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Reflections
Note: We do not have Pastor Josh Lilly’s devotional questions at the time of this upload. The questions below have been prepared to follow the pattern of the series based on the sermon content.
Sermon: Gospel Partnership — Partners in the Gospel!
Text: Philippians 1:3–11
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
— Philippians 1:3–11
Day 1 — Partnership in the Gospel: Koinonia
Read: Philippians 1:3–5; Philippians 4:14–16; Acts 16:11–15
1. The Greek word behind “partnership” is koinonia—fellowship, sharing, participation. How is this deeper than simply “being friendly” at church?
2. Paul thanks God for the Philippians’ partnership “from the first day until now.” What does a decade-long gospel partnership look like in ordinary church life today?
3. The Philippians uniquely supported Paul financially and by sending Epaphroditus. In what ways does gospel partnership involve both giving and receiving?
4. The sermon emphasized that meaningful membership has far more to do with relationships than with rosters or budgets. How does this challenge common ideas of church membership?
5. What is one practical way you can move from being a spectator or occasional attender toward genuine partnership in the gospel this month?
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of gospel partnership. Forgive me when I treat the local church as optional or transactional. Teach me to share in the work of the gospel with joy, giving and receiving as You have given to me in Christ.
Day 2 — Gratitude and Joy for One Another
Read: Philippians 1:3–4; 1 Thessalonians 1:2–3; Colossians 1:3–4
1. Paul says, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” Why does he thank God rather than merely thanking the people themselves?
2. The sermon asked: When is the last time you stopped and considered who you are thankful to God for in this church—and then told them? How would answering that question change your relationships?
3. One of the greatest gifts we can give one another is “faithful presence.” What does faithful presence look like in a season when life is busy or difficult?
4. Jesus said that what we do to the least of these we do to Him (Matthew 25:40). How does serving a brother or sister in the body become an act of serving Christ Himself?
5. Who in your church family has God placed on your heart this week? How can you specifically express gratitude to God for them and to them?
Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to see the people You have given me in this body as gifts from Your hand. Help me to thank You for them and to tell them. Make me a person of faithful presence who serves others as unto You.
Day 3 — Confidence in the God Who Completes His Work
Read: Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28–30; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24
1. Paul is “sure of this”—that He who began a good work will bring it to completion. Where does his confidence ultimately rest: in the Philippians’ fruit or in God’s character?
2. How does the “golden chain” of Romans 8:29–30 (foreknew → predestined → called → justified → glorified) give you confidence that God finishes what He starts?
3. The sermon noted that the Philippians were not perfect (Euodia and Syntyche later). How does knowing that remaining sin is not the final story change the way you relate to imperfect people in the church?
4. When you look in the mirror on Monday morning and see remaining sin, how does Philippians 1:6 produce both humility and hope?
5. Who in your life right now is difficult to love or seems “stuck”? How can confidence in God’s completing work help you exercise patience and look for fruit rather than only inspecting sin?
Prayer: Father, I confess that I often place confidence in visible fruit or in my own progress. Anchor my hope in You—the God who began a good work and will complete it. Help me look at myself and others with the humility and patience that flow from Your faithfulness.
Day 4 — Looking for Fruit, Not Just Sin
Read: Philippians 1:6–7; Galatians 5:22–23; Ephesians 4:1–3
1. The sermon warned against becoming mere “sin inspectors.” Why is it easier to notice remaining sin than to look for evidence of grace in one another?
2. Paul sees the Philippians as “partakers with me of grace.” How does viewing fellow believers primarily as sharers in grace change your posture toward them?
3. When people “look good from afar” but show “warts and wrinkles” up close, what temptation arises? How does gospel partnership call us to stay rather than withdraw?
4. The church asks for testimonies in membership because we need evidence that the Holy Spirit lives within. Why is this more important than filling seats or helping with budgets?
5. Think of one person in your church who has frustrated you recently. What evidence of God’s grace can you intentionally look for and thank God for in them this week?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, open my eyes to see the fruit of Your work in the lives of my brothers and sisters. Guard me from a critical spirit. Help me to celebrate grace, exercise patience, and stay present even when relationships feel messy.
