Congratulations! We survived the first week of blog confusion! I apologize again to anyone who experienced technical difficulties when attempting to post a comment. I'm still not sure why that is happening so (as I indicated in my last e-mail) unless you feel exceedingly confident that you can successfully post a comment, PLEASE EMAIL ALL FUTURE COMMENTS TO ME (Amy). I DO NOT MIND posting them. I would rather post them than see anyone else waste their time typing a response only to have it deleted.
Okay, so, with that out of the way, I'm excited to officially begin our discussion of this book! Our blog contributor this week is none other than our beloved Christian Trautner. Christian has written a fantastic summary of our reading this week - drawing out many of the poignant, convicting questions raised by Matt Chandler. Like me, I'm sure you will find Christian's response to Chapters 1 & 2 refreshingly honest and thoughtful.
So, with much love, here is Christian:
Good Morning!!
Let’s start from the beginning.
Chapter One lays the groundwork for the letter Paul is writing the Philippians. Paul is writing this letter out of love. He tells the Philippians that he holds them in his heart and that he yearns for them with all the affection of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:1-8) - The same affection that took Jesus Christ to the cross.
Chapter One also takes us back to the beginning. Paul is in Philippi with three other missionaries (Acts) - Luke, Silas and Timothy. Here three people are converted: Lydia - the rich business woman, the slave girl and the “blue-collar joe” prison guard. All three VERY different people. All three converted out of very different circumstances which reconciles that the gospel achieves, not just of unholy individuals to a holy God, but superficially incompatible people to each other! Jesus takes strangers and makes them family (page 27). The gospel is not natural and goes against our natural tendency to surround ourselves with similar people. Paul, through the gospel, is able to unify people who wouldn’t normally be unified. The gospel, Matt tells the reader, creates a new reality that deepens our understanding of the world and our place in it. This is where Paul is headed with his letter to the Philippians. Paul wants to bring to their minds the assurance of life in Christ in their day to day, wherever they may find themselves – even in prison. The last sentence in Chapter One (page 29) informs the reader that Paul is writing this letter from prison. Do you find yourself having to be reminded of your life in Christ?
In Chapter Two, Matt talks about the worthy life. Paul continues that it has become known that his imprisonment is for Christ (Phil 1:12-13). Paul sees his imprisonment as a necessary sacrifice to make the rest of the missionaries fearless sharers of the gospel. Paul sees this as necessary in order to win the lost to Christ (page 32). He is even willing to die. Paul finds joy in prison. He finds joy living at Lydia’s beautiful home. Paul finds joy in life wherever he finds himself because for him to live is Christ. In the logic of the gospel, Matt continues, there are no alternatives to Christ. Every other option is no option at all. When everything considered valuable in life is seen to be nothing in comparison of to the glory of Christ (ie: Lydia’s riches), you learn that Christ alone is worth living for. Christ alone is worth of an entire life’s affections and devotions. He is worth so much more that Paul completes his declaration “to live is Christ” this way “to die is gain” (page 36-37). Paul knows that there is a greater day coming, a greater life coming and the purpose of life is to walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. Do you feel this? Do you feel to die would be gain? To leave your spouse, your children, everyone you hold dear? It’s a VERY hard concept for me to wrap my mind around. Of course I believe Christ died nailed to a tree for me, I believe in heaven and that one day I will warship my King in heaven, but it’s still extremely hard to willingly accept death (or the threat of death).
Matt then talks about “Gospel Courage”. Paul tells the Philippians (1:27-28) to stand firm in one spirit , with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and to not frightened in anything or by their opponents. As Christians we must be fearless, regardless of the situation. To have fearless faith, Matt explains, results from holding onto Christ as our treasure (page 45). We, as the Lydia, the slave girl and the guard all did, need to lose all confidence in the flesh and find or courage in our Redeemer. Christ is all and we must understand this in order to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ and to live and love people who are different from us.
Are you living a life worth of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Have you found Christ worth living for, worth dying for, worth casting all away for His sake? Do you just hang out with people who are like you? Are you timid and fearful when it comes to any oppositions to your faith? In the end, are you growing in God, or are you stagnant and cold?
Answering these questions is very difficult. I know I find myself “adjusting” to the world and compromising what I know is right (even something small). Living my day to day in Christ is difficult… It takes effort and conscious decision making. Life is hard, but knowing that living in Christ means gaining in death makes it quite a bit easier. To know that by living the gospel, I am promised a great reward vastly outweighs the funny looks or snide remarks.
