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Our collective vision is to “Establish A New Testament Church in every Major City of the Southeast.” When folks think about SGMA, though, I want them to think about a perpetual entity existing to fulfill the collective vision by being personal in our approach with each church, passionate in our externally scheduled activities, and principled in our Board decided actions.
We must be forward and onward focused on the “establishment” of local places of worship, with establishment meaning more than planting. Establishment means providing assistance and advice that enhances the ongoing effective operations of our affiliates.
PERSONAL–(Approach):
Principle: People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.
PASSIONATE–(Activities): "7
It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
8
For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus."
Principle: Effective partnership requires a reciprocal relationship of like desires (passions, urges, emotions).
PRINCIPLED–(Actions): “9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
Principle: We must base our love on the dual foundation of knowledge and discernment.
What does this passage say?
(Observation)
Paul, accompanied by Timothy, is writing a letter to the church (saints, overseers, and deacons) in Philippi. He encourages them by letting them know that he constantly prays for them and that he is confident they will continue to do good work until Jesus returns.
Paul is thankful they have partnered with him because of their love for him; however, he wants their love based on “knowledge and all discernment” (v. 9). Ultimately, Paul wants the Philippians to praise God and give Him all the glory.
What did it mean to the original hearers? (Interpretation)
Although Paul is in prison, he still cares enough about us to pray for us all the time. Initially, they may have been curious about how Paul knew what was happening, but Paul let them know Timothy was with him. They were likely excited to hear from Paul because they were partners by prayer and finances.
They prayed for Paul and provided for his physical needs, and Paul was mindful and thankful for their faithfulness. The Philippians had to be reassured, knowing they would receive supernatural support from God.
Paul loved them, and they loved Paul, but Paul wanted them to base their love on becoming more discerning by allowing the Holy Spirit to fill them with His fruit so that when others saw them, God would receive the glory and the praise.
What useful ideas emerged from the text for me? (Application)
- God is working in me and through me to complete what He started, and He will continue to enable and empower me to do His work until Jesus returns (v. 6).
- When folks support what I do, I should be thankful — remembering them constantly in prayer (vs. 3, 9).
- The “church” comprises saints, overseers, and deacons (v. 1).
- This passage addresses vital elements of a meaningful relationship: Personal Approach (the personal pronouns), Passionate Activities (vs. 7-8, feel, in my heart, and yearn), and Principled Actions (actions based on knowledge and discernment), all covered in Prayer and leading to perpetuity.
Are there any other sources that confirm my takeaways from the passage?
(Correlation)
Luke 18:1 (ESV) “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Galatians 6:9 (ESV) “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
2 Timothy 1:3 (ESV) I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.
Matthew 23:6-10 (ESV) “6and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ..”
Personal: John 10:3 (ESV) “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
Passionate: Luke 9:11 (ESV) “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
Principled: Romans 10:2 (ESV) “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”
Philippians 1:1-11
English Standard Version
1 Paul and Timothy, servants [a] of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers [b] and deacons:[c]
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
6 And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace,[d] both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Footnotes
1. Philippians 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
2. Philippians 1:1 Or bishops; Greek episkopoi
3. Philippians 1:1 Or servants, or ministers; Greek diakonoi
4. Philippians 1:7 Or you all have fellowship with me in grace
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
