The LCA provides this sermon edited for lay-reading, with thanks to the original author.

Proper 21, Year A

Philippians 2:1-5

WHAT CHURCH MEMBERSHIP INVOLVES

What makes you completely happy? What things do you rejoice over? Music, friends, family, food? What fills you with gratitude? Gratitude and happiness are linked. Grateful people are happy people. It’s been said that the true test of happiness is gratitude. In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul often breaks out with thanks and joy. None of his congregations gave him as much joy as did the church in Philippi. It was in this “boom town” that the good news of Jesus was first brought to Europe.

Lydia’s family and the jailer’s family were among the first members, together with a young woman whom Paul had delivered from a spirit of divination. This little group grew in generosity, joy and in number. They were especially generous in their giving to the Lord’s work, and considered it a joy to sacrifice themselves for their new-found Saviour. No wonder praying for them was such a joy for St. Paul! Serving their Saviour Jesus had become the greatest joy of their lives. They were happy to co-operate in every way with St. Paul, and to be in partnership with him. “When I pray for you all, my prayers are always joyful”, Paul tells them. Gratitude for their enthusiastic support of the work of the church filled the great missionary apostle with a resilient and robust joy. Far from Christian joy being ours only in heaven, we can have a joy today that no one can take from us.

“I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness”, Paul says to the Philippian Christians. Their church wasn’t a perfect community. There was some lack of unity over essentials. Disagreements over minor matters occasionally rumbled below the surface. They were disappointed they had not yet set their whole town on fire for Christ. And they saw Paul’s imprisonment as a great setback to the growth of the church. But Paul wants them to build on the blessings they have already, and to focus on the positive and constructive things they can all do. It’s always infinitely better to light a candle, than to curse the darkness. Paul encourages them to shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of Life. They are urged to model the message of Christ’s care and concern for them, in the way they support each other.

Some years ago, when inflation and economic recession were affecting the home and family life of thousands of ordinary people, one woman came to the church in deep concern about her situation. She wasn’t a Christian, but felt intensely the financial pressures which were causing strain in her marriage. Raising her voice, she said, “It’s all right for you; you Christians have each other. The rest of us are left to see to ourselves.” In that moment of perception, she touched on why God established the Christian Church. God never wanted us to go through life alone, without the support, encouragement and comfort of fellow church members. Jesus has brought us together so we don’t need to battle through life on our own.

We have each other to lean on and care about. The way we care for each other gives credibility to the message of a caring Christ which we proclaim. Our life in Christ is life together. “In Christ, we are a new creation”. The words “in Christ” mean “by means of His power”. So, in Christ, we can live lives that are constantly renewed by His presence and His power. The expression “in Christ” speaks of security and intimacy, acceptance and assurance. It means His words live in us, motivating and inspiring us. Those who are in Christ are in a new relationship with their Creator. He enables them to look at the fellow members of their congregation with new eyes. Just as Jesus was an ‘other-centred’ person, so we become ‘other-centred’ in our thoughts and in our actions. It’s Christlike to think of others before we think of ourselves.

Our text urges us to share the mind of Christ in our relationships with each other. Jesus let His schedules be interrupted in order to give immediate help to those who approached Him. He came not to be served, but to serve! His mind was constantly focussed on serving others. Serving others, for Him, included doing the jobs no one else had volunteered to do – like washing dirty feet. He led His followers by His own example. He didn’t wait for someone else to volunteer. Jesus Himself took the initiative and demonstrated that most unmistakable sign of humility – eagerness to be a servant and to be of help to others. Humility isn’t something one feels. It is something one does. Jesus not only taught, but He demonstrated, that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” His love was marked by a limitless giving.

A survey of the members of several Christian denominations in North America found that 69% of laity reacted positively to the statement: “The more I support the church financially, the closer I feel to it and to God.” They were no doubt responding to God who had come so close to them in limitless love and mercy. They had discovered that one cannot out-give God. A church that’s alive is a generous church. When our hearts are right with God, generosity follows. “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.” There’s no more spontaneous expression of love than generosity. It is sometimes said that we should give until it hurts. But Jesus teaches that it should hurt when we are not giving generously! The Philippians saw it as an honour and a privilege to give, to keep the work of the Lord going. St. Paul rejoiced because he was sure their support of his work would never be in vain. “God loves a cheerful giver”, St. Paul wrote to Christians who had first given themselves to the Lord.

Those Christians had experienced the kindness and compassion of Jesus Christ. Jesus acted compassionately to those in trouble or in need. He was passionate about showing compassion. He shared the feelings of those who were suffering and gave them His support and loving kindness. The mark of His compassion was understanding - the refusal to judge them unfairly or too quickly. He showed unexpected compassion to the woman caught committing adultery: “I am not going to condemn you. Go and sin no more”, Jesus said to her. No wonder He was called the Friend of Sinners. He extended His friendship to the fallen. Every congregation should be a “society of friends”, as the Quakers are known, friends who support each other. Jesus said in John 15:13-14, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

Even when we’re struggling ourselves, Jesus challenges us to reach out in friendship, sympathy and understanding to others. Our text challenges us: “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” Perhaps we feel we have more than enough burdens of our own to carry, without taking on those of anyone else. Somehow, though, you will find that as you lend a listening ear to someone else and share their burdens, your own seem so much lighter. Other Christians can often help us better than we can help ourselves. The best way we can grow in love is to put someone else’s interests ahead of our own. Compliment others on their gifts and talents. Express appreciation for what a fellow church member is doing. Let your first thought never be of yourself. As you welcome others into your life and into your home, you will experience God’s amazing care and provision for you in a new way. As you look after others, you can trust God to care for you.

Finally, today‘s sermon text wants you to “consider others more important than yourselves.” Let’s face it, that’s not easy. We need to constantly pray to God for help to do that. The more we honestly look at our lives, the more we will discover how much we owe to others. None of us is a self made person. Only in heaven will we discover how much we owe to the prayers of fellow church members. One of the best ways we can practice putting others first is by praying for them. Nothing disarms our own self-importance more quickly than regular intercession for others. Praying for each other unites us for the common purpose of sustaining and extending Christ’s Church. Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it. Can we afford to do any less?

Christ loves His Bride, the Church. He is preparing her so that she can joyfully live forever in heaven with Him. Our Lord invites us to join Him in preparing for that day. Only our very best contribution will do, towards the greatest day in the Church’s life. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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