“Elevate: Partner Up”
SERMON Title: Elevate: Partner Up
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:1-8 ESV
Introduction
One of the most important truths about our humanity is that we were created for relationships — deep, meaningful relationships filled with love, trust, and mutual care. Even in the perfection of Eden, before sin entered the world, God identified one thing that was not good: Adam was alone. From the beginning, God designed people to flourish through committed and loving relationships.
Modern research reflects this biblical truth. Children who are unable to bond with stable caregivers experience profound emotional and psychological harm, and their development can suffer in devastating ways. Even in adult relationships, such as marriage, when two people drift apart, it feels like something inside is dying — because relational disconnection truly affects us mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. We deteriorate without connection because God made us for it.
And just as relationship is essential for human life, it is essential for spiritual life. We cannot grow as healthy Christians or function as a healthy church without deep fellowship. This is why Paul’s relationship with the Philippian church is so meaningful. Many scholars believe that Philippians is Paul’s warmest letter, written to a church he considered uniquely close to his heart. From the moment Paul begins, we can sense the affection, history, and mutual love shared between them.
At first, his greeting may seem like a standard opening, but when we look more closely, Paul is actually teaching us what healthy, gospel-shaped relationships look like. Today we will focus on two parts of Paul’s opening:
Paul’s greeting and what it reveals about his relationship with the Philippians.
Their shared partnership in the gospel.
1. Paul’s Greeting
The opening of Philippians follows the typical ancient format: the senders, the recipients, and a greeting. Yet Paul shapes each part intentionally to reflect the depth and unity of their relationship.
a. Senders of the Letter
Paul identifies the senders as “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.” Although Paul is the clear author — shown by his consistent use of “I,” “my,” and “me” — Timothy is included for a significant reason.
Timothy was with Paul in Acts 16 when the gospel first came to Philippi. He witnessed Lydia’s conversion, the deliverance of the slave girl, and the dramatic salvation of the Philippian jailer and his household. Timothy saw the church’s birth with his own eyes. Over the next ten years, he continued to build a relationship with them, and Paul planned to send him back soon (Phil. 2:19–22). The Philippians trusted Timothy deeply, just as they trusted Paul.
Including Timothy shows us something important: meaningful relationships take time. Their friendship wasn’t instant — it took a decade of shared ministry, suffering, prayer, and service.
In the church today, we often long for deep community and feel discouraged when relationships don’t form overnight. But gospel relationships grow slowly — through patience, consistent presence, and mutual investment. As a church, if we imagine what our relationships could look like in five, ten, or twenty years, we can grow with hope. What Paul and Timothy shared with the Philippians can become true for us as we invest in one another for the long haul.
b. Recipients of the Letter
Paul addresses “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons” (1:1). This is the only time Paul includes church leaders in the greeting. He is not emphasizing hierarchy but unity — the entire church, leaders and members together, are partners in the gospel.
This paints a picture of how a church should function. We are not a collection of separate ministries, personalities, or roles. We are one body. Whether you serve as an officer, LifeGroup leader, ministry volunteer, worship team member, or faithful attendee, we all share the same mission and calling.
Paul also calls himself and Timothy “servants of Christ Jesus,” demonstrating humility. True leadership in the church is not about authority or position but about serving others and helping them flourish. When both leaders and members adopt a servant-hearted posture, the church becomes a place of genuine unity and shared purpose.
c. Greeting
Instead of a generic greeting, Paul writes, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This greeting is not a polite formality — it is a theological foundation.
Grace is God’s generous action toward us, undeserved and unearned. Peace is the resulting experience of wholeness, flourishing, and spiritual rest that flows from receiving God’s grace. Paul begins by reminding them that their entire relationship, unity, and spiritual growth are rooted in God’s gracious work.
Only after grounding them in this gospel reality does Paul move to describe their relationship — one defined not only by affection but by mission.
2. Partnership in the Gospel
Paul says in verses 3–4 that he always prays for the Philippians with joy. Why? Because of their partnership in the gospel “from the first day until now” (v.5). Their bond was not simply emotional — it was missional.
From the moment they believed, the Philippians joined Paul in spreading the gospel in their city. Their partnership continued as they supported Paul during his ministry and imprisonment. They stood with him in both the joys and the hardships of gospel work. This is why Paul says they are “partakers with me of grace” (v.7). They shared his burdens and his mission.
Then Paul gives the powerful promise of verse 6:
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Their unity and mission were grounded in God’s initiating and sustaining grace.
Many Christians today desire deeper relationships in the church, and we try to cultivate them through meals, gatherings, and programs — all of which are good. But Paul shows us a deeper truth: relationships grow deepest when we partner in the gospel together.
What does that look like? Three main ways:
Worship Together
When we gather to worship wholeheartedly, the Spirit unites us. Singing, praying, and hearing God’s Word together shapes us and strengthens our bond.
Pray Together
Prayer creates spiritual vulnerability and shared dependence. Praying for one another and with one another forms a deep spiritual connection that can’t be manufactured any other way.
Serve Together
When we teach children, serve the poor, volunteer in ministries, or go on missions together, a unique bond is formed — one built on shared calling, shared sacrifice, and shared joy.
This is gospel partnership: doing all things with one purpose — the advancement of the gospel. When we unite around this purpose, our relationships become strong, meaningful, and life-giving.
Reflection and Response
How would you describe your relationships within the church? Are they surface-level, or are they shaped by gospel partnership?
If you desire deeper relationships, root them in worship, prayer, and service. Join a LifeGroup, try serving in a ministry team, and participate in prayer gatherings. These are practical ways to partner in the gospel and grow in unity.
And be patient — deep relationships take time. Imagine the beauty of what God could build in five, ten, or twenty years as we commit to one another.
I have witnessed this personally through ELT discipleship. Over the past three years, we have grown from individuals in separate roles to a unified team with a shared mission. Our communication, unity, and service have transformed. This is the fruit of gospel partnership.
May this hope shape how you view the people God has placed in your life. And remember Paul’s promise:
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”