Series dates: 8/22-11/21

By: David Keen

While remaining joyously content in prison, Paul writes to the church in Philippi to tell them thank you for their financial and spiritual support of him and the work he has been called to (Philippians 4:14-20). However, Paul’s letter to the Philippians is way more than a simple thank you note. He is writing to encourage them to continue in the faith they have in Christ and the mission they have been called to in this world. 

In January of 2020, no one predicted what the last 18 months were going to look like. So much has happened during that challenging time as we have walked through a global pandemic, a hostile election season, heightened racial tensions, and increased polarization on pretty much anything in our culture. People have suffered the loss of jobs, loved ones, and plans. No one is today where they anticipated they would be before the pandemic began. In the midst of all the change, pain, suffering, confusion, loss, and uncertainty that we have been through (and continue to walk through), God has a word for us through the book of Philippians. Like Paul’s original readers, we are to continue making progress in the faith and to rejoice in Christ every step of the way (Phil. 1:25), knowing that our risen and trustworthy King Jesus is ruling through all of it (Phil. 2:5-11). In all of this, we are to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:27, 3:12-17). As we study through Philippians together, here are a few things that God is going to encourage us in from His word:

• We must live unified lives that are worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27-2:11). We know from Acts 16 that the church in Philippi begins with the conversion of a wealthy woman, a slave girl, and a blue collar worker (Philippian jailer). This church planting core team likely didn’t have much of anything in common outside of Jesus being their Savior. Like Paul does several times in his letters, he calls for the church to be unified together despite their many differences. 
• We must fight for the joy that is ours in Christ through every circumstance. Paul mentions some form of the word joy (or a word related to joy) about 20 times in these four short chapters made up of just 104 verses. In a world that is broken and hurting, we are to be people who “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4)
• God is still using His people to advance the gospel in the world and we get to be a part of that. God started the church in Philippi as the gospel was proclaimed there and people believed. We, like the Philippians, are to strive together for the faith of the gospel as we seek to live sent where we live, work, and play (Phil. 1:27). We are to shine as bright lights in this dark and desperate world (Phil. 2:14-16). We are to show the world the only way to find true joy and contentment in all circumstances (even through a global pandemic) is in Christ (Phil. 4:4-13).
• Philippians contains many answers to the questions that our world is asking. Looking for purpose and meaning? It is found in Christ (Phil. 1:21). Looking for joy? It is found in Christ (Phil. 1:3-4, 18, 2:17-18, 4:4). The Bible shows us what our world is in need of and desperately searching for – namely, Jesus Christ, who went humbly and obediently to death on a cross so that all who trust in Him and confess Him as Lord will be saved (2:5-11). 

Philippians reminds us that the day of the Lord is coming (Phil. 1:6, 10, 2:16). It is certain. On that day, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10–11, ESV). Until that day, Sent Church gets to be about the good work our King Jesus has sent us to do. My prayer is that God would use Philippians to mold us more and more into a local church family whose “manner of life is worthy of the gospel of Christ” and who “are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27, ESV) and that we are more and more content in all circumstances while we are rejoicing in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4, 10-13). 

I look forward to all God is going to do in and through us as we walk through this letter together. So, come on and join us every Sunday at 10am and bring all your friends and family with you to hear the life-changing news of Jesus.