Paul’s much loved letter to the Philippians has similarities with our contemporary mission letters. Paul writes from a Roman prison to thank them for their prayers and practical support while updating them on his life and mission. But that is where the similarity ends. Paul the apostle pours out his joy and thanks to God for the success and growth of this first church in Europe. Unlike our day, where the church is written off or ignored, people could not write off the new Christian movement because lives were being dramatically changed. It is this change, this growth in God through the gift and work of Jesus Christ, that Europeans were either attracted to or persecuted. Paul describes in this letter what these changed lives looked like and reminds us that the same grace is waiting to change us too.
Our teaching series over the next few weeks will be:
St John’s West Brunswick 