Community in Christ

We had the Community Worship Service on Sunday. Many thanks to those of you who were able to join us at the Fredericktown stadium and worship with other Fredericktown churches! For those of you who were unable to attend, we missed you! I had the privilege of preaching and used Philippians 1:3-11 as the basis for our conversation about “Unity”.  
Here are a couple of main points that I made:
1. The letter was written to the saints “together with the overseers and deacons.” (1:b). This was for all the believers, not just some. It was the “togetherness” of the church that Paul was addressing and it was the “togetherness” of being together as THE church in Fredericktown that drove the Community Worship Service. 

2.  Grace and peace come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:2). Grace is the foundation of our unity and we are united by our mutual need of the grace of God in Christ.

3.  We are united by the fact that God is at work in us and that He’ll keep working in us until the day of Christ Jesus (1:6). This gives us confidence as we go through life that God is continually shaping us into the image of His Son and will make us ready for Christ’s return. It also helps us have grace for one another, when we acknowledge that we are all “works in progress”. We are united in our humanity and our need for God’s patient work in our lives.

4.  Paul prays for the believers in 1:9-11, asking God to deepen their love with knowledge and discernment, helping them to be ready for the day of Christ and to be filled with righteousness. Again, Paul is concerned that these believers would be ready for the day of Christ’s return. So, he prays that their love will abound more and more. The Greek words back to back mean filled and filled to the point of overflowing. That’s love of righteousness, love, and discernment being poured out! If you were at the service, perhaps you remember my illustration of this. (“We need more Mo-Mento of the Holy Spirit!”)

I’m thankful for each of you (1:3), my fellow works in progress! 
Pastor Andy

Questions:

• What are some ways that you have seen God unite His children in Christ?
• How does it encourage you or give you confidence to know that God is at work in your life and won’t stop working until Jesus returns?
• How have you seen Jesus deepen your love for others? 

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