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)
‘I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 1:3-6)
Paul is thanking God for the ‘partnership’ (fellowship) that he’s seeing in this church. This is the work of God in them. Partnership is loving and sharing the gospel together, but it is also giving, financially’ to gospel work.
Jesus teaches that,
‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’ (Matthew 6:21)
An important way in which we can tell the condition of our hearts is by what it spends money on. If we are in partnership in the gospel, we will give toward it.
Paul writes,
‘Yet it was good of you to share (‘partner) in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared (‘partnered’) with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.’ (Philippians 4:14-16)
As this text shows, it’s possible to know Jesus and yet be good or bad at partnering in giving financially to the work of the gospel.
RESPONSE
The New Testament never gives us exact figures on how much to give. Many of us would like that, but the principles are:
1. Give generously according to your means
2. Give to your local church as a priority. (tithing - giving 10% - is a good start).
3. A local church should give away to other gospel works out of what the people give. (At CCP we give away 10% of our income).
4. Give as worship to God who expects us to steward our finances under His guidance.
If you are would like to partner in giving to Community Church Putney, please go to our website and select the ‘giving’ box for details. (If you are a member of CCP, please be praying and preparing for our gift days on 12 & 19th July.)
COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY – PARTNERSHIP IS THE FINGERPRINT OF GOD
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
Who was your first 'best friend'? Why were you friends with them and are you still in contact?
Introduction - please share in your group
‘I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 1:3-6)
Sunday's message was entitled 'Partnership is the fingerprint of God'. Partnership is a key theme of Philippians.
How do you think most people would define fellowship?
Partnership comes from the Greek word ‘koinónia’ and is often translated as ‘fellowship’. It means to be united and working together toward a shared goal. In Philippians we see three aspects of fellowship:
1. Partnership is loving the gospel together
This is believing in and loving the gospel together. Many clubs and churches can focus on unity around various things. However, the church is to be united in and celebrate the gospel together.
2. Partnership is sharing the gospel together
Paul teaches that partnership is also about sharing the gospel message - seeking to make Jesus known outside of the church community. Paul writes,
‘The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.’ (Philippians 1:18)
When we see an individual or church community that is loving and sharing the gospel, we are seeing the fingerprints of God.
3. Partnership is giving to the gospel together
Partnership is loving and sharing the gospel together, but it is also giving, financially’ to gospel work. This letter is, partly, a thankful response to a recent gift to the Paul in prison. Paul writes,
‘Yet it was good of you to share (‘partner) in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared (‘partnered’) with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.’ (Philippians 4:14-16)