We are going to take some time this year to journey through Paul's letter to the church of Philippi. This is a church learning to experience, enjoy and express Christ. As we explore this letter, what will we see?
PARTNERSHIP -
- a people working together as one body as one for the defense and advancement of the gospel.
- ( i.e.Phil 1:5 or your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now )
POISE -
- confident composure that comes from an assurance that the work of transformation God had begun in them he would continue until the day of Christ when his work is unveiled.
- (i.e. Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ)
PLEASURE -
- a people experiencing, enjoying, expressing Christ together, making being in Christ the source of our joy and the place of our peace.
- (i.e. Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!)
PROGRESS -
- a people learning to live Christ - experiencing, enjoying and expressing the life of Christ together as one body.
- (i.e. Phil 1:25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith)
PERFECT UNITY -
- a people living for one purpose, following one pattern, pursuing one passion
- (i.e. Phil 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.)
PURPOSE -
- that through our lives together, Christ would be magnified whether in life or in death
- (i.e. Phil 1:20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.)
PATTERN -
- a people possessing one mindset in how they live life together - following the pattern of the mind of Christ
- (i.e. Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus)
PASSION -
- a people drawn by one passion, to know Christ, to be found in him, and to fellowship with him in his suffering and death
- (i.e. Phil 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord)
There are thousands of studies available on the book of Philippians. There are many expert teachers. But the question I have is what is God speaking to Flamborough Christian Fellowship, what does he want us to see, what does he want to lead us into experiencing and enjoying and what is it that he wants to deposit and develop in and through us as a church community.