Over the past year, I’ve had the great pleasure of studying the book of Philippians with different men in the church. I’ve found it to be a book filled with timely encouragements and so I’d like to share those with you in a new sermon series starting this Sunday.
 
I’m excited to study this part of God’s Word with you for three reasons:

First, this is a book that points us clearly to the unsurpassed worth of Jesus. Paul comes off in Philippians as a man obsessed (in the best possible way) with Jesus. There is no one or no thing as valuable as Jesus. We see Paul’s marvelous obsession spring off the pages of this letter. In chapter one, Paul says that what matters most to him is that Jesus is exalted. In chapter two, Paul lays before us the example of Jesus laying down his life for the good of others. In chapter three, Paul insists that knowing Christ and being credited with his righteousness is the greatest treasure a person can have. In chapter four, Paul points to Jesus as the one in whom we find our true and lasting peace. Philippians is a great book for stoking our love and worship of Jesus. 

Second, Philippians is a book for people in search of joy. Paul, even though he writes while imprisoned, is able to write of his reasons for joy and rejoicing (many have called Philippians the epistle of joy!). This has been a difficult year and many of you are finding yourselves joy-depleted; yet, Paul shows us in his own trial how we can find true joy in affliction because of Jesus.
 
Third, Philippians is a book that speaks about Christian relationships. The devil has been working feverishly over the past six months to sabotage our unity in the gospel. When Paul writes the church at Philippi, he knows that there are internal tensions and external oppositions to their life together; so, Paul speaks to how we should stand together and relate to one another in such circumstances.
 
Of course, a lot more can (and will :-) !) be said about Philippians in the coming weeks, but I think these are three specific reasons that this letter should be preached now in the life of our congregation (here another Pastor gives six reasons for preaching through Philippians).
           
I would encourage you to take some time to read through this book so you can anticipate some of the places we’ll be exploring together. This Sunday, we’ll start our study by looking at Paul’s prayers for his fellow believers from Philippians 1:1–11. I’m looking forward to it and I hope you are, too! 
           
In Christ,
 
Pastor Wayne