c# TWO KEY THEMES IN PHILIPPIANS
1. TO LIVE IS CHRIST!
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer. —Jim Carrey (Actor)
2. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:1-11 (ESV)
THREE REASONS WHY WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER…
1. GOING TOGETHER PRODUCES JOY
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
(vs. 3-5)
The byproduct of Christian community is JOY. —Scott Luck
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
2. GOING TOGETHER REVEALS GOD’S GRACE
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
(vs. 6)
It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
(vs. 7)
3. GOING TOGETHER ADVANCES GOD’S MISSION
It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
(vs. 7)
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 13:35 (ESV)