Embracing Gospel Partnership: A Call to Community
Summary
Over the past thirteen years, God has been at work in our church, bringing us through seasons of fruitfulness, struggle, and even near-death. Yet, in His kindness, He has breathed new life into us, and we are witnessing a fresh movement of the Spirit—lives changed, people coming to faith, and the church growing in both number and depth. Stories like Caleb’s, a college student whose life was transformed by the gospel and who is now reaching his fraternity, remind us that God’s work is personal and powerful. These stories are not isolated; they are the fruit of gospel partnership—both within our church and with others in the body of Christ.
At the heart of our life together is the truth that Jesus created us for gospel partnership. This is not an optional add-on to the Christian life, but fundamental to our identity and mission. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written to a specific local church, underscores that the local church is God’s “Plan A” for bringing the gospel to the world. We are not just individuals saved in isolation; we are saints, made righteous in Christ, and brought into a family. The gospel is not merely the starting point of our faith, but the ongoing reality in which we live, grow, and serve. We never “graduate” from the gospel; it is the pool we swim in, not just the diving board.
Paul models for us a life of servanthood, humility, and deep affection for the church. He reminds us that gospel partnership is more than surface-level fellowship—it is a unified, sacrificial, and enduring commitment to one another. This partnership is expressed in practical care, encouragement, and shared mission. It is the means by which God sustains us in the “middle moments” of life—those seasons of suffering, sin, or uncertainty—reminding us that He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion. The church is not a consumer product to be sampled or discarded, but a covenant family in which we are called to invest, serve, and be known.
In a world marked by loneliness and isolation, the gospel calls us into authentic community. Whether you are new to faith, exploring partnership, or already deeply invested, the invitation is the same: step off the sidelines and into the life of the family of God. Jesus is not done with you, and He is using His church to bring you—and others—to the fullness of life in Him.
Key Takeaways
- Gospel partnership is not optional; it is essential to the Christian life. God’s design is that we would be rooted in a local church, experiencing both the joys and challenges of living out our faith together. The local church is God’s primary means for advancing the gospel and shaping us into Christlikeness. [05:59]
- The gospel is not just the entry point to Christianity, but the ongoing reality that shapes every aspect of our lives. We never outgrow our need for grace, forgiveness, and the transforming power of Jesus. True spiritual maturity is marked by continual repentance and dependence on Christ, not by moving beyond the gospel. [10:23]
- Genuine partnership in the gospel is marked by sacrificial love, practical care, and encouragement. When God brings someone to mind, it is often a prompt to pray for them, encourage them, or serve them in tangible ways. This kind of partnership sustains us in our darkest moments and reflects the heart of Christ to one another. [14:49]
- Our hope is anchored in the faithfulness of God, who promises to complete the work He began in us. Even when we are in the “middle”—struggling with sin, suffering, or uncertainty—we can trust that Jesus is not finished with us. The church is the context in which God applies this hope, reminding us that we are not alone and that our story is not over. [16:37]
- The epidemic of loneliness in our culture is answered by the community of the gospel. We were created for relationship—with God and with one another. Stepping into gospel partnership means moving from consumerism to covenant, from isolation to family, and from passivity to active participation in the mission and life of the church. [41:00]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - God’s Faithfulness Through Seasons
[03:30] - Stories of Life Change: Caleb’s Testimony
[05:59] - The Local Church: God’s Plan A
[08:00] - Saints and the Family of God
[10:23] - Never Graduating from the Gospel
[12:30] - The Ongoing Work of Salvation
[14:49] - Encouragement and Joy in Partnership
[16:37] - Practical Steps: Encouraging One Another
[19:00] - The Depth of Gospel Partnership
[22:30] - Caring for Each Other in Crisis
[25:00] - God’s Faithfulness in the Middle
[28:30] - From Consumerism to Covenant
[32:00] - The Call to Join the Family
[41:00] - Created for Community and Gospel Partnership
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Created for Gospel Partnership
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### Bible Reading
Philippians 1:1-8 (ESV)
> 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
> 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
> 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
> 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
> 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
> 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
> 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
> 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Philippians 1:1-2, who is Paul writing to, and how does he describe himself and the recipients?
