New Testament Church

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New Testament Church

• The Church at Philippi

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Introduction

• An important city of Macedonia, commercially,
  politically, and historically.
• Philip of Macedonia, Alexander the Great, great
  Grecian philosophers made history in this city.
• Much history and progress and spread of
  Christianity centers around the Philippian
  church.
• First to be planted on the continent of Europe.

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Its Establishment

• Events leading up to it
• Pauls 2nd tour
• Acts 1536

Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let
us now go back and visit our brethren in every
city where we have preached the word of the Lord,
and see how they are doing.
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Its Establishment

• Events leading up to it
• Visited churches established on the 1st tour
• Acts 165

And as they went through the cities, they
delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were
determined by the apostles and elders at
Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in
the faith, and increased in number daily.
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Its Establishment

• Events leading up to it
• Spirit intervenes and prevents Paul from turning
  aside unto Asiajourneys to Troas.
• Acts 166-8

After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go
into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit
them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to
Troas.
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Its Establishment

• Events leading up to it
• Macedonian Vision and Call.
• God leading him to the continent of Europe
• Acts 169,10

And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A
man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him,
saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us. Now
after he had seen the vision, immediately we
sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the
Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
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Its Establishment

• Events leading up to it
• Goes to Philippi and searches out Jewish place of
  worship.
• Acts 1611-13

And from there to Philippi, which is the
foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a
colony. And we were staying in that city for some
days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the
city to the riverside, where prayer was
customarily made and we sat down and spoke to
the women who met there.
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Its Establishment

• The Philippian church begins with the conversion
  of Lydia at a prayer meeting of Jewish women.
• Acts 1614

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She
was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira,
who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to
heed the things spoken by Paul.
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Its Establishment

• Paul preached
• Lydia heard
• Heart open to give heed.
• She was baptized
• Acts 1615

And when she and her household were baptized,
she begged us, saying, If you have judged me to
be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and
stay. So she persuaded us.
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Its Establishment

• The jailer converted
• Inquired by earthquake
• Paul preached
• Jailor believed and baptized
• Acts 1625-34

And he took them the same hour of the night and
washed their stripes. And immediately he and all
his family were baptized.
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Its Character

• Such as to make Paul continually thankful to God
  whenever he thought of them
• Philippians 13,4

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine making request for
you all with joy.
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Its Character

• A liberal church
• Gave liberally to the poor
• 2 Corinthians 81-5

grace of God bestowed on the churches of
Macedonia that in a great trial of affliction
the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty
abounded in the riches of their liberality.
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Its Character

• A liberal church
• Consistent in their support of Pauls preaching
• Philippians 410-20

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared
in my distress. Now you Philippians know also
that in the beginning of the gospel, when I
departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me
concerning giving and receiving but you only.
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Its Character

• A liberal church
• Gave of their own accord
• 2 Corinthians 83,4

For I bear witness that according to their
ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were
freely willing, imploring us with much urgency
that we would receive the gift and the fellowship
of the ministering to the saints.
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Its Character

• A missionary church
• Fellowshipped in spreading the gospel
• Philippians 15

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first
day until now.
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Its Character

• Steadfast in service
• Philippians 17

Just as it is right for me to think this of you
all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as
both in my chains and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers
with me of grace.
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Its Character

• Zealous and diligent
• Did not wait for a large congregation and things
  of this life to begin to help!
• Philippians 13,4

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
always in every prayer of mine making request for
you all with joy.
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Its Character

• Growing in faith and standing fast.
• Paul confident of their character!
• Philippians 16, 25-30

And being confident of this, I know that I shall
remain and continue with you all for your
progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing
for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my
coming to you again.
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Its Character

• Consecrated.
• Others first!
• 2 Corinthians 85

And not only as we had hoped, but they first
gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by
the will of God.
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Its Character

• Duly organized.
• Followed pattern!
• Philippians 11

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in
Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
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Its Character

• Strong ties of brotherly love and devotion.
• Epaphroditus to Rome!
• Philippians 225

Yet I considered it necessary to send to you
Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and
fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one
who ministered to my need.
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Its Character

• Strong ties of brotherly love and devotion.
• Longed for them and receive him on return with
  joy!
• Philippians 228,29

Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when
you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be
less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord
with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem.
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Its Character

• Strong ties of brotherly love and devotion.
• Pauls personal attitude toward them!
• Philippians 18 41

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for
you all with the affection of Jesus
ChristTherefore, my beloved and longed-for
brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the
Lord, beloved.
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Its Character

• A happy church joyful church. Rejoice and joy
  dominant tone of the Philippians epistle.
• Philippians 44,5

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say,
rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men.
The Lord is at hand.
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Paul Enjoins

• Prayer for them.
• Philippians 19-11

And this I pray, that your love may abound still
more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
that you may approve the things that are
excellent, that you may be sincere and without
offense till the day of Christ, being filled with
the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus
Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
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Paul Enjoins

• Manner of life worthy of the gospel.
• Philippians 127,28

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am
absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you
stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel, and not in
any way terrified by your adversaries, which is
to them a proof of perdition, but to you of
salvation, and that from God.
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Paul Enjoins

• Unity and humility.
• Philippians 21-11

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or
conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than himself. Let each of you look
out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others. Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus.
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Paul Enjoins

• Work out own salvationholding forth word of
  life.
• Philippians 212-16

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling for it is God who works
in you both to will and to do for His good
pleasure.
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Paul Enjoins

• Glory in Christ and have no confidence in the
  flesh.
• Philippians 33

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in
the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no
confidence in the flesh.
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Paul Enjoins

• Be of the same mind in the Lord.
• Philippians 42

I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of
the same mind in the Lord.
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Paul Enjoins

• In nothing be anxious.
• Philippians 46

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by
prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God.
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Paul Enjoins

• Think on these things.
• Philippians 48,9

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble, whatever things are
just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy--meditate on these things.