Partners in the Gospel
Series: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
Readings: Philippians 1:1-18a Preacher: Phil Swain
We begin our new sermon series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians — a deeply personal letter written from prison to a church Paul loved. Philippians is often known as a letter of joy, but throughout this series we will be using the lens of “Christian Living” … exploring how Paul encourages the church to live following in the way of Jesus: with love, humility, courage, discernment and hope.
This week, as we look at Philippians 1, we will reflect on what it means to be partners in the gospel. Paul reminds the Philippian church that our Christian faith and journey is not something we do alone, but something we participate in together as a church community..
Reflection Questions
Exploring the Passage (Philippians 1:1-18a)
- Philippians 1:3–8: Paul begins by giving thanks for the Philippian church and their “partnership in the gospel.” What do you notice about the warmth of Paul’s relationship with this church? What does “partnership in the gospel” seem to mean in this passage?
- Philippians 1:9–11: Paul prays that their love may “abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.” Why do you think Paul connects love with knowledge, insight and discernment? What might it mean to “discern what is best”?
- Philippians 1:12–18: Paul is in prison, and some people are preaching Christ from mixed motives, yet Paul still rejoices that Christ is being preached. What does this show us about Paul’s priorities? What do you find inspiring or challenging about his response?
Exploring the Sermon Themes
- The sermon suggested that church is not an audience gathered around a minister, but a community gathered into the mission of Jesus. How does this challenge or deepen the way we think about belonging to a church community?
- The sermon explored the idea that not every good thing is our thing, and not every need is our calling. How do we discern what God is asking of us — both personally and as a church — without becoming overwhelmed, scattered or inactive?
- The sermon asked whether we can rejoice when the gospel is shared through someone else, another ministry, or another church. Why can comparison, jealousy or territorial thinking creep into church life? What would it look like to keep Christ at the centre instead?
Going Deeper
- Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” in Philippians 1:21. How do we understand this in a healthy way — not as escapism or a rejection of life, but as a statement of deep trust and Christ-centred living?
- Paul rejoices that Christ is preached even when some people preach from envy, rivalry or selfish ambition. Where do you think the limits of this are? How do we hold together Paul’s generosity here with the need to challenge harmful behaviour, distorted teaching or misuse of power?
- Philippians 1:27 says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” What might it mean for a whole community — not just individuals — to live in a way worthy of the gospel in our current context?
Sermon Text
Way back in 2020 we did a series on Philippians using the theme of joy — which, looking back, was an interesting theme to explore in the middle of lockdown. Six years later we have come back to Philippians, but this time we are going to work through the book chapter by chapter using the theme of Christian living, or “living in the way of Jesus”.
Paul is writing to the church in Philippi because he wants them to know that following Jesus is not just about believing the right thing but allowing the life of Jesus to shape all aspects of their lives. To become more like Jesus. To reflect the way of Jesus in what they do, what they say, how they relate to one another, and how they live as a community.
In my sermon in 2020, I began with a story about a man called Frank. It was a great story which, let’s be honest, you probably won’t remember, so I am going to use it again.
Frank was one of six senior salespeople for a plastic manufacturer. The company had been doing okay, but then Frank discovered a whole new market no one had really considered before. Suddenly the potential customer base was huge, and almost overnight Frank became a bit of a legend. Sales went up. Profits went up. Everyone was doing better.
But the other salespeople were not completely happy, because most of the new clients wanted to deal with Frank.
Then an accusation was made against him. Someone claimed he had been embezzling money. No one really believed it, but while the company investigated, Frank was taken off the road and put behind a desk. And while he was stuck there, the other salespeople started signing up the clients Frank had found.
You would expect Frank to be frustrated, maybe even bitter. But he was not. He said, “Of course I would rather be out there myself, but what really matters is that the product is being sold. Maybe the others are doing it from envy or rivalry. Maybe they are not. But either way, the company is growing and the product is getting out there.”
Now, you might have already worked out that this is an analogy for what is happening in Philippians chapter 1. In the analogy, Frank is Paul, and the product is the gospel of Jesus.
As we have explored over the past few weeks, Paul was called to carry the good news of Jesus beyond its original Jewish context and into the Gentile world. He travelled, preached, planted churches, and helped open up a whole new chapter in the life of the early church.
But by the time this letter to the Philippians was written, Paul had been arrested and was in prison. He could not travel freely or visit the churches he loved. His missionary work, at least in the way he had known it, had been severely restricted. And others had stepped into the space he could no longer occupy, preaching Christ in places Paul could not go.
Paul had every right to be frustrated or angry. But as we start reading this letter to the Phillippians … we find it isn’t full of bitterness and disappointment but instead, his letter is full of thanksgiving and joy.
Because for Paul, it is not ultimately about him. In that incredible line from verse 18, Paul says, “The important thing is that Christ is preached and because of this I rejoice.” Paul understands that he is part of something much bigger than himself. And maybe that is the doorway into Philippians for us.
