Philippians is God’s Guide to Joy

Last updated on: December 4, 2019 at 5:00 am by Mark Driscoll

Philippians is God’s Guide to Joy 2019-12-01T10:58:21-05:00 Mark Driscoll

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Philippians 1:1 – Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons

If you are a Christian, you likely attend a church. As you see all that God has done for, in, and through your church consider for a moment that at some point your church did not exist.

Every church was planted by a group of people who gathered under a leader to start a new ministry family. It has been reported that upwards of 80 percent of church plants fail – meaning that after a few years they cease to continue. So, it is amazing to consider how much of God’s grace through human effort goes into starting a new church. Our family has had this privilege as my wife Grace and our five children planted The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona three years ago.

When God used the Apostle Paul to plant the church in Philippi, he was without a wife or children to work with him. You can read more in Acts 16, but the summary is as follows. To plant the first church in Europe, Paul likely walked nine miles to the city. There was virtually no Bible knowledge or believers in the city of Philippi. To open a Jewish synagogue required 10 believing men, and the entire city did not have enough men to qualify. Instead, there was a women’s prayer meeting that included an affluent businesswoman named Lydia who was saved, baptized, and opened her home for the church plant. As soon as the gospel of Jesus Christ started to be preached in the city, there was immediate demonic resistance surrounding a young girl who had fortune-telling powers by a demonic spirit. In response to her becoming a delivered Christian, Paul and Silas were attacked and beaten with rods by a mob and thrown in prison where God saved more people and supernaturally delivered them from prison to plant the church.

The church became perhaps the most healthy and godly in the entire New Testament. In fact, the word “sin” does not appear in the entire book as the church was not perfect but was godly overall. Paul does not introduce himself as an Apostle at the beginning of his letter to the church, likely because they respected and honored him so much that it was not needed. You can read the entire letter to the Philippians in about 15 minutes and, as you do, you will continually hear about joy that can only be found in relationship with Jesus Christ. What makes the theme of joy even more shocking is that Paul is away from his friends in the church, imprisoned in Rome and unsure what his fate might be. Our problems are big, but God’s joy is bigger than our problems. That is the message of Paul from prison.

Do you know the story of the founding of your church?

For the full sermon series “Joy To The World” in Philippians, visit https://markdriscoll.org/.

Daily Devotions

Previous Post

December 3, 2019

Jesus is Joy to the World

Next Post

December 5, 2019 Every Christian is a Servant and Saint: Part 1

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ask Pastor Mark Blog Daily Devotions Sermons Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 December 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did God tell Isaiah to do for three years as a sign against Egypt and Cush?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Drink only water Eat bread only Walk barefoot and naked Sleep outside