This Week at IPC

The Invitation

Our summer sermon series is from the book of Philippians, a book Eugene Peterson describes as “Paul’s happiest letter.” (the Message) Paul wrote it as a thank you note to the church at Philippi for their gifts to him while he was in prison (Moffett, 12). Just that juxtaposition makes it worth reading—happiness in prison??

It is a short book with four chapters. When copied into a Word document, it turns out to have 2258 words on four pages of 12 pt type. Compared to a feature article in the Sunday Seattle Times, this is a good deal! Last week’s paper ran an article that was 2410 words long on 5 pages of 12 point type. I read every word of it during just one cup of coffee.

So here’s the invitation: read through the entire book of Philippians once a week while we are working on this series. It is meant to be read all at once. “It is not an essay, like Romans or Hebrews. It is pure letter—warm, personal, (and) repetitious.” (Moffett, 12)

With every reading, add to a working list of words or phrases that stand out to you, noting your thoughts about them. You may have a question, a new understanding, notice repetitions, etc. You might use a different translation some weeks, to see what new things strike you. Over time, you will begin to be able to answer the question, “What is God’s word of truth and grace to me, from this part of the Bible, during the summer of 2007?”

The Background

Scholars believe that Paul was writing from Rome, or possibly Ephesus, some time around 65 A.D., “only thirty years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and halfway through the reign of the Emperor Nero (54 – 68 A.D.).” (Moffett, 9) To refute charges that Nero himself started the great fire that nearly destroyed the city of Rome in July of 64 A.D., “Nero … blamed the small but growing band of Christian believers in Rome for the arson and meted out to them some of the most horrible punishments that have ever been chronicled in a civilized society.” (Palmer, 18)

Imprisoned by Rome, having given detailed witness to Christ at each of his trials (Acts 23 – 26), “Paul’s safety is very precarious and the conditions of his imprisonment have become harsher as the situation in Rome itself has become more chaotic and ominous.” (Palmer, 19) And yet, joy is the theme of his letter! When Paul says, “rejoice in the Lord always”, he has earned the right to be heard.

He is writing to the church in a Roman colony called Philippi, “a city of soldiers and their families chosen by the Emperor as a home for veterans of Rome’s wars…. Note how often he uses martial language in the letter.” (Moffett, 9)

Acts 16 tells the story of the founding of the Philippian church early in Paul’s second missionary journey. Finding closed doors throughout Asia, he senses the call of God to cross over into Macedonia where Philippi became the first church in Europe although “the distinction did not mean as much then as it does now.” (Moffett, 11) (see also 2 Corinthians 2:12-13)

A businesswoman named Lydia becomes the city’s first convert when Paul and his companions join what Earl Palmer calls the “Riverside Bible Study Group.” (26) Evidently, Philippi does not have the requisite 10 Jewish men needed for a synagogue, so on the Sabbath, a group meets down by the river at ‘a place of prayer.’ “The Lord opened (Lydia’s) heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul,” (A 16:14) and she and her household are baptized as Christians.

It is an encouraging beginning to what very quickly becomes a chaotic and dangerous situation for Paul and his friends. Read the rest of Acts 16 to see the unfolding of “the unlikely beginnings of the church in Philippi: a wealthy Greek woman, an excited, enslaved mystical seer, and a badly shaken Roman guard.” (Palmer, 27)

Palmer says of these three:
“I know business people like Lydia who are seriously disillusioned with the gods of their life some of which may include money, success, power…. I know people like the Roman guard, with responsibilities that make unreasonable demands upon their lives… The ‘priestess’ who tells fortunes on street corners is, in my city, an exploited human being in addictive bondage to a person or chemical…. Time changes many of the forms in which human exploitation shows itself, but the essential need for human wholeness, integration and personal liberation remains constant.” (29)

Do you resonate with any of these? We all have good reason to hear the words of encouragement that Paul writes to the Philippians.

Resources:

Sam and Eileen Moffett, Joy For an Anxious Age. Board of Education, UPCUSA, 1966.