As we work through this letter, there will be plenty of insights and encouragements for us as individuals. But Paul also wants us to see that we belong to something bigger than ourselves. That something extraordinary happens when we do this Christian life together in community. Paul sums this up in verse 5 when he says that we are called to be partners in the gospel.
Before we walk through the passage, a reminder of the context of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul started this church in Acts 16 (which we read 2 weeks ago). It is an amazing story of a businesswoman offering her home to be the location of the church; and of a Roman jailer, prayer, singing, an earthquake, salvation, and hospitality. It is a wild beginning.
And years later, Paul in prison writes to this church in Philippi. He is not writing a theological essay to strangers but a personal letter to people he knows and loves — people with whom he has shared ministry, hardship, support and faith.
Perhaps that is why Philippians speaks so strongly to a local church like ours. It is written to a real congregation trying to work out what it means to be faithful to Jesus in the middle of ordinary life, community pressures, relationships, tensions, generosity, uncertainty and mission. That sounds like us.
We have our own stories, history, relationships, challenges and calling. So as we read Philippians, we are not only asking, “What did Paul say to them?”
We are also asking, “What might the Spirit be saying to us?” How are we being called to live in the way of Jesus?
How are we being called to be partners in the gospel?
So, with that context in mind, let’s work through the passage. I think there are four key things Paul highlights in Philippians chapter 1 — four pieces of wisdom that help us think about how we live in the way of Jesus, both as individuals and as a community. Paul points us towards thanksgiving, discernment, keeping Christ at the centre, and living in a way worthy of the gospel. Let’s look at each of these:
1. Giving Thanks
Paul begins his letter to the Philippians with gratitude. He says, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
I think that is a beautiful way to begin. Paul does not start by saying, “Here are all the things I am worried about” or “Here are the things you need to do.” He begins with thanksgiving.
And Paul is not simply grateful because the Philippians are nice people, or because they have great memories together. He is thankful because they have been partners in the gospel.
That word “partners” is important. As I have already mentioned … the Philippians were not just Paul’s supporters or people who appreciated his ministry from a distance. They had prayed for him, encouraged him, sent financial support, stood with him in hardship, and carried the gospel in their own community. They were sharing together in a common purpose, and Paul saw them as part of the same mission.
So what might that be saying to us here at TUC?
I think sometimes we can slip into thinking that church is primarily a place we attend, or a service we come to, or a community that cares for us, or a program we support. Paul reminds us that we are not an audience gathered around a minister. We are a community gathered into the mission of Jesus.
And this idea of “partners in the gospel” does not mean that everyone does the same thing. In fact, it cannot mean that. Gospel partnership looks different for different people. Some preach or lead worship. Some pray faithfully. Some welcome at the door, visit people at home, teach children, encourage young people, offer hospitality, make music, give financially, organise rosters, set up chairs, sit with people in grief, or keep the place running in ways most of us never see. Some notice who is missing. Some ask the awkward but important questions. Some dream about what might be possible. Some simply keep turning up, faithfully and quietly, week after week.
That is gospel partnership. It is not everyone doing the same thing. It is everyone sharing in the same mission. It is not expecting a few to do everything but everyone working together in partnership for the glory of God.
Paul reflects on the Philippian church and says, “I thank God for you.” And when I look at all the people working in partnership here at TUC, I also want to say this morning: “I thank God for you.” I really do. Thank you.
2. Praying for discernment
Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church continues in verses 9 and 10. “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best…”
That is a fascinating prayer, because it does not go quite where I expect it to go. If Paul had simply said, “I pray that your love may abound more and more,” that would already be a beautiful prayer. I would happily pray that for our church — that our love would grow and overflow.
But Paul prays that their love may abound more and more “in knowledge and depth of insight.” In other words, he prays for love that becomes wise. Love that becomes discerning. Love that grows in understanding. A love that can see clearly and work out what really matters.
That is important because we often separate love and knowledge. We separate heart and mind. We think love is about feeling and discernment is about thinking. Love is warm; knowledge is careful. Love is emotional; insight is analytical.
But Paul holds them together.
He does not want the Philippians to have a vague, sentimental love. He wants them to have a love shaped by wisdom. A love that can discern what is best.
And I think that is a very timely prayer for us at TUC. We are in a season where we are asking big questions about mission, sustainability, discipleship, community, leadership, and the future shape of our church.
We are asking what God is calling us to be and do, what is ours to carry, and maybe what is ours to let go of. We are asking how we use our energy, our buildings, our ministry staff, our gifts, our resources, our relationships, our history, and our hope.
In that kind of season, we need exactly what Paul prays for.
We need love, but not love without discernment. Love without discernment can become scattered. We can try to do everything, say yes to every good idea, respond to every need, and become busy, exhausted and unclear.
But we also need discernment that remains grounded in love. Discernment without love can become cold. It can become managerial. It can become strategic but not compassionate. It can become efficient but not faithful.
