Thanks Be to God
Philippians 1:3-11
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
In times of delight or dismay, the prayer of thanksgiving is an essential posture of the Christian life.
Philippians 1:3-4
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
“For Paul joy is more than a mood or an emotion. Joy is an understanding of existence that encompasses both elation and depression, that can accept with creative submission events which bring delight or dismay because joy allows one to see beyond any particular event to the sovereign Lord who stands above all events and ultimately has control over them.”
- Philippians: Word Biblical Commentary, Gerald Hawthorne; p. 18.
Philippians 1:6
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Koinonia in Philippians
Partnership in the Father’s work (1:5, 7)
Partnership in the Holy Spirit's work (2:2)
Partnership in the sufferings of Christ (3:10)
Philippians 1:7-8
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
Those who are sent to do God's work, wherever they go, are agents of His grace and extensions of the local church.
Philippians 1:9-11
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
The "good work" of God is not only extended through us but experienced within us.
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
In times of delight or dismay, the prayer of thanksgiving is an essential posture of the Christian life.
Philippians 1:3-4
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
“For Paul joy is more than a mood or an emotion. Joy is an understanding of existence that encompasses both elation and depression, that can accept with creative submission events which bring delight or dismay because joy allows one to see beyond any particular event to the sovereign Lord who stands above all events and ultimately has control over them.”
- Philippians: Word Biblical Commentary, Gerald Hawthorne; p. 18.
Philippians 1:6
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Koinonia in Philippians
Partnership in the Father’s work (1:5, 7)
Partnership in the Holy Spirit's work (2:2)
Partnership in the sufferings of Christ (3:10)
Philippians 1:7-8
7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
Those who are sent to do God's work, wherever they go, are agents of His grace and extensions of the local church.
Philippians 1:9-11
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
The "good work" of God is not only extended through us but experienced within us.
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January
Staffing Changes This YearWe Learn TogetherStudy Questions for January 5, 2025Weather Alert for This Sunday January 5Membership MattersBelong TogetherStudy Questions for January 12, 2025Weather Alert for Sunday January 12Calling All Men (and help from ladies)Worship TogetherStudy Questions for January 19, 2025Tax Info and 2 Core ValuesStudy Questions for January 26, 2025Pray TogetherWhat a Response Thank YouJesus Steps ForwardStudy Questions for February 2, 2025
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God Is at Work in our LivesJesus Meets a Variety of ResponsesStudy Questions for February 9, 2025New Check-In ProcessBe a Sidekick - Make a Lasting DifferenceJesus and the Kingdom of GodStudy Questions for February 16, 2025New Check-In ProcessJesus and His Power in MinistryStudy Questions for February 23, 2025The Hardest Days - Prayer for the Millers in SpainStudy Questions for March 2, 2025Jesus and the Process of Discipleship
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Waiting to Take the FieldMagnify God's CareStudy Questions for June 8, 2025Pray for High School & Middle School CampsMagnify God's LoveStudy Questions for June 15, 2025God Is the Owner of EverythingIt's a PrivilegeMagnify God's ForgivenessStudy Questions for June 22, 2025Study Questions for June 29, 2025Magnify God's FaithfulnessThe Challenge of Freedom
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