RPG Adults
WHO WERE THE PHILIPPIANS?
LORD’S DAY, APRIL 2
Philippians 1:1-8
Acts 16:11-15
“For your fellowship in the gospel
from the first day until now.”
WHO WERE THE PHILIPPIANS?
The church at Philippi was first established by Paul during his second missionary journey. The city of Philippi was the first major city that Paul ministered in upon entering Europe. There, he preached to a few Jewish women who had gathered by the side of a river, among whom was Lydia. As Paul preached to them, the Lord opened her heart, and she became the first recorded convert in Macedonia (Acts 16:11-15). She welcomed Paul into her home, where it was likely that a home church started, for it would be at her house that Paul would later meet with the brethren at Philippi after he was released from prison (Acts 16:40).
From then on, Paul enjoyed a close and abiding relationship with this church. He would probably visit them two more times during his third missionary journey: first when Paul received an offering that they had collected for the needy Christians in Jerusalem (2 Cor 8:1-5), and again just before he returned to Jerusalem (Acts 20:6).
Now, about four to five years after his last visit, while he was imprisoned in Rome, Paul received a delegation from the church through the hand of Epaphroditus, a minister of the church. He recounted how they had supported him financially in the past (Phil 4:15-16) and was very thankful for the present contribution as well (Phil 4:10). He was writing then to thank them for the gift and encourage them in their walk with the Lord. He also wanted to assure them that even though he was in prison, he was doing very well, and thankful for the opportunities he had to share the Gospel with everyone that he came into contact with (Phil 1:12-17).
As we meditate on Paul’s relationship with the Philippians, we see a beautiful example of what it means to have fellowship in the Gospel. It was a bond that began with the Gospel and continued in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel. How wonderful it would be if all Christians could enjoy this same fellowship of the Gospel!
THOUGHT: What sort of relationship do I share with the fellow believers in my life?
PRAYER: Father, may my life be wholly given over to the cause of Christ and His Gospel.