If you missed Sunday's broadcast, please catch up by following the link below. (For the foreseeable future, we be running our Sunday morning services digitally. Please go to our website on Sundays at 10:30 to join in)
‘Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons’ (Philippians 1:1)
The Apostles, like Paul, were the founding leaders of the church. It’s upon their writings that the church is built. Two of our gospel writers were not Apostles, however, Mark was writing for Peter, and Luke, it is generally agreed, was writing under the authority of the Apostle Paul.
We read of the first church,
‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ (Acts 2:42)
Every Christian and every church is to be ‘together with’ the Apostles- they are to be devoted to knowing and obeying their teaching, which is centred on living a life with Jesus as its foundation.
RESPONSE
Are you building on the teaching of the Apostles? Is Jesus your foundation? Are you ‘together with’ the Apostles?
Perhaps it might be good to meditate and pray on these words,
‘By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.’ (1 Corinthians 3:10-11)
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY – A LIFE WORTH LIVING IS...'TOGETHER WITH'.
Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
Quiz Night
We are planning to hold an online quiz night on Tuesday 7th July starting at 8pm.
This therefore means that Community Groups won't be meeting for that week.
More details to follow!
Suggested opener/Ice-breaker
Please share from your experience, what has been the greatest lesson you've learned about the importance of working in a team?
Introduction - please share in your group
‘Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons’ (Philippians 1:1)
Sunday's message was entitled 'together with'. A key theme of Philippians is pursuing unity. There was relational tensions that were threatening the health of the church. The phrase 'all of you' occurs 5 times in the first 11 verses. The author Lightfoot writes, 'there is a “studied repetition” of “all” in the letter '.
The church is like a good meal - it has different ingredients that, in unity, create something that is beautiful.
There are four relationships that we are 'together with':
1. Together with...Apostles - This means that we seek to live under the teaching of the Apostles in the New Testament.
2. Together with... one another – Our unity is based on being 'God's holy people in Christ Jesus'. We were equally sinful, equally needing forgiveness and grace.
3. Together with... overseers - Overseer is a term interchangeable with elders. These are the spiritual leadership team in a local church.
4. Together with... deacons - Deacon, means 'to serve'. These are ministry team leaders. A Community Group leader is a good example of a deacon.
In what ways can we seek to improve our 'together with' relationships in each of these four relationships?
Finally, read Paul's encouragement to us,
‘Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.’ (Philippians 1:27).