A. Friendship between slaves (1-2)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. “You are my joy and gratitude” (3-8)

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 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. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

C. Let’s seek love and righteousness (9-11)

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may 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.

Summary

Paul had a deep trust in the Philippians and a great joy over them. They could trust each other not because of their human emotion, but just because both sides knew the joy of being made alive by Jesus’ love and living their life for it. Let us follow their example, share one another the joy of walking our life with Jesus and build up the mutual relationship in which we can say each other, “You are my joy.”

For Discussion

1. Why did Paul have a joy over the Philippians?
2. What can you do to deepen this kind of mutual trust among us at Yourchurch?