate, we ask that You would move in our hearts to respond. For those who are ready to take a step of commitment—whether it’s following Christ for the first time, renewing their faith, or joining in the work of Your church—meet them here and make Your presence known.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Listener Notes (one page, printable)

Sermon: Partners in the Gospel — Philippians 1:3–11 Main idea: Gospel partnership is rooted in prayer, love, and confidence in God’s work.

Key verses: Philippians 1:3–6, 9–11

Three points:

Partnership shown in prayer — thankfulness, persistence, joy.

Partnership formed by affection and shared life — koinonia, mutual care.

Partnership confident because God finishes the work — trust, spiritual growth.

Action steps: • Pray weekly for one person and the church’s mission. • Invite someone to share a meal or serve with you. • Invest in spiritual maturity: encourage Bible study or discipleship relationships.

Quote to remember: “We are instruments of a work God will complete.”

Bibliography

Bockmuehl, Markus. Philippians. Evangelical Exegetical Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017.

Brown, Derek R. Philippians. Edited by Douglas Mangum. Lexham Research Commentaries. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013.

Brown, Jeannine K. Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary. Edited by Eckhard J. Schnabel. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 11. London: IVP, 2022.

Carter, Warren, and Amy Jill Levine. The New Testament: Methods and Meanings. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013.

Cundall, Arthur E., I. Howard Marshall, and Alan F. Johnson. Romans to Revelation. Daily Devotional Bible Commentary 4. Philadelphia: A. J. Holman Company, 1974.

Grudem, Wayne A. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England and Grand Rapids, MI: Inter Varsity Press and Zondervan, 2004.

Heitzig, Skip. Bloodline: Tracing God’s Rescue Plan from Eden to Eternity. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2019.

Keown, Mark J. Philippians. Evangelical Exegetical Commentary 1. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2017.

Kuo, Jason C. “Philippians, Letter to the.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Edited by John D. Barry et al. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.

Luter, A. Boyd Jr. “Philippians.” In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible. Baker Reference Library 3. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995.

Mbewe, Conrad. Unity: Striving Side by Side for the Gospel. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2024.

Meyer, Jason C. “Philippians, Letter to The, Critical Issues.” In The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Edited by John D. Barry et al. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.

Polhill, John B. Paul and His Letters. Nashville, TN: Broadman and Holman, 1999.

Spurgeon, Charles. Spurgeon Commentary: Philippians. Edited by Elliot Ritzema. Spurgeon Commentary Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.

Sprankle, Timothy D., and Thomas Moore. Philippians: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching. Edited by Herbert W. Bateman IV. Kerux Commentaries. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Ministry, 2019.

Still, Todd D. Philippians and Philemon. Edited by Leslie Andres and R. Alan Culpepper. Smyth and Helwys Bible Commentary. Macon, GA: Smyth and Helwys Publishing, 2011.

Theology of Work Project. Theology of Work Bible Commentary. Edited by William Messenger. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 2014 to 2016.

Weymouth, Richard Francis. The New Testament in Modern Speech: An Idiomatic Translation into Everyday English from the Text of the Resultant Greek Testament. Edited by Ernest Hampden Cook. London: James Clarke and Co., 1903.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.

If you want, I can also generate a shortened bibliography for handouts or a footnote list for the sermon manuscript.

3-Day Bible study for small groups or personal devotion

Overview: Grow in love and knowledge so your partnership in the gospel bears fruit.

Day 1 — Thanksgiving and Prayer (Philippians 1:3–6) Read Philippians 1:3–6. Reflect on who has partnered with you in the gospel. Spend 10 minutes thanking God for specific people. Prayer prompt: ask God to deepen your gratitude and to open one opportunity this week to pray for a partner by name.

Day 2 — Affection and Shared Life (Philippians 1:7–8) Read Philippians 1:7–8. Discuss what it means to hold someone in your heart with the affection of Christ Jesus. Small group question: where is God calling you to enter into shared life? Practical task: make a plan to meet with one person this week for coffee, a meal, or an act of service.

Day 3 — Growing in Love and Discernment (Philippians 1:9–11) Read Philippians 1:9–11. Word study: Greek terms • epignosis — full or growing knowledge, experiential understanding. • diakrisis or diakrinosis — discernment, the ability to judge rightly. Reflect: how does knowledge shape love in your life? Pray that love would grow in knowledge and discernment. Practical task: choose one truth of the gospel to study this week and one practical decision in which you will apply discernment.

YouTube description

Paul calls the Philippians partners in the gospel. In this message from Philippians 1:3–11 Pastor Ryan explores how gospel partnership begins in prayer, is expressed in deep affection, and rests on God’s promise to complete the good work in us. Join us as we commit to pray, love, and trust together. Church app: laughlinchurch.com/download-the-app

Questions for Further Discussion (for small groups or home use)

Who are the partners in the gospel God has placed in your life? How can you strengthen those relationships?

What does persistent, joyful prayer look like in your daily rhythm? Name one person you will pray for this week.

Paul prays for love that grows in knowledge and discernment. Where do you need more knowledge or more discernment in your life?

How does the conviction that God will finish the work change how you serve and sacrifice?

Identify one practical step you will take this week to be a gospel partner with someone in our church.