Phil 1, 1-2 - More To Life
More To Life – A Study in Philippians
How To Say Hello
Phil 1:1-2
Intro:
Angel Game
How we say hello communicates so much
Tone – gruff, quick, happy, friendly, romantic
1st impressions
Often affects receptivity
Think about a letter
Dear occupant
Dear sir:
Dear Ron,
Sweetheart
Phil 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.
- Standard salutation. Usually used name first A to B – greetings – wish for good health.
· Wouldn’t that be nice.
· Prescript – 1) name of sender, 2) name of recipient or recipients, 3) word of greeting or good wishes.
· Texting and email accomplishes this now! (except for greeting)
· High school students not knowing who was texting – it was bugging them.
· Knowing the person gives context.
How do you say hello in the family of Christ?
1. Come Humble – attitude - state
- Humility
· Servants of Christ Jesus.
· Word for slaves – other versions – bond-servants doulos
· One owned by someone else
· Subservient and dependent on someone else
· Chosen by God. Instruments of God
· Paul spoke of being a servant in a positive light!
· Bond-servants had a sense of volunteering out of love
· Highlighting lowly service and humility
· No pretensions
1 Cor 6:20 You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
· Paul led from below.
Slaves do whatever the master asks
Salves are dependant on the master.
Slaves don’t argue “Why don’t you do it this way?”
Slaves are the bottom of the totem pole
Slaves have no rights.
Slaves don’t get glory
We are slaves of Christ Jesus – we do all for Him and so serve each other.
This affects our approach to each other. Now, not trying to fix people, not with an agenda. Fellow servants talking.
· Doesn’t mention apostolic office – friends and humility – did not have to prove authority.
· Only 1 & 2 Thess and Phil books without apostle.
· Names:
· Paul = small
· Paul wrote even though Timothy’s name is mentioned. More likely that Timothy was just there with him. Later (3) singular I is used and then later Timothy referred to in 3rd person.
· Timothy = honor to God
· Timothy might have been personal secretary or Amanuenses
· We will see more on humility
2. Think Community – see each other as family – inclusive - tone
· To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
· Unity, mutuality
· To all the saints
· We and us terminology
· – church and leadership together
· No definite article – those in leadership
· With those in leadership – part of the whole.
· Overseers are like our elders
· Episkopoi - bishops
· Deacons
· Diakonoi – those that serve
Letter and teaching to all
Treating each member as part of the whole
Valuing and respecting.
3. See each other as Holy – identity, title - position
· Not an elite group of a few really spiritual people
· Paul calls them saints. “Holy People”
· Hagios – dedicate, set apart - for the purpose of serving Christ.
· In Christ Jesus – tied to saints.
· Saints vs. being saintly.
· Holy vs. perfect. We expect people to be perfect instead of helping them be holy.
· Holy people are unholy people that were called and set apart by the work of Jesus Christ.
Hello Saint John . . . etc.
We will be more careful how we treat each other.
Kids that are told they are problems become problems
Teens that are told it is a time of rebellion and will be rough, will live up to that.
At his request, each morning three-year-old Ry's mother pinned a bath towel to the back shoulders of his size two T-shirt. Immediately in his young imaginative mind the towel became a brilliant magic blue and red cape. And he became Superman.
Outfitted each day in his "cape," Ry's days were packed with adventure and daring escapades. He was Superman.
This fact was clearly pointed out last fall when his mother enrolled him in kindergarten class. During the course of the interview, the teacher asked Ry his name.
"Superman," he answered politely and without pause.
The teacher smiled forgivingly, cast an appreciative glance at his mother, and asked again, "Your real name, please."
Again, Ry answered, "Superman."
Realizing the situation demanded more authority, or maybe to hide amusement, the teacher closed her eyes for a moment, then in a voice quite stern, said, "I will have to have your real name for the records."
Sensing he'd have to play straight with the teacher, Ry slid his eyes around the room, hunched closer to her, and patting a corner of frayed towel at his shoulder, answered in a voice hushed with conspiracy, "Clark Kent."
In this world of identity theft it is vital we do not let the evil one take our identity.
4. Choose your words carefully – speak the words of Christ.
What you say first is everything!
Started with encouragement.
Grace and then peace (tied to joy)
Grace speaks to our state as slaves – our need.
· Grace and then peace.
· Grace was changed from charein to charis. Intentional – where the blessings come from.
· Undeserved blessing from God
· Peace is from Shalom – Hebrew for peace sum total of all blessings
· Peace and harmony
Grace is source – peace is result!
All: Based on relationship with Christ
Christ is the center.
How do we do that at home?
Choices, consistency.
Are we secular at home? Music, entertainment.
Of Christ, in Christ, from God and Christ
In Christ – one of Paul’s favorite phrases.
What is your favorite phrase? Ouch
· Notice frequency of God’s name. Clear where Paul is coming from.
· I’m Ron, and I’m a believer in Jesus Christ!
A budding artist once painted a picture of the Last Supper. He took it to the writer Tolstoy for his opinion. Carefully and understandingly the Russian master of words studied the canvas. Then pointing to the central Figure, he declared: “You do not love Him.” “Why! that is the Lord Jesus Christ!” exclaimed the artist. “I know,” insisted Tolstoy, “but you do not love Him. If you loved Him more, you would paint Him better.”
Philippians - Servants to saints
Concl:
How do we start conversations?
As a third-century man was anticipating death, he penned these last words to a friend: "It's a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians--and I am one of them."
More To Life – A Study in Philippians
How To Say Hello – Phil 1:1-2
1.
2.
3.
4.
In All Things:
More To Life – A Study in Philippians
How To Say Hello – Phil 1:1-2
1.
2.
3.
4.
In All Things: