Being Thankful, Causing Thankfulness

Bible Text: Philippians 1:3-5

Acts 16:1(10)-40 — founding of church at Philippi during 2nd “missionary” journey
- Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke
- Lydia, girl, and jailor
Luke apparently stays here
Gifts sent to Paul at Thessalonica twice
Timothy and Silas sent back to Thessalonica and Philippi various times
Paul probably stops through on way back to Jerusalem on 3rd journey
Paul jailed in Caesarea (2yrs)
Paul sails to Rome
Under “house arrest” in Rome (2yrs)
Paul’s circumstances worsen toward end of first imprisonment
Philippians send gift to Paul with Epaphroditus (gets sick, they hear, etc.)
Paul writes Philippians

Vs. 1:1-2 – Servants, Saints, Salutations (Grace, Peace)

I thank my God

upon every remembrance of you, (Which, When)
- Repetition (recent Epaphroditus and gift)
- Relationships
- Everytime and all of them make me thankful
always in every prayer of mine for you all (making request with joy,) (Where, How)
- Every memory and prayer was joyful
- It brings joy to make requests for others
  - It is more blessed to give than to receive
  - Even in prayer, there is more joy in asking for others, for Christ’s sake also
for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; (Why)
- Fellowship=Communion/Participation
- Receiving
  - Apostle, chief of sinners, never forgot where he’d come from
  - Prophet
  - Young man
  - Doctor
  - Wealthy businesswoman
  - Demon-possessed slave girl
  - Roman prison guard
  - Sons of God; joint heirs with Christ
- Financing
  - Acts 16:14-15
  - Philippians 4:15-16
  - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
  - Prayers vs. 1:19
  - Philippians 4:10-11
  - Epaphroditus vs. 2:25
- Relating
  - Witness vs. 1:27; 2:15
  - Worship vs. 2:17-18
  - Suffering vs. 1:29-30

Are you thankful? Paul was.

Are you causing thankfulness? The Philippians did.

Receive the gospel; obey it; it will change you
Finance the gospel (out of poverty)
- Give money
- Give sons
- Give time
- Give ability
Spread the gospel
- True worship
- Real witnessing
- Graceful suffering

being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart;
inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

And this I pray,

that your love may abound yet more and more
- in knowledge and
- in all judgment;
that ye may approve things that are excellent;
that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ,
unto the glory and praise of God.