Summer Sermon Series Week 7

Philippians 3:1-9: (Bible verses will be in Italic)

3:1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!

Wow. No wonder some people give up on reading the Bible. You are reading along happily, and up comes a paragraph like this one! It has seemed as if Paul is wrapping up his letter, affirming Epaphroditus, the one who would carry it home to Philippi (2:25-30). He makes leaving noises like “finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.” Then, all of a sudden, he launches into this warning that seems so bizarre to us in the 21 century. Dogs? Evil workers? Mutilators of the flesh?

It is a reference to an ongoing struggle in the New Testament church. Should Gentile believers be required to observe Jewish traditions such as circumcision? Paul argues strongly against it and has apparently lost all patience with those who try to require it, calling them “mutilators of the flesh.” He warns the Philippians to beware of these “evil workers” who will try to convince them that they must be circumcised in order to be Christians. He wants them to know that they need nothing else besides faith in Christ, as he himself has discovered. He goes on to say that he is the most Jewish of all Christians, and that none of it mattered, except knowing Christ:

3For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh— 4even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

Paul’s life story can be pieced together from many different references in the New Testament (e.g. Acts 7:54—8:1; 9; 13—28; Galatians 1:11— 2:21).
They all verify his claim here that he was an exceptionally well qualified and prominent Jewish leader prior to his conversion to Christianity. He had fulfilled every requirement of Jewish law, and yet none of it had provided what he was looking for. In his experience, it had not been helpful and had even become hurtful. Faith in Christ alone had made him right with God, therefore, faith in Christ alone is all that is necessary for anyone.

In his book on Philippians, Earl Palmer asks a provocative question:
Can you think of any requirements which are not part of the gospel of grace but which we as American Christians often impose on prospective believers or new converts? (134) (Earl Palmer, Integrity in a World of Pretense, IVP, 1992. Reprinted as Integrity, A Commentary on the Book of Philippians, Regent Publishing (2000) ISBN: 1573831816. )

What do you think?

What list might you make that mirrors vs. 4-6, listing the things you are tempted to trust rather than Christ?

What is God’s word of grace and truth to you in this text?

Post your reply!

Wisdom to Live By

Last Sunday I preached on Philippians 2:19-30, exploring the theme of encouragement as we see how Paul affirms Epaphroditus, who was in great need of encouragement. While I was writing the sermon, I received an email from a clergy colleague who shared these thoughts:

Live Simply.
Love Generously.
Care Deeply.
Speak Kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

Good words to live by, don't you think?

Pastor Tom

September Sharings

First published in 1980, Transitions by William Bridges, was the first self-help book to explore the underlying and universal pattern of transition. It has been named one of the fifty most important self-help books of all time. This book was recommended to me by a couple of my colleagues in the Seattle Presbytery, and I have found it very helpful both personally and professionally.

Transitions is about how we navigate change. In part one, the author states: “The subject of this book is the difficult process of letting go of an old situation, of suffering the confusing nowhere of in-betweenness, and of launching forth again in a new situation…All transitions are composed of (1) an ending, (2) a neutral zone, and (3) a new beginning” (p.4).

I believe that since October of 2006, IPC has been moving through a transitional period, and that God has been using this time very creatively to clear space for something new. One critical area where I see this happening is worship. For at least three years, the leaders of our church have been discussing and praying about how we worship together and where God might be leading us. At the August 14 Session meeting, there was a deep sense of the movement of the Holy Spirit as we had a very candid conversation about our worship styles and what would be most helpful to our church family at this time. There was great enthusiasm to continue with one worship service at 10:00 am in the Fall. All three styles of music—traditional, blended, and contemporary--will be used as they have this summer. Our Christian Education hour will follow the service.

A single service draws us together as one worshipping community while opening the door to wonderful opportunities for an expanded Christian education program, particularly with adults. Tom, Sandy, and others will now be able to offer classes for adults each week. Change is challenging for most of us, and times of transition can make us a bit nervous. But they are also periods of creativity and excitement as we look forward to what will emerge as we are led by the Holy Spirit.

We worship a God who is always making things new and taking us to places where we have never been. I hope that in the days ahead you will pray for our leadership as we open a new chapter in the life of our church, affirming our Lord’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

Faithfully,

Pastor Tom

What do you think. Post a reply

Summer Sermon Series Week 6

Philippians 2 19-30:

Timothy and Epaphroditus

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. 20I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; 24and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.25 Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus—my brother and co-worker and fellow-soldier, your messenger and minister to my need; 26for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people, 30because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me.
www.bible.oremus.org


When you search for “Timothy” in the online Bible noted above, you find him named 29 times:

• 7 times in the book of Acts, chs. 16:1-20:4.
• 7 times in the two letters Paul wrote directly to him, 1&2 Timothy
• 15 times in letters Paul writes to other churches, mentioning Timothy as a partner in ministry.

Sometimes Timothy is with Paul, co-writing a letter (2 Cor, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, Philemon). But very often, Timothy is on the road. In Acts, when he wasn’t traveling with Paul, Timothy was often left behind or sent ahead to serve one of the churches. Later, Paul sends him to the Corinthians (1 Cor 4:17; 16:10) and the Thessalonians (1Thess 3:2,6), so this anticipated visit to the Philippians follows a well established pattern. Paul trusts Timothy to be his representative in places Paul cares deeply about.

The question is, why? What does Paul affirm about Timothy in this letter to the Philippians? (and/or any of the other texts you have time to read?) Is there a way in which those attributes speak to you? Do they describe someone you know? Challenge you? Encourage you? (After being in Germany last month, then camping in Canada, I’m particularly amazed at Timothy’s good character throughout all of that travel! SH)

In contrast to Timothy, we hear of Epaphroditus only in the book of Philippians (here and in 4:18). He is a local man sent by that church to deliver gifts and greetings to the imprisoned Paul. He is now returning home, carrying this letter back to them.

• How does Paul speak of Epaphroditus?
• What does he affirm?
• How does he want the Philippians to receive him?

“Paul realizes that the Christian church is...a fellowship in which people need to appreciate and honor each other. It is a matter of following the extravagant role model of the Lord of the Church who washed the feet of his disciples. Paul understands...that Christians need to find ways to offer each other the extravagant friendship that makes each person feel their importance and their treasured value to us.” (Earl Palmer, Integrity in a World of Pretense, IVP, 1992. Reprinted as Integrity, A Commentary on the Book of Philippians, Regent Publishing (2000) ISBN: 1573831816. )

This text is just a little snapshot of Christian friendship. As you read it, what is God’s word of grace and truth to you?

Fall Worship Schedule

Our summer worship service has enabled us to be together as a church family and to experience a variety of worship styles—traditional, contemporary and blended--and the response of the congregation has been overwhelmingly positive. After a great deal of reflection, candid discussion and prayer, and sensing the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Session voted at their August 14 meeting to continue with one service in the Fall. All three styles of music will be used as they have this summer. Our Christian Education hour will follow the service. This not only draws us together as one worshipping community, but it also opens the door to wonderful opportunities for an expanded Christian education program, particularly for adults. Tom, Sandy, and others will be able to offer classes for adults on Sunday morning. If you have any questions, please speak with one of the Elders. What do you think? Post your reply now!