Series: On The Way to Joy: A Study in Philippians

01/20/08 | Tim Schaaf

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"More people watch Friends (on TV) than have them."

Robert Putnam Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital"

• Americans were visiting bowling alleys than ever before,10 percent more in fact, between 1980 and 1993
• Players in leagues had declined by a whopping 40 percent.

• Playing cards together is down 25%
• Evening with the neighbors is down 33%
• Family dinners are down 33%
• Having friends over down 45%
• Readiness of average American to make new friends down 33% from 1985-1999

The year after Putnam's journal article was published, 48 prominent intellectuals, journalists, historians and sociologists were called to the University of Pennsylvania to discuss "the explosion of incivility" in American society.

"Incivility and coarseness are a continuation of behaviors that have always been with us," the committee conceded. "However, these behaviors are greatly amplified by the new economic dynamics of mass markets, by the new technologies of mass communication and by laissez-faire governmental policies."

1.  Paul Had Reason to Be Cynical About Community

• Mis-Treated By Jewish Christians after his conversion
• Continued mistreatment by Jews and Jewish Christians throughout his ministry
• Abandoned in Rome

• He accomplished more by himself.
• He could hand pick a few capable men and women
• He could pray and have individual experiences with God

But every time he was involved in community he felt the sting.

"Where two or three are gathered in my name ...

... there is drama."

2.  When Has Community Stung You?

Perhaps it is easy for those who have never felt the stinging dart of segregation to say, "Wait." But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate-filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters; when you see the vast majority of your twenty million Negro brothers smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society; when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six- year-old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to concoct an answer for a five-year-old son who is asking: "Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?"; when you take a cross-country drive and find it necessary to sleep night after night in the uncomfortable corners of your automobile because no motel will accept you; when you are humiliated day in and day out by nagging signs reading "white" and "colored"; when your first name becomes "nigger," your middle name becomes "boy" (however old you are) and your last name becomes "John," and your wife and mother are never given the respected title "Mrs."; when you are harried by day and haunted by night by the fact that you are a Negro, living constantly at tiptoe stance, never quite knowing what to expect next, and are plagued with inner fears and outer resentments; when you are forever fighting a degenerating sense of "nobodiness" then you will understand why we find it difficult to wait. There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience. "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" (April 16, 1963).  (Thanks to John Piper for recommending this quote)

3.  We aren't left off the hook when it comes to community.

 "To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, TOGETHER with the overseers and deacons."

Community is important ... especially when we pray.

We can't have attitudes like this:

            In the garden alone

            If its gonna be, its gonna be me.

Paul's prayer - intensely community centered.

More time spent talking about the people than he does about God.

Prayer Tip - We never pray in a vacuum.  We pray in community, even when we are alone.

Example: Eph 1:15-21

"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:15-21, NIV)

4.  Christian Community is the Great Detour of History

Obvious Route - Cross to Glory

"There won't be churches or temples in the new universe, not because they're bad, but because they won't be necessary. We won't need to be drawn into God's presence. We'll live there, constantly and consciously."  - Randy Alcorn, Heaven

Jesus' Route - Cross to Church to Greater Glory

5.  What Does the Detour Add?

#1 The Detour Adds Partnership (v.3-6)

"In this world two things are essential: a healthy life and friendship. God created humans so that they might exist and live: this is life. But if they are not to remain solitary, there must be friendship." -Augustine

"I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the fist day until now"

Community, then, is much more than coming together for events in which we exchange data, or share social activities or even give one another temporary emotional support.  Community is life together. It is conducting the daily activities of life with other believers. It means preparing and eating meals together and then cleaning up afterward. It means doing the innumerable practical tasks of household maintenance, and helping one another develop homes that are real havens. It means walking, talking, and exchanging counsel. It means spontaneous as well as structured time together. It means play.  (Tim Keller)

"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

• The detour is safe because Jesus holds both ends of the rope.

Example: Mountain Climbing-being roped together

• Front-Guy need to know the path. Top notch mountaineer
• Second best guy goes in the back
• Anchor
• Holds people together
• Encourages the line
• If anyone falls, he digs in and makes sure no one goes to far

• Jesus is the guy in the front
• - The Author and Pioneer of our salvation
• Jesus is the guy in back
• - Anchor, Rock
• Jesus is the rope
• - We are attached to Him, by Him and walking with Him.

#2  The Detour Adds Emotion (v.7-8)

"It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

This paragraph is messy for me.

Easy to point out what Paul is doing:

• In prison for preaching the Gospel
• He is defending the faith and confirming the gospel
• He receives God's grace

But that's not what Paul is talking about.

He is talking about his emotions.

Emotions can be difficult.

What is love?

Dallas Willard - Love "is will to good or bene-volence."

            Bene = Good

            Volition = Will

"We love something or someone when we promote its good for its own sake."

#3  The Detour Adds Activity

Love may abound

What does this look like?

• Knowledge
• Depth of insight
• Discern what is best
• Be pure & blameless

Filled up with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Jesus could have taken the obvious route: from Cross to Glory

Instead he decided to take a painful and messy detour called COMMUNITY.

1 - Join Jesus' Community of Faith

2- Build Community for Jesus

            Here at CGS

            In your community