Have you ever been in a partnership that you truly cherished? One that gave you the support and encouragement you needed to do things that matter, or one in which you were able really to support and encourage others? Marriage is, of course the quintessential partnership, combining a commitment to loving support with the promise of life-long commitment and the prospect of raising children, but we find valuable partnerships in many places: workplace teams, volunteering groups and church ministry teams are all places where we can share the joys and challenges involved in a common task.
As I have been involved in partnerships over the years, I have often been surprised by the depth of the relationships that grow. Life is richer when shared and we are stronger when we work together. A threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). We’re not meant to go through life alone.
This Sunday at St Mary’s, we will continue our series of talks on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. We have spent two Sundays in the book of Acts, reading about how Paul came to city of Philippi and founded the church there, but now we turn to the letter itself, starting with Philippians 1:1-11.
The opening words of the letter are a wonderful reminder that Christians have always found strength and encouragement by working together, supporting one another and sharing the joys and challenges of faith. In them, Paul writes with genuine affection, thankful for the partnership he shares with the Philippian Christians. “I thank my God every time I remember you,” he says (v. 3), and you sense the warmth behind those words. It’s a reminder that our friendships and partnerships are gifts to be cherished.
Paul’s gratitude for the Philippians springs from their practical support and spiritual encouragement, which had continued from the time Paul first met them (v. 5). They were separated by distance when Paul wrote this letter but they remained united in their love for one other and their commitment to the Gospel. The Philippians continued to support Paul with prayers, encouragement and practical help because they understood that partnership isn’t just about working together but also about sharing life. In a strong partnership we celebrate together, we grieve together and we grow together. As a church, this deep togetherness helps us to serve more effectively as we seek to reflect Christ’s love in our community.
In his letter, Paul also points us to a deeper partnership: our partnership with Jesus Christ, who invites us into a relationship in which he empowers us to share the Gospel and to bring about change through love. What a privilege! Christ works in us and through us, shaping our hearts and guiding our actions (v. 6). Paul prays for the Philippians (v. 9) “that your love may overflow more and more.” Let’s keep praying this for ourselves. As we grow in love through our partnership with Christ, we become agents of hope and kindness in a world that needs them.
Our first passage from Philippians, then, encourages us to celebrate the partnerships God has given us within our church, our community and with Christ himself. Let’s nurture these partnerships carefully. Let’s commit ourselves afresh to the task of proclaiming the Gospel and transforming the world by love together, in partnership with our Lord.
Matthew, Ministry Team