Looking at Christ

 What’s next? Surely there can only be one answer. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil. 1:21) Paul didn’t know what was next for him as he wrote the letter to the Philippians. He had resolved that continuing on this earth to work for people’s progress and joy in the faith was most necessary (Phil. 1:24-25 - notice there that he's considering others and considering need ) but he knew that there were two alternatives – life and death (Phil. 1:20-23). Whatever was next for Paul, it was consumed, defined, filled by knowing Christ, having Christ, being found in Christ.  What’s next? CHRIST! Christ the radiance of the glory of God Christ crowned with glory and honour Christ our rescuer who has smashed the devil and freed us from slavery Christ our high priest who carries us on his heart into the presence of God Christ our great warrior king Christ who wraps us in his righteous robe Christ our hiding place from the flood of judgment Christ our close brother Christ the b

  Other-centredness is a big theme in the letter to the Philippians. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Phil. 1:8-10) The 'you' and 'yours' are all plural. Paul is saying that as your love as a community abounds more and more you will be able to discern as a community what’s best next . Working out what is best next is not a solo thing. It happens in community. So as you explore gospel work: Seek the wisdom of your church family and leadership; Fully involve your spouse and children in the journey (if you have them) – they need to be on board from the beginning and all through; Listen carefully to family members and honour your parents (even if they are not Christians). And just as love drives good decision making, so love also sh

On the one hand we need to be wary of the desire to strategise a life of ‘maximal effectiveness’ which is not in our power (as Christopher Ash cautions in Workers for the Harvest Field ). We simply do not know where we will be most effective. Gospel love and gospel ministry are often wonderfully unstrategic. God has regularly chosen the small, weak, foolish things to shame the big, strong, wise things and in the history of revival often chosen unexpected places as bridgeheads. In many ways it doesn’t matter where we concentrate our energies. There is gospel need everywhere. Often it will be right in front of us.  On the other hand, there is a clearly centripetal, outgoing, to-the-ends-of-the-earth dynamic to gospel mission (Matt. 24:14; 28:19; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). Jesus considered the global harvest (Matt. 9:37-38) and calls his disciples to, “Look at the fields” (John 4:35). There are clearly some places with particularly dire gospel need – unreached, excluded or ravaged by false te

We all want to be concerned for the advance of the gospel, supporting gospel work, taking opportunities to share the word of life. But there are also some who are specially approved and appointed for gospel work, those like the people Paul calls his ‘co-workers’ or ‘fellow workers’: Timothy has proved himself …in the work of the gospel (Phil. 2:22) Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent (Phil. 2:25) I ask you, my yokefellow, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers (Phil. 4:3) These ‘fellow workers’ are those who have devoted themselves to gospel work (giving it a large proportion of their time) and, crucially, they are those who are recognised by the churches for their hard work, courage, doctrinal soundness and competence in gospel ministry. These ' gospel workers ' are not doing all the gospel ministry (that is for al

 When I ask, “What’s next?” it means I’m ready to move onto other things. (President Bartlet, The West Wing) At a career crossroads? Coming to the end of a period of studies or a ministry traineeship? Wondering whether to take the plunge into full time gospel work? At these times, as at all times, the Father calls his children not to lean on their own understanding but to trust in the Lord; specifically by bringing to mind his Word and having it on our heart (see Prov. 3:1-7 and Deut. 6:1-12 to which it alludes). And as we turn to his Word we find there a repeated call to ‘consider’ – to change our direction of gaze, to think carefully along new lines, to see things from a new (godly) perspective (Deut. 11:2; Luke 12:24, 27; Heb. 3:1; 10:24). So here are six things (in this and the following series of posts) to consider from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians which provide some possible ‘next step’ outboxes but more importantly provide some biblical ‘lines of sight’ and frame

Philippians 2:22 has been one of my favourite verses for a long time but every time I go back there or hear others speak on this passage I see new things. Leadership development - the goal I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  Paul has 'no one else like him'. Timothy is exceptional. It's ok to say that. Yes, all believers are on exactly the same level in respect to justification and status but there are differences in spiritual maturity and ability in gospel ministry. Paul says, 'I have no one else like him.' He is Paul's co-worker, yoked together with him. And Paul massively values him.  Why? What is so exceptional about Timothy? What does Paul value so highly about him? He loves the church. He has a 'genuine concern for your welfare.' He is a people person. He really wants to do you good. He exemplifies what Paul was speaking about earlier