A Wonderful Partnership

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

A Wonderful Partnership

Date: Oct. 21, 2016

Passage

Philippians 1:1-11 (ESV)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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, 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.

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Daily Bread

Introduction to Philippians

Key Verse: 1:4-5

always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

First, Paul's joyful thanksgiving (1-8). Paul writes to the holy saints at Philippi, "I thank my God every time I remember you." From the very first day Paul met Lydia by the river outside of Philippi, God had worked to establish a wonderful partnership in the gospel. Whether Paul was in chains in Rome or traveling as a missionary, the church in Philippi shared in God's grace through their love, prayer, and support for him. Paul was convinced that God's great work in them would continue on until its wonderful completion on the day of Christ. Nothing could break these bonds of brotherhood! Such partnership is what God wants for all of his children. God is glorified when we work together and long for each other with the affection of Christ.

Second, the contents of Paul's prayer (9-11). Paul prayed for an amazing chain reaction to occur. He prayed for their love and knowledge of God to grow and for discernment to live pure and blameless lives. What follows are lives that are filled with the fruit of righteousness - good deeds which bring glory to God. Paul's example teaches us how to pray for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer: Father, grant us a healthy and joyful partnership in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

One Word: Be partners in sharing God's grace

“he Can’t Save Himself”

Mark 15:16-32

Key Verse: 15:31

So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.

Today's Question

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