Paul prays for both. He prays for a love that grows in knowledge and insight, so that we may discern what is best.
And that phrase “what is best” is worth zooming in on, because being partners in the gospel does not simply mean doing more. It does not mean adding one more thing to already full lives. It does not mean every person must take on every task or respond to every need. It means discerning what love requires of us. What is my part? What is my calling? What is God asking of me in this season of life? What role can I play in this shared gospel partnership?
And as a church: what is our part? What is TUC called to offer? What is the particular contribution this community can make to the mission of God in this place?
Not every good thing is our thing. Not every need is our calling. Not every opportunity is where our energy should go. But there is a calling for us to discern. There is a part for us to play. And Paul says that discernment begins in love.
And as that love grows in knowledge and insight, Paul says it bears fruit — “the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” I like that phrase, because there is a practical element to it. Fruit is visible. Fruit is what grows out of a healthy tree. Paul is saying that when we live in the way of Jesus, the result is fruitfulness. It actually makes a difference.
A Jesus-shaped church is not just a busy church. It is a loving, discerning, fruitful church.
3. Keeping Christ at the Centre
The third thing Paul shows us is that partners in the gospel keep Christ at the centre.
After his prayer, Paul turns to his own situation — the fact that he is in prison, and that others have stepped into the gap and are preaching Christ while he cannot travel freely. As we saw in the Frank analogy, Paul is not frustrated or angry about this. He celebrates that the gospel is being advanced.
In verse 18, Paul says, “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.”
Now, we need to be careful with this. Paul is not saying motives do not matter. He is not saying harmful behaviour, ego, manipulation or ambition are good things. And he is certainly not saying that any version of the gospel will do.
But here, the issue seems to be that Christ is genuinely being preached, even if it is not being done exactly the way Paul would have done it. Paul is clear… As long as Christ is preached, as long as people are reflecting Jesus and his love … then we should rejoice … without needing to control or own everything, or receive the credit for everything.
This can become uncomfortably real. Do we rejoice whenever the gospel is preached or others reflect the love of Jesus … or do we instead rush to judgement or criticism or envy?
Can we rejoice when good things happen through someone else? Can we give thanks when another church flourishes? Can we celebrate when someone else has the idea, leads the ministry, or receives the encouragement? Can we be less concerned about whether we get the acknowledgement, and more concerned about whether Christ is made known?
This is not always easy. Churches can get territorial. Ministers can get jealous. Congregations can compare themselves with other congregations. We can worry about numbers, identity, reputation, and who gets the credit. But Paul reminds us that the gospel is bigger than us. The focus should be on Jesus, not us.
The gospel belongs to Christ, and we are invited to be partners in it.
4. Live in a way worthy of the gospel
Our reading today stops at verse 18, but to wrap this sermon up, I think we need to read just a little further. In verse 21 Paul says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
That is one of those lines that can sound so spiritually intense that we do not quite know what to do with it. But Paul is not expressing a death wish. He is saying that his whole life is held in Christ.
If he lives, he lives for Christ. If he dies, he is with Christ. Jesus is not an add-on to Paul’s life. Jesus is the centre. Jesus is the shape of his life, the source of his love, and the hope that carries him through. “To live is Christ” is not just a slogan. It is everything to Paul.
And that is why he can respond to prison the way he does. That is why he can rejoice when others preach. That is why he can see that the gospel is bigger than himself. To live is Christ.
And then, in verse 27, Paul gives the Philippians a charge that really sums up the whole chapter: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Whatever happens.
Whether Paul is released or remains in prison. Whether he gets to visit the Philippian church or not. Whether life brings blessing or suffering. Whether the future feels clear or uncertain. Whatever happens, live in a way worthy of the gospel. Live in the way of Jesus.
And that is the invitation for us too.
Whatever happens in our personal lives. Whatever happens in our families. Whatever happens in our church. Whatever happens in the Uniting Church. Whatever happens in the world around us. Live in a way that reflects the gospel.
And we do not do this alone. That is one of the most important things about Philippians. Paul is not writing to an isolated individual. He is writing to a community. The Philippian church is called to live this out together.
And the same is true for us. We are not isolated Christians trying to be faithful by ourselves. We are in this together … as a church family here at TUC; as a wider church community and worldwide church! We belong to something bigger than ourselves.
So as we begin this journey through Philippians, perhaps the question is not simply, “How do I find joy?” Maybe the deeper question is, “How might my life be shaped more fully by Jesus?” And for us together: how might our life as TUC be shaped more fully by Jesus?
How might we become a church marked by gratitude for one another, love that grows in wisdom, courage to share the good news, and humility that keeps Christ at the centre?
So maybe, as we begin Philippians, this is where we start: not with trying harder on our own, but with allowing Jesus to shape us together.
Paul’s prayer for the Philippians is a good prayer for us:
May our love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. May we discern what is best. May we be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. May we be partners in the gospel. And whatever happens, may we conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Amen.