Welcome to week 2 of our series through Philippians! Last week we looked at what Paul meant when he said, “to live is Christ.” It wasn’t about survival or success, or even suffering. It was about being anchored in Jesus. Living and love the way Jesus did! This week we look at what it means to Live as Christ Together.

Paul was in prison, chained, waiting, uncertain of his outcome, yet he managed to find joy. Not because life was easy and everything was going according to plan. But because people were meeting Jesus through him.

Joy in the Middle

What Paul was NOT saying is; “If I follow Jesus, nothing bad will happen.” Instead, he was saying that even in the middle of a storm, I can love people the way Jesus loved.

This is where his joy came from. Not from his circumstanced, but from living out love.

Pastor Nicole put it this way: To live is Christ is just more educated way of saying; “Be people to people who need people.”

And that brings us to Philippians 2.

Unity

Paul writes to the church in Philippi. This wasn’t a back water town in the middle of nowhere. Philippi was a Roman colony. A colony centered on power, pride, and status.

Loyalty to Caesar was everything. Religion and politics were deeply entangled. And success and honor were the highest goals! This mindset began to make its way into the community of believers in Philippi.

In the competition, division, and one-upmanship Paul makes a plea! “If you’ve gotten anything from Christ—if you care at all—then love each other. Be deep-spirited friends.”

He wasn’t asking for uniformity or conformity. He celebrated diversity. Paul was calling for unity in heart and spirit, through humility.

The Christ Hymn

To drive his point home, Paul quoted a song the church already knew; They Christ Hymn.

Though he was God, he did not cling to power.
He let it go.
Jesus took on humanity.
Humbling himself.
Chasing the cross.

And then God raised him up, giving him the name above every name.

This hymn wasn’t just theology. It was worship! A reminder that greatness is not found in climbing higher, but in bending lower in service to others.

Working it Out Together

Paul tells them (and us), to work out your salvation. Not work FOR it. Work it out… bring to the surface what God has already put deep inside us. Freedom. Salvation. Belonging!

Paul’s words and tone make it clear that this is not a solo project. It is a group effort. Together, our community mines out the good news that ALL PEOPLE belong, ALL PEOPLE matter, and ALL PEOPLE are loved.

The Holy Spirit does the inside work. We do the outside work. Together.

Defiant Joy

Paul was in prison for preaching Jesus. For speaking truth to power. And for defying the systems that kept people down. He had every reason to complain, but instead he rejoiced!

Not because his pain wasn’t real. But because his hope was rooted in Christ. Joy and hope became acts of defiance against fear and injustice.

That’s how people survived them. That is how we’ll survive now. With our community, our people. With Christ. Together!