Everyone has to work... in community

In this selection of Scripture we see Paul telling the Philippians of his plan to send Timothy to them. And then we see Paul’s expressed hope to go to Philippi as well. That’s what’s going on here. Just a nice practical passage, just a bit of pedantic record keeping. 

But this passage sits within a broader context of the entire letter and with some careful work we can see yet another example in Scripture about the importance of true community among Christians. Part of this broader context goes back a few weeks when Pastor Ky walked us through the truth of what it means to work out our salvation. Then last week Scott walked us through the idea of working out our salvation without grumbling. And in this passage we’ll look at the idea of working out our salvation within community. While we are doing that, we’ll examine this truth…

Community is essential for living the life to which we are called.

Now, Paul states his plan to send Timothy in verse 19, but Paul has already mentioned Timothy all the way back in verse 1 of chapter 1 where he links Timothy to himself as fellow servant of Jesus Christ.  When Paul introduces Timothy at the beginning of the letter as a servant of Christ, the Greek word used here is doulos. That word, doulos, is used three times in this letter and it’s the word for “slave”. 

Doulos is the same word that Paul uses in chapter verse 7 describing the position Jesus placed Himself in where he took the form of a servant. Paul actually uses the word slave to describe Jesus. And because the early Church understood that their aim as Christians was to become more Christ-like, this term, doulos, is used in the New Testament as a term that is meant to convey great honor. This high praise is how Paul describes Timothy both in 1:1 and in in our passage today in verse 22; as a slave, as someone who is completely sold out for Christ.

Paul also says of Timothy, that there is no one else like him, that he has proven his worth, that he has served Paul like a son. 

Timothy was a young man, maybe early twenties, when he began traveling with Paul. Timothy’s mom was Jewish, and his father was Greek. Presumably, because of this mixed heritage, little Timmy had not been circumcised on the eighth day as Jewish law required. Still, Timothy had been raised by his mother and his grandmother to know and honor God. The name Timothy even means “one who honors God”. 

Several scriptures indicate that it was Paul himself who led Timothy to Christ. Timothy went with Paul to Berea, Athens, and Jerusalem. Paul also often sent Timothy as his representative to several churches including Corinth, Thessalonica, and, as is mentioned in our passage today, Philippi. 

So we know a little about Timothy and that Paul plans to send him to Philippi. But why? Paul tells us in verse 19 that he is sending Timothy so that he, Paul, can be encouraged, so he can be cheered.

See, community is essential for living the life to which we are called because it provides fuel necessary for Kingdom work.

In chapter 2v17 Pauls says, “I rejoice and share my joy with you all.” And then challenges the church in Philippi to do the same. “I urge you” Paul says, “rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.” It’s in the context of learning of their joy that Paul expresses his hope to send Timothy so he can be cheered. 

It’s through community that Paul is sharing and receiving joy. This is a common theme for Paul. Paul is greatly encouraged when he learns of the faithfulness of the church. This is what it says in 1 Thessalonians chapter 3, starting at verse 1,

"Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ... But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you-- for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith."  - 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2, 6-7

Paul uses language like “when he could bear it no longer” and that he suffered “distress and affliction”. But he sends Timothy to get a report, just like he is doing here in Philippi. And then Timothy returns with his good report and Paul is comforted. Not only is Paul comforted, but God is glorified. Community magnifies the glory of God. When we come together as a community all confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord, this glorifies God the Father as Paul explained earlier in this chapter at verses 10 and 11.

Remember from last week that Paul extols us to be lights that shine like stars in the universe, saying, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

If we are supposed to be these lights in the world, we will shine brighter when we shine God’s light all together, as one community. We’ve all heard that lights shine brighter in darkness.  But there’s something else we need to consider about the connection between being a light and community: It can be hard to keep shining if we feel like we’re doing it alone. It can be hard to stay faithful, to walk in the good works God has prepared for us [Eph 2:1-10], without communal support. It’s not good for man to be alone. 

That truth is almost as old as human history. Back in the creation account God created the world and all that is in it over six days. Day 1, God made some stuff, and God said it was good. Day 2, more stuff and God said it was good. Day 3, Day 4, every single day of creation God made stuff and said it was good. Six times. And when God finished, He says that everything was “very Good.”

The first time ever in recorded history when God said something was “not good” was when he remarked that Adam was alone. 

"The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. … Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." - Genesis 2:15, 18

We see God created man and put him in the garden to work! But Adam is alone. It is not good to be alone in the work. Kingdom work is meant to be a group project. Community is essential for living the life to which we are called because it provides fuel necessary for Kingdom work.

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I heard once something to the effect that “the activity of the church is the ‘one anothering’ of one another.” These are things like “Honor one another,” “Instruct one another” “Carry each other’s burdens”, “Submit to one another”, on and on and on they go… about 60 times. We cannot obey these commands if we are not in community. This is the life that we are called to. 