2. What does Paul say is the reason for his joy and thankfulness when he remembers the Philippians? (see v.5)
3. In verse 6, what is Paul confident that God will do for the Philippians?
4. The sermon described the local church as “God’s Plan A” for bringing the gospel to the world. What evidence from the passage or the sermon supports this idea? [[05:59]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize that he is a “servant of Christ Jesus” rather than highlighting his authority or status? How does this shape our understanding of leadership and partnership in the church? [[05:59]]
2. The sermon said, “We never graduate from the gospel; it is the pool we swim in, not just the diving board.” What does it mean for the gospel to be an ongoing reality in the Christian life, not just the starting point? [[10:23]]
3. How does gospel partnership go beyond just “fellowship” or surface-level connection? What are some practical ways this partnership is lived out, according to Paul and the sermon? [[14:49]]
4. Paul expresses confidence that “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” How does this promise give hope to believers who are in the “middle moments” of life—times of struggle, suffering, or uncertainty? [[16:37]]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon shared stories of people whose lives were changed through the church’s gospel partnership, like Caleb and his fraternity. Who in your life might God be calling you to reach out to, encourage, or invite into deeper community? What’s one step you could take this week? [[03:30]]
2. Paul models a life of servanthood and humility. In what areas of your life do you find it hard to serve others or put their needs before your own? What would it look like to take a step toward servanthood this week? [[05:59]]
3. The sermon challenged us to move from being “consumers” of church to being “covenant family.” In what ways do you tend to approach church as a consumer? What is one tangible way you could invest more deeply in the life of this church family? [[28:30]]
4. When God brings someone to your mind, the sermon encouraged you to see it as a prompt to pray, encourage, or serve them. Can you think of someone God has brought to your mind recently? How could you act on that prompting this week? [[14:49]]
5. The message said, “We never outgrow our need for grace, forgiveness, and the transforming power of Jesus.” Is there an area of your life where you’ve been trying to “move past” the gospel or handle things on your own? How can you return to dependence on Christ in that area? [[10:23]]
6. The sermon talked about the epidemic of loneliness and how the church is meant to be the answer. Have you ever felt isolated, even while being part of a church? What helped you, or what could help you, move from isolation to authentic community? [[41:00]]
7. Paul’s confidence in God’s faithfulness gave him hope in hard times. Is there a “middle moment” you’re facing right now—an area of struggle, sin, or uncertainty? How can this group support you and remind you that “Jesus is not done with you”? [[16:37]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for the gift of gospel partnership and the local church. Ask Him to help each person move from the sidelines into deeper community, to serve one another, and to trust that He will complete the good work He has started in each of us.
Devotional
Day 1: You Were Created for Gospel Partnership
God designed every believer not for isolation, but for deep, committed partnership within a local church family. The local church is not an optional add-on to the Christian life; it is God’s “Plan A” for bringing the gospel to the world and for shaping us into the likeness of Christ. Through the church, we are not only forgiven but also brought into a family where we belong, serve, and are served. This partnership is not just a loose association, but a covenantal relationship where we share life, joys, and burdens, reflecting the very heart of God’s communal nature. [05:59]
Philippians 1:1-2 (ESV)
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection: In what ways have you treated church as optional or consumeristic, and what would it look like for you to intentionally commit to gospel partnership in your local church family this week?
Day 2: Continue in the Gospel—Don’t Graduate from Grace
The gospel is not just the entry point to Christianity; it is the foundation and the ongoing power for the entire Christian life. Many treat the gospel as the “ABCs” or the diving board, but in reality, it is the “A to Z” and the pool itself. We never move past our need for Jesus’ grace, forgiveness, and transforming power. Every day is an invitation to repent, believe, and trust that Jesus is better than anything the world offers. The Christian life is a continual returning to the good news: Jesus in my place, for my sin, bringing me into God’s family. [10:23]
Romans 6:16-18 (ESV)
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Reflection: Where in your life have you tried to “move on” from the gospel, and how can you intentionally return to the truth of Jesus’ grace and your daily need for Him today?
Day 3: Encourage and Pray for One Another in Gospel Partnership
Gospel partnership is marked by active encouragement, thankfulness, and prayer for one another. When God brings someone to mind, it is not by accident—He is inviting you to pray for them and to reach out with encouragement. This simple act of obedience can transform relationships and foster a culture of joy and support within the church. Imagine a church where every member regularly thanks God for others and tells them so, building each other up in love and joy, especially in times of darkness or difficulty. [14:49]
Philippians 1:3-5 (ESV)
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Reflection: Who has God brought to your mind today? Will you take a moment to pray for them and send a message of encouragement, letting them know you thank God for them?
Day 4: God Finishes What He Starts—Hope in Ongoing Salvation
God’s work in your life is not a one-time event but an ongoing process. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This means that your salvation, sanctification, and ultimate glorification are all in God’s faithful hands. Even when you feel stuck in the “middle”—between what God has done and what He will do—you can have unwavering hope that Jesus has not forgotten you and will finish His work in you, no matter your current struggles or suffering. [16:37]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel “in the middle” or unfinished? How does trusting God’s promise to complete His work in you change your perspective or actions today?
Day 5: Gospel Partnership Means Sacrificial, Unified Love
True gospel partnership is not about uniformity, but about unity in Christ that transcends differences. It is a deep, sacrificial love that cares for one another in practical ways—meeting needs, sharing burdens, and walking together through suffering and joy. This partnership is the antidote to loneliness and isolation, reflecting the love of Christ to a watching world. You were created for this kind of community, and God calls you to move from the sidelines into active, sacrificial participation in the family of God. [20:00]
Acts 2:44-47 (ESV)
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Reflection: What is one practical, sacrificial step you can take this week to care for someone in your church family, moving deeper into gospel partnership and unity?
Quotes
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