On one occasion, his ability was tested when he was asked to tell how the ’Tale of Two Cities’ started. Without pause, Von Neumann immediately began to recite the first chapter and continued until he was finally asked to stop 15 minutes later. However, Von Neumann wasn’t just popular at parties—he shared his vast memory with his students at Princeton.
The Apostle Paul shared his memory with his students too. Rather than bottle his memories up, he let other people know what he was thinking. Rather than assume they knew, he made sure they knew. In this series, through the book of Philippians, we will be encouraged to do the same.
This series is about stepping out and trusting God. This adventure through one of the most adored books in the Bible is about jumping in and not regretting what could have been. It is time that our faith progressed beyond our words. One of the most important steps we can take in life is into COMMUNITY.
When the adrenaline is pumping and things seem uncertain, that first step is always the scariest. However, fright soon gives way to fun once you’ve learned that you can trust. When we are rewarded for stepping out, life is a lot more fun.
You need other people and they need you!
Philippians 1:1–2 gives us a snapshot of what Paul was about: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1) Paul’s purpose was to SERVE Christ. (1a)
Instead of dropping some official title on them, Paul called himself a servant of the Lord.
2) Paul’s purpose was to START churches. (1b)
Paul had started the church in Philippi a decade earlier (Acts 16).
3) Paul’s purpose was to CHEER Christians. (2)
This particular letter of Paul’s stands out in its cheerfulness. Even though Paul was in prison 800 miles away, his heart is full of gratitude. It doesn’t take a Biblical Scholar to tell that the Philippian believers were very special to him—time and time again they had reached out to him.
Paul and them bonded like Gorilla Glue. Even though about 10 years had passed since Paul had first worked among them, the passing of time had not diminished his love for, or his interest in, them. Every time Paul thought of them he thanked God for them.
Paul gives us the reasons why their fellowship was so close and, as we look at these, it is my hope that you will jump in and enjoy these same commonalities in your local church.
#1 THE COMMUNITY HAD CHRIST IN COMMON.
Philippians 1:3 (NIV) “I thank my God every time I remember you.”
Paul made sure that they realized it was God who got the credit for their relationship. It was God who knit them together. It was God who was central in their fellowship. It was God who started something in them and would bring it to completion.
Philippians 1:4-6 (VIV) “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.”
• Are you continually bringing joy to the minds of those who think of you?
• Are you contributing to the team and are able to be depended upon?
• Are you confident that God will finish what He starts?
#2 THE COMMUNITY HAD CONCERN IN COMMON.
Philippians 1:7–8 (NIV) “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
It wasn’t just Paul being concerned about them; the believers at Philippi were concerned about him!
Concern is a two way street. If you are the only one doing the caring, it gets exhausting doesn't it? If a relationship is too one sided it will soon fizzle. One of the things that contributed to Paul’s joy and helped sustain him in prison was the concern he received from other people.
For REAL community to take place we have to be other centered rather than self-centered. We have to reach out--not just wait to be reached. You cannot expect to make friends unless you are friendly. The quickest way to get noticed, respected, and loved is to love, show respect, and take notice of others.
Jesus said it best: Luke 6:31 (NIV) “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
#3 THE COMMUNITY HAD COMMITMENT IN COMMON.
Philippians 1:9–11 (NIV) “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
• Paul prayed for the kind of love that persistently matures.
• Paul prayed for the kind of character that passes the test.
• Paul prayed for the kind of life that produces fruit.
Paul loved his community and they loved him. They shared their struggles with each other and encouraged each other. They challenged each other but didn't judge one another. They worked together and the results are still blessing others.
Church should be the safest place on earth.
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