Day 5 — Deep Affection of Christ Jesus
Read: Philippians 1:7–8; John 13:34–35; 1 John 4:7–12
1. Paul says he holds the Philippians “in my heart” and yearns for them “with the affection of Christ Jesus.” What does it mean that the affection itself is Christ’s?
2. The sermon noted that Paul leads with affection rather than burying it at the end of the letter. How does starting with love set the tone for everything else in relationships?
3. Remaining sin can turn closeness into a desire to stay away. How do we jump into relationships with a gospel lens so that affection grows instead of erodes?
4. We cannot remain at the edges of church life and expect deep relationships to appear. What “edges” are you currently lingering on, and what would moving toward the center look like?
5. Whose burdens, growth, or future do you currently care about? How can you demonstrate growing affection for that person this week in a concrete way?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your affection for Your people is perfect and steadfast. Share that same affection with me. Help me not to remain at the edges but to move toward others with the love that comes from You, even when it feels costly or messy.
Day 6 — Love Abounding with Knowledge and Discernment
Read: Philippians 1:9–10; Colossians 1:9–10; Hebrews 5:14
1. Paul prays that their love would “abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” Why must love grow not only in quantity but also in wisdom?
2. What is the difference between knowledge (of God and His truth) and discernment (knowing how to apply that knowledge in specific situations)?
3. The sermon described discernment as knowing when to encourage and when to correct, when to be patient and when to speak up. Which of these do you most need growth in right now?
4. Christian maturity never reaches final perfection until Jesus returns. How does this truth keep us from both pride (“I’ve arrived”) and despair (“I’ll never grow”)?
5. Who in your life needs you to pray Philippians 1:9–11 for them this week? How can you begin praying this pattern regularly for a spouse, child, or church member?
Prayer: Father, grow my love so that it abounds more and more—with knowledge of You and discernment for every situation. Teach me when to speak and when to wait, when to encourage and when to correct, always for the building up of Your people and the glory of Christ.
Day 7 — Living with the Day of Christ in View
Read: Philippians 1:10–11; 2 Peter 3:10–14; 1 John 3:2–3
1. Paul wants the Philippians to be “pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” How does keeping the return of Jesus in view change what we consider important in the church?
2. The sermon asked: If Christ returned today, which of the matters most consuming my attention would still actually matter? How does this question expose secondary concerns?
3. Why do churches so easily turn “molehills” (music style, number of songs, facility preferences, service times) into mountains? How does the day of Christ relativize these things?
4. The fruit of righteousness “comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” How does this keep our pursuit of maturity from becoming self-focused moralism?
5. What is one secondary issue that has been distracting you from the main work of growing in Christ and helping others grow? How can you release it this week in light of the day of Christ?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are coming again. Keep the day of Christ before my eyes so that I do not waste energy on what will not last. Fill me with the fruit of righteousness that comes through You alone, and use me to help others grow—for the glory and praise of God.
Family or Group Discussion
1. Which aspect of gospel partnership do you most need to grow in right now: gratitude for others, confidence in God’s completing work, deepening affection, or praying and laboring for one another’s maturity?
2. The sermon said gospel-shaped churches are strengthened by ordinary believers who choose to be faithful to one another through changing seasons. How have you experienced (or failed to experience) this kind of faithfulness?
3. How can our family or small group help one another move from the edges of church life into deeper partnership? What practical rhythms of presence, gratitude, or prayer could we build together?
4. Who in your life needs encouragement this week to jump into gospel partnership rather than remaining isolated or at a safe distance?
5. How can you pray for them and gently invite them closer?
Weekly Practice
Thank God for specific people in the body.
Trust that He who began a good work will complete it.
Grow in affection by moving toward others.
Pray Philippians 1:9–11 for at least one person this week.
Know it deeply. Submit to it gladly. Trust its sufficiency completely.
Grateful hearts. Confident hope. Deepening affection. Mature love—together, to the glory and praise of God.