Prioritizing Our Gospel Partnership

Before we get to our passage for today – let me read the start of a letter that I would like to write…

Rod and David, Alfonso, Dionnis, Emmanuel and Juan, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the Saints in Christ Jesus who are in the Northend of Lafayette. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul starts his letter to the Church in Philippi this way and your pastors want to express this same heart for all of you. We want to be your Philippi.

As we walk though Paul’s letter, we will find that it was not written to an individual but to a group, to those who were joined in a partnership of the gospel.

You might think of the epic scene in the Lord of the Rings when the Fellowship of the Ring was formed. The trajectory and the success of the group changed.

[Title Slide] Prioritizing our Gospel Partnership.

Well – I want you to consider how we are growing our Partnership in the gospel, not through a single monumental moment, but though a continual growth, adding a few members to the fellowship this week and looking for a few more the next.

Ultimately, our fellowship has the purpose defeating the one who seeks to have power over us all, but our role is not the destruction of the ring, but rather faithful obedience that brings us joy and points others to the One true Savior who has already defeated sin and death.

One of our steps to being an active part of the fellowship, and not just sitting on the sidelines watching, is to do the work that we are called to do together, and Pastor Viars gave us some initial tasks to do this week…

So let’s check your Homework – good news, I am not going to ask you to hand your paper to the person on your left…you get to grade yourself – but remember, the Lord already knows…

First – Pastor Viars asked you to Read the Letter to the Philippians once this past week…

Second – you were to look for all the places where the Letter talks about joy…

Now I hope all of you got an A+, but more important than the grade is how you walk after this first step, how you want to continue to participate in our partnership for the gospel

• If you did the work this week, will you make it a priority to continue in the weeks ahead?

• but even if you were unable, we give thanks for grace and the opportunity to redeem the opportunity with setting the right priorities this week.

• I will have some tasks for us again – but don’t think of it as Homework. No one really likes homework, rather consider it an opportunity to grow.

Our annual theme is Growing in Gospel Gratitude. The more you dive into the book of Philippians, the easier it will be to accomplish…the more you will find yourself growing.

Today we have the joy of studying Paul’s prayer for the Philippians. I invite you to turn in your Bibles to Philippians 1:3-11. If you are using the Bible in the chair in front of you – turn to page 154. Because it is a short letter, it can be easy to flip past – look between Ephesians and Colossians.

As you are getting there, here are two quick reminders:

1. Philippians is known for its attitude of joy. Joy appears more frequently in this letter than in any other place in the Bible. It is truly an upbeat book.
2. Philippians is a letter to the church which Paul is sending to thank and encourage believers who have stood strong in the faith since Paul first visited 10 years earlier.

We will start from the top to bring it all together

Read Phil 1:1-11.

The title of our message this morning is Prioritizing our Gospel Partnership.

I would like us to consider 3 actions that help us prioritize our gospel partnership.

The reason I started today talking about the Fellowship is because I want you to notice that

there is a community aspect to this idea. It is not simply you as an individual prioritizing the gospel as much as it is all of us prioritizing our partnership in gospel ministry. Both ideas are important and true, but I am focusing on the second.

Are you ready – How do we do that? First…

I. Thank God for each other (vv. 3-5)

Philippians 1:3-5 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

Are you thankful to be a part of a fellowship of believing Christians where you can hear the truth, be equipped and have the opportunity to serve together?

At this point in writing this sermon, Pastor David stopped by to share that his sister Marilyn’s boyfriend had committed suicide. Marilyn has not received the gospel and neither had this man. It made me think of how empty and lost I would feel in that moment without a family of believers surrounding me to walk through this type of tragedy. So we stopped and prayed – praying that the power of the gospel would break through where the ground had been hard and dry before…

As such – We can give thanks for each other – not because we are so amazing, but because of the partnership, the fellowship that we have together…

When you reflect on our church – you will see that

- We, like every church, have people who are not living for Jesus.

- We, like every church, have steps of growth to take.

- We are not even close to perfect.

- But that is not the headline of Faith Church.

The headline is that your brothers and sisters in Christ across all of our campuses, North, East and West are involved in gospel ministries and each person in the partnership has a positive impact on the whole…

When we are part of a large church with multiple services and ministries, it is possible to take some things for granted or maybe not even know what it is that I should be thankful for…

[Picture of the Northend]

It is the partnership in the gospel that led Faith Church to take the steps to build our Community Center and to plant a church because in our last strategic planning process, partnering for the gospel in the Northend was prioritized. No that’s something I can give thanks for.

I want to share a number of other ways that we can give thanks

Restoration and Vision of Hope

There are people serving at both ministries every day to share the gospel with men and women struggling with many different issues.

• And they are joyfully serving in challenging environments.

