19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when T receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. 25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, o that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.
WORD MEANINGS–Match the words with the correct definitions. 1.cheered __a person you work with 2.genuine __sick 3.welfare __nervous, worried, 4.proved __comfort & support 5.necessary __wellbeing 6.co-worker __demonstrate the truth 7.messenger __needed 8.ill __feeling deeply sad 9.sorrow __authentic and real 10.eager __one who brings news 11.anxiety __really wanting to do CHRISTIAN IDEAS 1.Gospel __other Christians 2.brother (or sister) __what we do 3.co-worker __serving in our faith 4.fellowship __our community friends 5.in the Lord_ __The Good News 6.work of Christ_ __who we serve with PAUL: An apostle and missionary TIMOTHY: pastor at Ephesus trained by Paul EPAPHRODITUS: co worker of Paul and Timothy
Do you follow movie stars? Or music stars? Sports stars? Who is your favorite? Would you like to be a star?
Did you know that God wants us to be stars? Paul wrote in his letter: … you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:15-16 (NIV)
Being a Star
Paul tells us that if we want to live like stars on God’s stage, we must live a different lifestyle. He says: …my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:12-16 (NIV)
What Paul is telling the Philippians when he says, work out your salvation, is simply keep on living out your faith. Don’t give up or become lazy. For Paul, faith in Christ means obedience to Christ. Not just by following rules or commandments, but by becoming completely devoted to Him.
Being a star takes work
If you read the biography of any “star”, whether it’s a musician, an actor, or an athlete, you’ll see that their success didn’t come without hard work and effort. They might have immense talent, but for most it takes years or even a lifetime to become all that they are.
Someone once said, “It’s easy to become a Christian, but being a Christian is hard work.” Would you agree?
Becoming a Christian is about believing in Jesus, but being a Christian is about following Jesus. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s easy to believe but a lot harder to follow. It’s about not just knowing but doing God’s Word. It means learning how to love God with mind, body, and soul, and learning to love others in the way that Christ loves. That’s hard work!
Not grumbling or arguing
Paul says: …. Do everything without grumbling or arguing…. Philippians. 2:14 We all find something to complain about. The weather, the government, your job, your spouse, your kids, your friends, your church…. Being grumpy and complaining is more common for many of us than being joyful, positive and up-lifting.
God sometimes uses difficult situations in life to develop our character and grow our faith. So, when things don’t go as you’d like them, instead of complaining about it, maybe we should be asking God what He wants us to learn though it. As followers of Christ, we should be acting like members of God’s family, living with an attitude of hope and joy, treating each other with love and respect, instead of complaining and arguing.
What do you grumble or argue about? How can you change your attitude? What can you do instead?
It was Paul’s hope that he would someday stand before God and hear Him say to the Christians at Philippi, “Well done my good and faithful servants. You have represented me well. You have been stars on my stage, reflecting my light and my glory to the world. Now come and receive your reward!”
May He say the same to us.
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Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com Does your family need ‘attitude adjustments’?
Family
What’s your family like? Do your family members RESPECT one another? Or do they need an ‘attitude adjustment’? RESPECT is important in families, including God’s family, the church.
But respect is earned by behavior that is WORTHY of it. Good behavior is worthy of respect. Bad behavior is not.
Some Bible verses about behavior worthy of respect are:
let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ…Philippians 1:27
…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called…Ephesians 4:1
…walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.1 Thessalonians 2:12
Attitude Adjustments
To live in a manner worthy of God, we need to have a good ATTITUDE. An attitude is how we feel inside. As Christians, we must follow the behavior and attitude of Jesus. Often, we forget to do that, and we need ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Instead of having attitudes and behaviors like the world has, we need our minds renewed to live in God’s ways. We need to have a completely different attitude than the world. We need the attitude of Christ.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Philippians 2:1–2
Paul wrote this while he was in prison. Remember, Paul is writing to people who are like family to him. And so he reminds them of what they share as family, saying if you really belong to the family of God; if you find your encouragement in knowing Christ; if you know God’s love and have God’s Spirit in you; if you have any real love for the church and for me; if these things are true–if you really are Christians, then you can please me and make me happy, by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Must we all be the same?
