Read Philippians 1:3–11
Questions from the Scripture text: What does the apostle do when he remembers them (Philippians 1:3)? How often does he pray for them (Philippians 1:4)? With what feeling does he pray for them? For what, specifically, does he thank God concerning them (Philippians 1:5)? In what do they have this fellowship? For how long? What confidence produces this joy (Philippians 1:6)? What makes it right for him to think this of them—in where does he “have” them (Philippians 1:7)? In what two things is he a partaker of grace? Who is a partaker of grace with him in these things? Who can see this (Philippians 1:8)? With Whose affection does the apostle long for them (verse 8)? In what two things does he pray that their love would abound (Philippians 1:9)? What would knowledge and discernment cause them to approve (Philippians 1:10)? What two characteristics of theirs would result from this approval? Until when? With what would they then be filled (Philippians 1:11)? By what do these fruits of righteousness come? Unto what end?
Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, Song of Adoration, and Prayer of Confession all come from Philippians 1:3–11, so that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with Blest Be the Tie That Binds.
A Christian is a marvelous thing. He is a work that was begun by God and is guaranteed to be completed (Philippians 1:6). Jesus is at work, filling His people with the fruits of righteousness (Philippians 1:11). This beautiful fruit is cultivated in the soil of love that is fertilized with the nutrition of knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9).
As Christ grows us, we approve what’s excellent (Philippians 1:10), which means we love His church (Philippians 1:7) with Christ’s very own love (Philippians 1:8). We bear and forebear with its foibles, thinking of it as an assembly of co-partakers of grace (Philippians 1:7) with whom we have fellowship in the gospel (Philippians 1:4), and therefore thanking God for His church (verse 4), and praying for her with joy (verse 4).
Among the other sweet fruits of righteousness, may the Lord grant unto us to long for one another with the affection of Christ, to be thankful for one another, and to pray for one another.
How often do you feel/express thankfulness for the church? Who can grow you in this? How?
Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH409 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
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