Wow - it takes "Gospel Courage" to write a post like the one Christian has written. She's pulled out the tough questions Matt Chandler challenged us to "fearlessly face," and she's offered a transparent personal response. What about you? If you have committed to following along with us, please share a comment or question in response to Christian's post (and/or anything else from this week's reading).
This week, we are reading Chapters 3 & 4 of the book. And from the Bible, we are reading Philippians Chapter 2.
Be sure to keep each other in prayer throughout the week. Also, check back next Monday to hear from our next contributor, my cute mom, Cathy Kunkle!
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Philippians 1:3-5, ESV
7 comments:
I’m only just through the 1st and 2nd chapters and I have already learned so much. It’s not that I have not read these Scriptures before. It’s that I have gotten such a different perspective. There were two main points that stuck out to me:
1-Paul reached Lydia, the slave girl and the jailer where they were. That helped emphasize that we can share the Gospel to someone where they are.
2-In sharing the Gospel, we can point to the Truth and not at someone’s sin. We don’t know the condition of anyone’s heart. Only God does. The Holy Spirit convicts.
As I said, these points are not new, but they have been refreshed during my study. I still struggle with how to present the Gospel and closely studying Paul sharing the Gospel at Philippi is very inspiring.
Great first week!
My mom Cathy says:
Paul has a lot to teach us about life and about Jesus in the book of Philippians. Lydia is described as a seeker. She sought out God, she wanted to live out her faith in the context of her family and her business. I wonder if I met Lydia, would I have thought she's got it all together, she's rich, dresses nice, has a great house... she wouldn't want to listen to anything I have to say. Not Paul, he engages Lydia's reason and she immediately believes - she was hungry for the things of God. We are created to have a personal intimate relationship with God, which only comes through Jesus. A void is present if that is not met. I must not make decisions about who I will tell the gospel to based on outer appearances and what I think they will think.
The Holy Spirit works in individual lives to drawl us to our God. We love Him because He first loved us.
We as believers has a mission to be "fishers of men" wherever God has placed us right now.
I absolutely agree with Amy that what Christian wrote requires Gospel courage.
I find myself struggling with the same issues of trying not to surround myself only with people that are similar and trying not to compromise my faith in today's world that idolizes all the wrong values/people/objects. As a mother I am also struggling with whether I am adequately teaching my children the values of our faith and what is most important.
I keep finding comfort and encouragement in Paul's words which Amy quotes often: Philippians 1:6: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a great work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Kathy Miles says:
Living everyday life in a manner worthy of the gospel. Do I live each day with contentment and joy? Do I live each day in an intentional manner- seeking opportunities to make much of Jesus and share the reason for the hope that is in me? Do I act as Jesus's ambassador each day as I interact with my family, friends and coworkers? I believe I fail to live in this way often. I know that the Holy Spirit indwells me and all believers and knowing this gives me comfort and courage to have less fear and to love more. To be able to be a listener and speak the truth in love- to meet people in their need. To move forward to love Jesus more. He is our greatest treasure. To remember as Matt chandler says" the ground is level at the foot of the cross". I hope to grow in this way.
This is my first time in a Bible study and I am struggling to find the right words. It has touched my heart to see the love Paul had for the Philippines and how he impacted so many lives. I pray that the message I am receiving from these passages help to strengthen my faith and guide me on my journey. I am in awe with the beautiful writings each and everyone of you have shared, and have felt an enlightenment from your words. Thank you.
I agree with Sue. You all have some great insights from these first two chapters. I'm encouraged by hearing from each of you. Something that's been sticking with me from Chapters 1 & 2 is the fact that Lydia was called a "God-fearer" and Matt Chandler's whole explanation as to what that meant (pg 19). Lydia doesn't have all the answers, but she's seeking the One True God. She has a genuine heart for God. And, through Paul, God meets her right where she is - I love that. A few days ago, I read something Christine Caine said, "Your heart for God will take you further than your gift ever will." Something about that gives me a huge sense of relief. 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."
Connie Hill says:
i enjoyed reading the chapters...that Paul showed us how suffering is a show of your love for the Lord...and all that you do is for Jesus. When I read the part about how Jesus said he chose to suffer even though he could have chosen not to it made me realize how he loved all of us. Also, how going to church helps us all show unity in our love for the Lord.
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