This doesn’t mean we all have to agree on everything and have the same opinion about things. It’s about having a good attitude and living in unity with respect for each other.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1–6
What does this mean to you?
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped… Philippians 2:5–6(ESV)
Jesus is our example. He didn’t show off his power. He respected his father, God.
Love and Humility
be of the same mind, having the same love… Phil. 2:2
LOVE is what we need to hold us together as a family. Loving each other is an attitude that we must choose.
Finally, the change of attitude that Paul encourages is one of HUMILITY.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…Philippians 2:3–5
… being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8
Therefore, Paul declares, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11
Because Jesus humbled himself to even death on the cross, we must honor and respect him.
Let’s have attitude adjustments. Let our attitudes be adjusted to the attitude of Christ, an attitude of unity, love, and a humble spirit.
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Photo by Jim De Ramos on Pexels.com Volleyball competition
Competition, courage, and honor are found in all games, including the game of life. Winners of competitions are honored and respected.
Which of these are competitions?
chess Yes/No
volleyball Yes/No
politics Yes/No
cooking Yes/No
preaching Yes/No
ping pong Yes/No
reading Yes/No
Games are played by rules. Life has rules too. Thousands of years ago, Moses gave the people many rules from God. Jesus changed the rules. He said people should live by two rules. What are they?
Love __________.
Love_______________________________.
Jesus said Love God and love others… all the Law and the Prophets depend on these two. (Matthew 22:37-39) What do you think this means?
Competition, Courage, and Honor in Paul’s Life
The apostle Paul had a lot of courage. Fill in the blanks with these words:
Some people tried to _______________ with him because they_____________ him.
Paul said: What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel… so that it (the gospel) has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1: 13-14
What was Paul’s opportunity?
Paul said: I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. Philippians 1: 19-20
New days, new ways. Soccer can even be played at night now.
Rules for Games
Do you like to play games?
Some types of games are:
sports, like football, hockey, baseball
video games
board games, like chess, checkers, monopoly, scrabble
What is your favorite game?
The rules of the game tell us how to play. Can the rules be changed?
Rules for the game of life
As in games, there are rules for living. Thousands of years ago, God gave rules for living to Moses. We can read them in Leviticus 19. Some of them are:
Don’t steal
Don’t lie
Don’t harvest all of your garden
Don’t eat meat with blood in it
Keep the Sabbath
Don’t get a tattoo
Don’t wear clothing made of two different materials
Don’t breed your livestock with another breed of livestock
Don’t seed your garden with two kinds of seed
Don’t trim your beard or sideburns
Honor your mother and father
There were a lot more rules than that. Nobody could follow ALL the rules.
God changed the rules
When Jesus came, he changed the rules. He cancelled all the old rules. He gave us two simple rules to live by:
Love God
Love people
Jesus said Love God and love others…all the Law and the Prophets depend on these two (Matthew 22:37-39).
How can we love God?
By praying? Yes/No
By reading the Bible? Yes/No
By following the rules in Leviticus, that Moses gave? Yes/No
By living like Jesus? Yes/No
By accepting God’s grace? Yes/No
How can we love other people?
By praying for them? Yes/No
By giving them money? Yes/No/Sometimes
By welcoming them? Yes/No
By agreeing with them? Yes/No/Sometimes
By giving them grace? Yes/No
New days, New ways
Jesus didn’t follow the old rules that God gave Moses. What did he do that was different?
Do you think we should follow strict rules? Why or why not?
Should we expect other people to follow strict rules? Why or why not?
“This is a new day, so let’s see it in a new way. Let’s always try to live under the freedom and grace that Jesus gives, and relate to each other in the Spirit of love and truth.” –quote from Pastor Wayne Snider