Community is essential for living the life to which we are called, not only because it provides fuel necessary to Kingdom work, but because it also provides examples for us to follow. 

Remember, there’s the immediate context which indicates that Paul is sending Timothy to receive a report about the church of Philippi. But there’s also the broader context where it seems like there is a reason why it’s Timothy who is chosen to go. 

This is a long, difficult journey. It’s like 800 miles one way, over land and sea. It would take weeks. If Paul only had in mind receiving a report, then he could have sent anyone. But he’s not sending just anyone, he’s sending Timothy! Why? 

Because Timothy is already successfully living out the challenge that Paul issued at the beginning of this chapter. Look at verses 3 and 4,

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Compare the challenge that Paul issues with the way he describes Timothy. Starting in verse 20,

"For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel."

By God’s design, for most of us, the first community we encounter is family. Scripture is clear about the role family is meant to have in the sharing of the knowledge of God. Timothy’s own mother and grandmother are models of the faithful teaching of the things of God to their children. And Paul exalts their godly example saying in, 

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." - 2 Timothy 1:5

It is because of the example Timothy had in his mother and grandmother that Paul was eager to have Timothy join him despite his notable youth. Timothy had his first community, his family. He was also part of a community of believers. Those communities led to Timothy becoming Paul’s disciple. 

The need to be discipled, to have a “discipler”, is present throughout Scripture. We see examples in Moses and Joshua, Eli and Samuel, Samuel and David, Elijah and Elisha, and of course Jesus and His disciples. This need is felt in society so deeply that we see it all around us; students have teachers, players have coaches, in the business world there’s mentees and mentors. 

In the Christian context we have disciples and disciple makers. That’s the kind of relationship that Paul and Timothy have. But both Timothy and Paul had to have the right attitudes for that relationship to succeed. 

Paul’s role in the disciple-making process was to model what a mature Christian looks like and then patiently encourage Timothy to follow that example. Paul did not shelter his young disciple from the realities of ministry. Timothy got to experience the harsh realities and amazing wonders of serving God with a mature mentor. Paul modeled being a mature believer during their travels together, during their time in prison together, even when Timothy was pastoring a church at Ephesus, Paul continued to speak into Timothy’s life writing letters to him. 

The model of Paul and Timothy is an example for us still today. Most of us would benefit from a Paul in our lives. Find someone ahead of you in this Christian walk, and approach them with the Faithful, Available, Teachable attitude that Timothy portrayed. Learn from and walk beside a mature Christian. Similarly, if you’re a mature believer, find a Timothy. Look for someone to pour into that you can model Christ to. If you’re not yet in a position to model Christ to someone, finding a Paul like figure will be of tremendous benefit to you. 

Community is essential for living the life to which we are called because it provides examples for us to follow. 

Community becomes more real and more impactful the smaller it is. Not only do we need be involved in a local church, we need to develop closer, more meaningful community. 

And to go deeper in community, Crosspoint, like a lot of churches, provides community groups where we are really doing life together, where we can speak into each other’s lives, where we can be examples for each other. And then from the community groups, often special affections and attachments will be formed as we find “our people”. But ultimately our community should include being in close, personal, intentional disciple relationships. Just like Paul and Timothy.

This, by the way, is also what Jesus modeled. Jesus had all of these followers, often thousands of people that gathered around him. That is a community. But he had a core group of followers, the 12 disciples. And within the 12, we see a core group including Peter, James, and John. Jesus, as Paul points out, is the ultimate example for us to follow. And that’s where we want to keep our focus; on Jesus.

Community is essential for living the life to which we are called because it helps keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Today’s passage is bookended by Paul’s acknowledgment that though his heart is leading him to make plans, it is the Lord who establishes his steps. Paul submits to the sovereignty of God. As James clarifies in chapter 4, what we ought to say when making our plans is “If the Lord wills...” [Jas 4:15]. These aren’t magic words that we say so that our plans come to fruition, it’s acknowledging the reality that we do not know what tomorrow will bring. But God does. 

That doesn’t mean we don’t plan. Paul plans. But we submit our plans to the sovereignty of God. In verse 19, Paul plans to send Timothy, Lord willing. He hopes too, Lord willing, to come to Philippi himself. Paul is making plans, but he is more concerned with Christ’s agenda than his own. 

Paul wants to send Timothy to help the Philippians keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. Paul wants to come and join their community to help keep their eyes fixed on Jesus. And when Paul hears the reports of other churches, like the church at Philippi, it helps fix his eyes on Jesus. 

We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus because we need to remember what He accomplished on our behalf. It’s because of what Jesus accomplished, his perfect life, his atoning death, his conquering resurrection that we even get to be in community, both in the godly community of the Church, Christ’s bride, and with God. It’s because of the work of Jesus that we even have a Christian life that we are called to, and Community is essential for living out that life.