Saturday, June 7, 2014

Philippians 2:19-3:1a

¹⁹ I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. ²⁰ I have no one else like him, 

who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹ For everyone looks out for their own I interests, not those of Jesus Christ.²² But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. ²³ I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. ²⁴ And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. ²⁵ But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶ For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹ So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, ³⁰ because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!

Reflection

Paul ends this section by explaining that Timothy will

continue his ministry. Again Paul is pointing out that it does not matter who but what is preached and that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. In what ways do you think we get this wrong? Could it be by putting our needs and wants ahead of the gospel?

Friday, June 6, 2014

Philippians 2:17-18

¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink

offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. ¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Reflection

Today’s scripture is heart-wrenching. Imagine you’re

gathered to hear Paul’s latest letter. You are gathered in with other believers. At first Paul had said that he may come to visit, but this is tempered with his worry over his faith. Now Paul lays it all on the line with the imagery that relates his death to worship. The faith of the Philippians is the offering and Paul’s life blood is the blessing poured upon that

offering. This scene would look very much like the pagan and Israelite worship of the time. No doubt there were tears shed when this was read in the community. Like Paul what legacy of God’s work in the world do you want to be your life’s offering to God? What contribution will God make through you to spread the gospel? 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Philippians 2:12-16

¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 

¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Reflection

Paul calls the church to continue to live out the gospel. Paul uses the phrase “much more in my absence.” Like the Christians in Philippi, we have all had people who have

contributed to our faith journey. Paul has been instrumental in their lives, but that does not mean when he leaves them that they walk away from their faith. Who has been

instrumental in your faith journey? If you could tell them how would you share that you are living out that life even more in their absence? 

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Philippians 2:5-11

⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Our scripture today is a part of a hymn of the early church. It speaks to what the mind of Christ is. After reading the scripture, what do you think Paul is calling all of us to do?

There is a quote from the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who knew persecution all too well as he was one of the Christians killed by the Nazis, that says “The church is the church only when it exists for others. . . . The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. . . . It must not underestimate the importance of human example which has its origin in the humanity of Jesus.“ How do you think this fits with what Paul is calling the church to do?

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Philippians 2:1-4
¹Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 

⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Reflection

Paul begins to tell the Philippians how to live out that life in the midst of persecution.  Paul calls them to live a life of unity centered not on themselves but upon the gospel. In fact, Paul calls us to be humble. Reread verses 3 and 4. How do you think we, as Christians, can live this life out? How can you model this unity in your life?

Monday, June 2, 2014

Philippians 1:27-30
²⁷ Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a

manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to

believe in him, but also to suffer for him, ³⁰ since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Reflection

It is important to note here that Philippi at this time prized itself as a little Rome. So, the city of Philippi is not a safe place for followers of Jesus. In our scripture today, Paul is encouraging the church at Philippi to continue to live out their faith in the midst of persecution. The word in verse 27 translated “conduct” is a slang term for living out one’s citizenship. This means how the Christian way of life is lived out and intersects with the life in the city. Paul is telling them that by living out your faith openly, even in the midst of persecution,  you will give the unbelieving world a sign that you are saved by grace. How do you think this applies to our time? We in Indianapolis are not persecuted but we have a faith that is in many ways counter-cultural. How does living out our faith in spite of what others might say a

representation of the gospel?  

Weekly theme June 1 through 7

Even Though You’re Different...Jesus Loves You

 "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. "

(Philippians 1:27a)

For this sermon series, we have been looking at Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. This letter allows us a great window to see the relationship between this early Christian community and Paul. Through this opportunity we can see not only the growth of the Christian community in Philippi but use their experience to speak to our own spiritual growth. 

Last week, we heard that the occasion for this letter is that Paul is in prison and is unsure in his fate. This leads to the primary focus of the letter which is the state of the gospel in the world in light of Paul’s current situation.

We began by reading Paul’s address to the church at Philippi. This address made it clear that Paul saw the community of Philippi as being called by God to live out the gospel in their time and place. This helped us to focus on the idea that we are called by God to share the gospel in our time and place and what that means for us living as agents of the gospel of Christ. We concluded with Paul remarking that the even in his imprisonment thegospel of Christ is flourishing.

This week Paul will continue this line of thinking  on spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. In our readings this week Paul is still unsure about his fate and is keen to point out that the gospel of Jesus Christ is much bigger than himself. This message is still vital today. The gospel is bigger than all of us, and like Paul we may have to lose some things for it to be shared with a world that is hurting for the good news.