• Right now, the current barn has no HVAC. That means during weeks like we just had the barn can be very cold. When it is 10 degrees in the morning, volunteers are working alongside these men in the sawmill. Most of us would not know it is happening. Why do these servants go work in a freezing cold barn?

• Because they care about gospel ministry. They want these men to come with their addictions and lay them down at the foot of the cross.

Vision of Hope has its own stressors. With so many people living in close proximity, how do you keep people safe in a pandemic?

• The staff, interns, and volunteers have had to endure greater restrictions and challenging policies that were never part of the conversation before. Yet, they serve.

• Why? Because the gospel is more important.

• If Paul can be in jail, then I give up a few freedoms to share Christ too.

BCTC

Another way we partner is a ministry that is just two weeks away, but one we have been doing for almost 40 years – the BCTC. People come from all over the US and around the world to participate in biblical counseling training here. And every year, what surprises the newcomers the most is the way you serve them.

• The resource center is packed with volunteers helping attendees find what they are looking for.

• Break servants provide snacks and drinks with a smile and a short conversation and so many more.

• Every single one of those attendees takes the training they receive and uses it to impact people in their communities. That’s gospel partnership.

Children and Youth Ministries [

Then across all of our campuses – servants are passionately sharing the gospel with the Children and youth of our church and with those in the Lincoln Neighborhood. Each week I give thanks as I watch our servants caring for children on Sunday and hear the reports of kids at the Hub joyfully memorizing God’s Word during the week.

We give thanks for all these ministries, particularly the ones that continue to share the gospel even when they are not in the spotlight.

We could just turn this into one big prayer of thanksgiving – but will stop with one more…

Add picture of Individuals talking in FN Lobby or just a few people praying together

Each week I see individuals serving one another without much fuss or fanfare.

• There were those who simply cooked a meal and delivered it to a brother or sister in need,

• or those who went out of their way to take the time and pray for another who was walking through trials and suffering.

• Maybe it was just picking up groceries and dropping them on the steps for a friend who was quarantined.

• No one knows about these things because they are not formally organized, they happen quietly – But it makes a difference in our partnership in the gospel. So we give thanks.

Fee explains, “The basis of the thanksgiving will be given [in v. 5]—their past and present partnership in the gospel. Paul, after all, rarely thanks God for “things”; his thanksgivings are for people, for those special “gifts” whom God has brought into his life, who, despite whatever frustration or grief they may also cause him, are invariably a source of great joy and thanksgiving.”—Gordon D. Fee, Philippians NICNT. Pg 80.

I want you to see how Paul give thanks in his prayer – He does not give thanks for the things he has received, but rather he gives thanks for the people and their partnership with him in the gospel so that his thanks are not dependent on his circumstances. As such he can give thanks with

With a heart of joy (v. 4)

Philippians 1:4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all

And we should remember his circumstances. Paul was under house arrest, continually chained to a Roman guard. Think about life with your jailer standing over you every moment of the day. A guard watches you sleep. Your guard watches you eat and they listen to every conversation you have.

But for Paul, such joy is a fruit of the Spirit that only God can produce. True joy is not dependent upon our circumstances but rather rests upon our unchanging relationship with the Lord.

If we want to look at the depth of our own joy in our lives, a good test would be to ask what do we give thanks or more importantly who do we give thanks for because the depth of the joy in our lives rests in the nature of our prayers for others.

So In addition to reading Philippians again - here's the first step in growing that I want us to add this week.

• I want to challenge each of us and actually write out our list of who/what we give thanks for as a part of our partnership in the gospel here at Faith North.

I also want to encourage you today by not just pointing to others but by also seeing how we all fit together.

Because of your faithful commitment to the gospel (v. 5)

Philippians 1:5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now

When the Philippians sent a gift to Paul, he didn't just say thank you for the gift, he reflected on their partnership in the gospel ministry.

When you think about the heart that was behind the gift, it produces joy that overflows in prayers of Thanksgiving to the Lord

When we consider the examples I mentioned earlier,

• the planting of Faith Church north and building this Community Center is a gospel partnership

• serving at restoration or vision of hope is a gospel participation

• Being a part of the BCTC is gospel participation

• Serving in children's ministry or at the hub is gospel participation

• Caring for one another his gospel participation

When we see all these things as participation in the gospel then it produces prayers with an attitude of joy.

I want you to take a moment look around the room right now.

I want you to think about your brothers and sisters who are at Faith East and Faith West this morning. These are the men and women who've proven with their words and their actions that they are partners in the gospel with all of us and as you remember them, I want you to thank God with a heart of joy

The second action I want us to take to prioritize our gospel partnership is to…

II. Encourage one another that God started and will continue to work (vv. 6-8)

Philippians 1:6-8 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

This is a passage that's been on my heart a lot lately and if you spend any time talking with me one on one, I wouldn't be surprised if we talked about Philippians 1:6.

