It Takes a Church (Philippians 1:27-30)
Big Idea: We can tell we’re living as heaven’s citizens when we are united, fearless, and missional.
Purpose: To commit to living a missional lifestyle
1. We are called to live as heaven’s citizens in Canada (27)
TNIV – “As citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ” – The Philippians lived in a free Roman city (1 of only 5 cities in Macedonia) and understood the privileges of citizenship – right to be governed by direct law, freedom from direct taxation
They would have felt pressure to conform to the expectations of the Roman citizenship, and would have been seen as bad citizens
Paul elevates our status: We have all the privileges of citizenship in heaven; We are resident aliens in this earth
Paul challenges us to live our lives as if we are heaven’s citizens living in Canada
2. We can know whether or not we are living this way (27-30)
Test One: United (27b)
We need a common disposition and purpose
Especially when under attack, we need each other. We cannot do this alone.
IMAGE: Local church as a team of athletes, each one doing their job, working consistently, co-operatively, confidently
Two unity busters: Lack of focus on the goal, thinking we can win by ourselves
To do this, we need more than gathering on Sunday mornings. We are to be: in relationship and on mission
Test Two: Fearless (28-30)
The reason we need to be fearless: we will suffer
People will oppose us (28)
Suffering is a privilege of citizenship (29)
We are not alone (30) – When we suffer for Christ’s sake, we are in solidarity with others who suffer around the world
Courage buster: co-operation with the opposing team
Test Three: Missional (27b)
Message “contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news”
These three marks are evidence of our salvation (28)
We can tell we’re living as heaven’s citizens when we are united, fearless, and missional.
It takes a church! My picture of a church: coming together to support each other in living this way.
If mission is the game, the game is not played in church. Church is the half-time, preparing us to go out and live missionally the rest of the time.
Missional Confession
We believe that this church is a community of God’s people, here for a purpose. We have been blessed to be a blessing.
As the Father has sent Jesus into the world, Jesus sends us into the world. The Holy Spirit empowers us to carry out Jesus’ mission.
Jesus calls us to be different from the world, yet in relationship with people in our world. He asks us to make lifestyle adjustments – to love people, serve others, and to eliminate distractions from mission.
We commit to do this together, with courage and unity. May God grant us courage!
