What makes Philippians special?
April 27, 2009
What makes Philippians special?
Paul wrote this brief letter, which consists of 4 chapters and 104 verses from prison. Paul was most likely in Rome and some consider this his last will and testament. Even though he faced difficult times, Paul wanted to remind the Philippians to remain faithful to Christ. Paul reminds the Philippians that they may have to face suffering, just as he has suffered but they should not be afraid of such suffering, since "Christ gives the strength to face anything" (4:13). Paul’s strong words of faith in this short letter have given encouragement to Christians ever since it was first written.
Paul wrote Philippians to thank them for helping him with their gifts and prayers (1:5; 4:10-19) and to tell them what had been happening to him since he was arrested by the Romans
What’s the story behind the scene?
Philippi was the very first city Paul visited in present day Greece. Philippi was an important city which merchants and the Roman army used to carry goods and supplies. Philippi was named after Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. Philip made the city into a fortress and the capital of his growing kingdom in the fourth century B.C.
How is Philippians constructed?
Paul begins his letter with a Christian form of the words of greeting traditionally used in formal Greek letter writing, and he ends with a final greeting (4:21-23). As in many of Paul’s letters, the introduction is followed by prayers of thanksgiving for the people he is writing to. In the rest of the letter Paul gives news about his present situation, offers advice and encouragement to the Christians, and expresses his thanks for the help they had given him in the past.
Looking for Paul in All the Right Places?
April 27, 2009
Looking for Paul in All the Right Places?
Paul preached a message of love and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ. Why would this be hard for the people of Greece to understand? What was the culture like that Paul found when he went to Greece? Mt. Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and represented the borderline between earth and sky. The Greeks believed there were twelve gods connected to this mountain. The twelve gods were six male and six female who were divided into six couples. They were divided by their roles and activities and what they ruled over. Zeus was the god who was over all gods. The gods were interested in humanity and they would supervise everything on earth. They would give good gifts to humans and at times persecute humans. The gods and goddesses were a way for the Greeks to order their world and the life. The ancient Greeks worshipped each god and each god had temples in the center of the cities. The Greeks were always trying to appease the gods to assure blessing. So, imagine Paul coming into Athens, (Acts 17) and acknowledging the many Greeks gods but then proclaiming there is one God whom you can know, one God who created the world and everything in it. There is only one God, “in whom we live and move and have our being.” The message of Christianity, which we take for granted is truly a radical message. Something to ponder: If you were to explain to someone who God is, what would you say? How would you talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus to a people who believe in many gods and lived in fear of gods? That was the world Paul entered.
Prayer for fall: Renew my heart, stretch my mind, and transform my life.
Pastor Joyce
Who or what are the disciples?
April 27, 2009
Who or what are the disciples?
The word disciple appears two hundred and thirty two times in the four gospels and the Book of Acts. Each year the Sunday following Easter we hear the story of the disciples Thomas. So who was he? Thomas appears in a few passages in the Gospel of John. In John 11:16, when Lazarus has just died, the disciples are resisting Jesus’ decision to return to Judea, where the Jews had previously tried to stone Jesus. Jesus is determined, but Thomas has the last word: “Let us also go, that we might die with him”
He also speaks up at The Last Supper in John 14:5. Jesus assures his disciples that they know where he is going, but Thomas protests that they don’t know at all. John 20:24-29, he doubts the resurrection of Jesus and demands to feel Jesus’ wounds before being convinced. After seeing Jesus alive (the Bible never states whether Thomas actually touched Christ’s wounds), Thomas professed his faith in Jesus, exclaiming “My Lord and my God!” on this account he is also called Thomas the Believer.
He may have had an actual twin brother – or he may have looked so much like Jesus that everyone joked that he was Jesus’ twin brother. What happened to Thomas? Church tradition tells us that he preaches in ancient Babylon, where Iraq is today. He travels to Persia, present-day Iran, and continues to win disciples to the Christian faith. Finally, Thomas travels to the east coast of India, preaching relentlessly. He is killed near about 72 AD, near present-day Madras. Tradition tells us that he is thrown into a pit, and then pierced with a spear.
From Thomas we learn that questions are a part of life, and just because we have questions or fears do not mean we don’t have faith. From Thomas we learn that being a follower will take us to surprising places as we share our faith.