I find it to be a beautiful promise and to bring great hope, but we also have to remember who this promise is written for. Paul is specifically speaking to the true believers in Philippi.

We have to differentiate in that because we know that others would have been listening then and today.

The Bible is not shy about talking about people you do not have a genuine faith

• It comes up in the parable of the soil where only one kind of seed produced fruit

• It comes up in Hebrews where some talk about being a Christian but are not truly saved

• and it comes up today with people who say they believe in God but do not trust their lives to Jesus Christ

If that's you today, I want you to keep listening because this promise can be for you, this hope can be for you . There's simply a step of faith that you need to take first and allow God to begin the good work which he has planned for you since before time.

God’s work in your salvation

Because we know that Paul is speaking to believers, we can know what it is that he's so confident about. So, what is that work?

To the Philippians, Paul is referring to a moment 10 years before when God opened their hearts and they believed the gospel. For us today, Paul points to the moment in time we accepted God's free gift of grace and confessed Jesus Christ as Lord.

That's another thing that we can give thanks to God for and encourage one another.

Do you want another assignment…write this down .

• This week, pick one person in your life and send them the card email or text expressing your thanks and encouragement that God began a good work in them when he saved them.

Again, if that's not you, I want you to know that your heavenly father is standing by to begin this same work in your life.

• 3 weeks ago I had the joy of hearing one of our guests right here at Faith North make that profession between the two services because they had heard the truth .

• Are you there today?

• If you are sitting here today and you know that you're a Sinner , you know that Christ died , was buried, rose again , and is returning but you've never trusted Christ as your only hope of salvation

• Today could be that day

and for all of us, if you know someone else in your life who knows the truth but hasn't acted on it or doesn't even know the truth, how will you partner in the gospel this week by sharing with them?

When God began his good work, are we thankful that God didn't just stop there and move on to the next person…because it seems like there's still some more work to be done

His work continues until the day of Christ (v. 6)

As Paul continues his prayer of Thanksgiving, he expresses confidence that the Lord will continue the work that he started, not that we have to be saved over and over again but that God has a purpose for our lives after our salvation

Romans 8:28-29 says, “and we know,” that sounds like I'm confident of this very thing, “and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God.” Again a promise for his followers

Good. But what is good? Verse 29 tells us it is for us to be conformed to the image of his son. God's purpose in our lives after our salvation is to grow us, to change us, to sanctify us to make us more like Jesus.

So, I ask you again…look around to your right into your left do you see Jesus sitting there?

No, I don't either.

But what I do see are those partnering in the gospel whom God is continuing to work in to grow in their gospel gratitude, to change from their sinful ways such that our testimony might reflect the glory of the one doing the work rather than the work itself.

How about another way that you can encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ?

• Do you know someone who struggling today and is having a difficult time finding hope that they can change .

• How about sending them a card email or text to remind them who is working for them .

• He who began a good work in you will continue to work and not just continue but it says he will perfect it and he will not stop until the day of Christ Jesus.

Now if you sent that to me, I know that would bring hope into my heart because of your partnership in the gospel.

Now let's look at one more thing that happens when people unite in gospel partnership

Resulting in a partnership that builds relationships

Philippians 1:7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

When we partner in gospel ministries, when we actively participate as part of the local body of believers it not only grows our heart for the Lord, but it also grows our heart for those with whom we are partnering for the gospel

If we allow it, partnering together in the gospel to accomplish what God is given us to do can unite us as a group and as individuals building our relationships with each other because we are united, because we are of one mind, focused on the same things

How does that grow you ask? The partnership that builds relationships begins by serving together and when studying together

Let me encourage you with a couple of simple ways to be able to build these relationships

• Commit to the body of Christ by attending the Intro to Faith class later this month and consider committing to being a member of Faith Church not just an attender.

• Serve on one of our church set up teams once every four weeks. It's more than just setting up chairs because it's building relationships in the church.

• Join one of our neighborhood Bible groups. It's more than just a Bible study, it's building relationships within the body.

• Then once you've built a couple of relationships, grow them by serving together in loving our community. Our interns would love to partner with you any night of the week or on weekends

• and I want to encourage you to serve with our current interns so that when our new interns come next fall you will be ready to love them and build even greater partnerships in gospel ministry

Ultimately, what binds us together is not the fact that we sit together on Sunday Mornings, relationships are built through our participation together in the gospel.

You’re waiting for me to ask you to send a card email or text again aren’t you? How about on this one

• Invite someone to partner with you in serving together as I described earlier, or if you need ideas, come see me and I will help.

