Bound Together in Christ - You Receive Support in God’s Family

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker, to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:” (Philemon 1:1-2)
      Passage: Philippians 2:1-4

       God did not design us to go through life alone. As a believer in Christ, you have His Spirit within you and He is with you 24/7. Paul knew that, but he also valued relationships with others. In his opening statement to Philemon, he points out that Timothy was with him when he wrote the letter. Paul considered Timothy a son in the ministry, but addressed him as a brother. God doesn’t have grandchildren. Every believer is a brother or sister to each other in Christ. He addressed Philemon as a dear friend and fellow worker. He called Apphia, who was probably Philemon’s wife, a sister. He spoke of Archippus, who many think was Philemon’s son and pastor of the local church, as a fellow soldier.
       All of these descriptions point to relationships that provided support and encouragement to Paul. They describe the way God intends His local church families to view themselves. Relationships in God’s family are there to rejoice with you when good things happen. They are there to weep with you and help in whatever way they can when bad things happen. The world is full of fair-weather friends. God’s family, transformed by the gospel is bound together to give support and receive support as you do life and ministry together.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)