Sermon Overview

Scripture Passage: Philippians 1:1-7; 2:1

A church is a family of people from all kinds of backgrounds, beliefs, and ideas who have found a unity in God.

One of the first examples of this family is the church of Philippi. In Philippians 1, the Apostle Paul conveys that the grace of God has miraculously gathered together people of divergent backgrounds, beliefs, and ideas into the common denominator that is Jesus Christ.

Adrian Rogers says, “Because we have one Lord, we have one life. And because we have one Lord and one life, we have one love: the Lord Jesus Christ. And we are the forever family of God.”

See how the family began: through a supernatural formation. In Philippians, the Holy Spirit gathered together this vast spectrum of people—a Jewish philosopher, a new-ager, a prison guard and a feminist to name a few—through Holy intervention.

Each member of this forever family has a story of how they came to know Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives, and together they became the early church.

The Spirit guided the church of Philippi through discerning restraint, wise release, and powerful results that we still hear about today!

See how the family maintains a sweet fellowship. The word fellowship is the Greek word which means, "to have something in common." We have a common Lord, a common life, and a common love.

Going to church and sitting in the Sunday church service every week is not fellowship, it is observation. Fellowship is bonding with brothers and sisters in Christ and joining together to share the Gospel with others.

See how the family will remain with a sure future. We don't build churches. Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). And then in the Book of Philippians, Paul says, "Since He's the one who began it, I know He's the one who's gonna finish it."

The church is not a building. It is a family. And Jesus is the Builder of the church.

 

Apply it to your life

 

Are you an active member of your local church? It is so important to be involved in a church home, for your sake and for the sake of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Pray for direction in where to go and how you can best support the fellowship of the church.