So far today, in order to prioritize gospel partnerships, I have suggested that we would give thanks with joy for the ways that our church is participating in the gospel and encouraging each other that he who began a good work in you will continue to work until the day of Christ Jesus.

Out third way to prioritize our gospel partnerships is to

III. Pray that our love would abound (vv. 9-11)

Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

When I see Paul’s prayers, one thing I notice is that he is not responding to a prayer request, but rather revealing the depth of the prayers in his heart, we can see his priorities and his heart for the church at Philippi.

Paul does not pray for their well being or their provision - He prays that they would grow in love.

We are not talking about their feelings for one another, but rather the loving actions that characterize their gospel partnership.

Recall what Jesus said…they will know that you are my disciples by how you love one another.

It is the action which demonstrates love that the world will see and that love is characterized by…

Love characterized by knowledge and discernment

Philippians 1:9 real knowledge and all discernment

If we choose for ourselves how we want to love others, the natural problem of man is that we put self into the middle of our love. We choose to love in ways that will provide something back to ourselves in return. We may even choose to love in a way that may manipulates others. And I think you would agree that that is not actually love

What we need is to grow in love founded on real knowledge and providing all discernment. Where does that come from?

God's word. God's word is the standard of truth and God wants us to ensure that our love is based on the knowledge of the truth. Loving based on a lie is not very loving.

Sadly that's what some in our world have to offer. Though they may have an appearance of love it is clouded with selfishness and once selfishness is exposed the facade of love falls apart.

Love abounding more and more in real knowledge is the love that seeks God’s wisdom and follows even when it does not feel good.

• Disciplining our teenager may not feel good at the time, but how is it loving to allow them to continue in choices that will eventually cripple them for life…

• Confronting a friend in sin may not be enjoyable, but is it loving to others to allow them to continue in a lie and manipulating others around them?

In every case – our most loving response is our obedience to God’s Word because we can trust God to work all things together for the good of those who love Him, and it may be through your action that God brings an unbelieving soul to salvation.

Then there are also times where the answer is not so clear. Maybe multiple options would be acceptable – here is why Paul prays for both knowledge and discernment

Because notice what happens when we as abound more and more…

Resulting in the ability to discern what is excellent

Not everything is important to your Christian life. Not every interest, hobby, or commitment is something that God would consider excellent.

• Not everything we are involved in is worthy of praise

Love characterized by knowledge and discernment sees that. It can look out at life and identify those things that matter and those that do not.

Making excellent decisions does not come naturally.

The older I have grown, I have witnessed some people with off the charts abilities. It is as if there is no end to their talents.

• But they are not always the ones God uses to accomplish great things.

• It is ordinary people, doing ordinary things.

It is a knowledgeable and discerning love that allows the person to test what is in front of them and make the right choices.

I can speak for all your pastors when I say that we want to make excellent decisions in our lives, and we want you to make excellent decisions in yours.

But even that is not an end to itself. It is certainly good to make excellent decisions, but notice what comes next …

In order to be sincere and blameless

Philippians 1:10b in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ

Paul closes by revealing the purpose of his prayer.

That we might be sincere and blameless is a phrase that may be confusing when we do not feel sincere and blameless. Thankfully, Paul is not praying that we would live a sinless life because he knows we are not capable.

Paul’s prayer for you and I is that we live in a way that demonstrates a love for one another and a love for Christ which produces a desire to seek God’s Word and to love Him through a heart for obedience which humbly acknowledges that we are not the one doing the good work and humbly recognizing that our failures provide the next opportunity to trust in Him.

The sincere and blameless life is that which prioritizes our partnership in the gospel and a demonstrated love for one another, ultimately to the glory and praise of God.

Gordon Fee explains this prayer as follows:

Paul prays (1) for their love to abound yet more and more;

that (2) this be accompanied by full knowledge and moral insight,

so that (3) they might approve those things that really matter,

so that (4) they might be unsullied and blameless when Christ returns,

as (5) they are now full of the fruit of righteousness,

fruit that is (6) effected by Christ Jesus

and (7) for the glory and praise of God.

—Gordon D. Fee, Philippians NICNT. Pg 96

Pray with me…

Heavenly Father,

I thank you in all remembrance of my church family offering my prayer with joy for all of them in view of their participation in the gospel from the first day each of our new lives until now. Lord I thank you for the confidence to know it is you who began a good work in us in our salvation and it is you who continues to work for our good and we'll continue until the day of Christ Jesus . Father I thank you for giving me a heart for your people and Lord I ask that you would grow my love for them and grow all of our love that it may abound more and more in knowledge and discernment so that we can improve the things that are excellent in the gospel ministry or that we might be a testimony to this world of your work in our lives for the glory and praise of your name alone.