Earl Palmer, Integrity in a World of Pretense. IVP, 1992.

Eugene Peterson, The Message. NavPress, 2002.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_rome/ (on the Great Fire in Rome)

Here you will find information on the series and the weekly sermon in MP3(Audio) format. Please note that there are fairly large files of about 23 megabytes each. You should only attempt to download them if you have DSL or broadband access. For all others, you may request a copy by emailing us with your request.

Philippians 1:1-11

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

07/01/2007

Philippians 1:12-19

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Some background: in prison. Paul has been a Roman prisoner for years by the time he writes this letter. At first, it is just protective custody during a Jewish riot against him in Jerusalem. (Acts 21:31-36) Successive Roman rulers keep him in jail, "to find out the reason for this outcry against him." (Acts 22:24) Unfortunately for Paul, it takes them two full years for this discovery phase of his trial. (Stott, 3 86) They finally determine, "This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment. This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor." Acts 26:31 -2) It is this injustice that makes me marvel at Paul's peace and joy when he writes to Philippi from Rome. He has been found innocent, and is still kept in prison ! In fact, he is shipped clear across the Mediterranean as a prisoner, enduring a harrowing trip that involved storms and shipwrecks (Acts 2 7-28). When Paul finally gets to Rome, conditions improve slightly, and he is assigned to house arrest with a single guard (Acts 28:16). He lives there for "two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness & without hindrance." (Acts 28:30-1) We don't know when his circumstances became more difficult, but church historian arid missionary Samuel Moffett writes: It is impossible to know exactly the date when Paul wrote (Philippians), but it was probably about the time of the death of Burrhus, commander of the Praetorian Guard. Burrhus was the last good commander of the guard under Nero. He may have been responsible for Paul's rather lenient treatment up to that time. But when Burrhus died, a tiger took his place, the hated Tigellinus, debaucher of the emperor's own sisters and the worst of Nero's' creatures. (22) This danger makes me further wonder at Paul's sense of peace and joy as he writes to Philippi. He hasn't been intimidated! Paul tells the Philippians, "It is known throughout the whole imperial (praetorian) guard-that my imprisonment is for Christ." A captive, with a captive audience, Paul has apparently talked to all of his jailers about Jesus. His example encourages other believers to be courageous in talking about Jesus in their less than ideal circumstances as well. Some background: the opposition Earl Palmer wonders, "Who are these people who are preaching Christ with motives so unfriendly to Paul and his precarious situation as a prisoner ?... Are (they) antagonistic Christians who disagree with Paul on some point of doctrine or practice? Or are they part of the general populace of Rome who are mocking the gospel of Christ by such street-theater events as preaching in jest? ... I do not think for one moment that Paul did not have to struggle with feelings of anger and resentment toward these people who made his life difficult. But his conclusion is that the preaching of the gospel is more important than the attacks on his person 6 integrity." (57-8)

Resources: Sam and Eileen Moffett, Joy For an Anxious Age. Board of Education, UPCUSA, 1966. Earl Palmer, Integrity in a World of Pretense . IVP, 1992. JohnStott, Acts, IVP, 1990.

1. Keeping in mind the invitation last week to read through the book of Philippians once a week this summer, make a list of the phrases / ideas that are starting to stand out to you as themes from the book.

2. Then, turn to this particular text, Philippians 1:12 -19. What insights from worship and the sermon do you particularly want to remember?

3. And then, what do you learn from asking the four questions:

What do you learn about God?

What do you learn about people?

What do you learn about how God relates to people?

What is God's word of grace and truth to you in this passage today? What do you think? Post your thoughts on line on our Blog.

07/08/2007

Philippians. 1:20-26:

07/15/2007

Philippians 1:27-30

07/22/2007

Philippians 1:27-30

07/29/2007

Philippians 5:5-11

Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; nd being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. What do you think? Post your thoughts on line on our Blog.

08/08/2007

Philippians

08/16/2007

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

08/26/2007

Philippians 3:1-9:
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! 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. 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.

Philippians 3:10-16:
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.