Partnering with Your Minister in the Gospel — Philippians 1:1-7
BY ZACH KEELE | A beautiful and harmonious partnership exists between the members of a congregation and their minister, senders and sent. Here's why your pastor needs you.
We have a host of different relationships from family to church, from classmates to coworkers, but not all of these relationships bring us joy.
Sure, some folk we don’t care for, and they don’t like us. Other relationships aren’t that close. But there is the person that makes you groan a little bit inside. You see their name calling on your phone and you sigh, “Ugh.” You care for them and you can’t cut them out of your life, but the relationship is trying, difficult, and laborious. Paul had this relationship with other churches.
In his letter to the Galatians Paul lamented that he had to give birth to the saints all over again in the gospel. He and the Corinthians were consistently in tension. They would get into trouble, Paul would fix it, and then they would bad-mouth Paul in favor of a more eloquent preacher. The memories Paul shared with other congregations stirred up tears and frustration.
But not so with the Philippians; their shared history was permeated with gratitude and joy…