Day #351

Sermon - Audio
Philippians - Reading
Philippians - Audio

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Philippians

Background: Paul writes to the Church of Philippi from prison. It is a book marked with joy, struggle, and beauty. This short book contains many famous passages of Scripture from “to live is Christ and to die is gain” to “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This book is alive with words for life and words that help us face death. As you read the book allow its richness to settle in, the heart of Paul to be seen, and the life we are called to be revealed.

Chapter 1

• 1:1–7: Paul celebrates the Philippians willingness to share with him in the spread of the gospel. The good work that God has begun in verse six references the Gospel message and ministry that has been spread through the Philippians via Paul. God will bring this work completion as he brings more and more people into his kingdom. The Philippians therefore know that their contributions to the mission are not in vain.
• 1:9–10: love always lived within limits. To rightly love we need to love with knowledge and discernment that comes from God.
• 1:11: As we find over and over again in Scripture the final goal is the praise and glory of God. We do not want to miss that truth.
• 1:14: we wonder how seeing the person imprisoned for teaching the gospel makes someone else bold to speak it. Most of us would be more afraid and speak less (see also 1.29-30)
• 1:27: this verse is a foreshadowing of a problem in Philippi-- a rift in the congregation that needs to be healed.

Chapter 2

• 2:1–11: Paul pleads with the Philippian Church to be people of unity. Notice that he bases his call in versus one through two him who they are in Christ and in verses four following on who Christ has been for them. The great Christological hymn in verses 5 to 11 shows us both humbled and exalted Christ. Savor the words of the hymn while asking how knowing this about Christ impacts your life today.
• 2:12: Verse 12 begins work with the word therefore which tells us that Paul’s appeal is based on what he’s just talking about Christ.
• 2:16: if we are going to live the life that God desires, being light to the world, we have to hold fast the word of life. We cannot live any way that we want to, just as we may not love in any way that we want to, but the path of life must be constantly informed by the word of life.
• 2:17: Paul gives a powerful picture of his life being poured out on behalf of Christ. in the midst of a letter of joy, we continually see the sacrificial nature of Paul’s life as an apostle. For Paul sacrifice and joy can go together. It is another picture of a faith that we find odd. For many of us being a Christian should be about joy and not sacrifice.
• 2:21: “For they all seek after their own interests not those of Christ Jesus.” Who are these who seek after their own interests? Paul doesn’t tell us nor does the rest of the letter revealed the answer. We are left to wonder. At the same time, we are called to examine her own lives to make sure that we are looking after the interests of Christ.
• 2:25: What an amazing description of Eprophroditus. Which one of us would love just part of this description spoken about us.
• 2:27–30: The amazing description is based on an amazing life of service.

Chapter 3

• 3:10–16: For Paul resurrection is much more than simply coming back to life. It is life with Christ, like his kingdom, and all those involved in it.
• 3:17: Paul reminds us of the importance of finding examples that we can follow in our life with Christ. Who do you count as examples to follow?
• 3:21: In this first Paul reminds us not only of our future and the future of all things––all things will be subject to him.

Chapter 4

• 4:2: the risk in the church is between two women with served well. Paul does not place blame but seeks reconciliation.
• 4:4-7: Famous words that call on us to cast our cares on God.
• 4:9: Again, Paul’s call to follow his example.
• 4:17: In amazing words Paul points out that what the Philippines have given is no sacrifice but something that will actually bring them profit, in other words, a reward from God for their sacrifice.