The Philippians were partners with Paul in several ways: I. They were partners in heart - Paul held them dearly in his heart as if they were part of himself. II. They were partners in God's grace - They shared in God's grace by supporting Paul's imprisonment and defending the gospel. III. They were partners in suffering - They sympathized with Paul in his imprisonment and defended the gospel at their own risk. IV. They were partners in the gospel - They actively spread the good news and engaged in the same conflict for the faith as Paul.

1. PARTNER
SHIP IN
CHRIST
Philippians 1: 3-11

2. “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. 9
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is
excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with
the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory
and praise of God.”
Philippians 1:3-11

4.  Paul wrote this letter while in prison,
probably in Rome about A.D. 60.
 Philippians overflows with joy and
thanksgiving. (1:3)
 Paul wrote to the church in Philippi to
thank them for a gift. He reported the
joyful news that Epaphroditus, who
had brought their gift to Paul, had
recovered from his illness and was
returning to Philippi. (2:27-27; 4:18)

5.  Paul said that he had learned the secret of
being content in any situation, and he told
them about his situation in prison. (3:7-8 ; 4:11-
12)
 He expressed joy that more people were
hearing about Christ even if some were
proclaiming the gospel with bad motives. (15-
17)
 Wanting the Christians in Philippi to be
unified, he challenged them to be servants
just as Jesus was when he “emptied himself”
and became a man rather than clinging to the
rights of his divine nature (2:1-11).

6.  Part
- a piece or segment of something such as an object, activity,
or period of time, which combined with other pieces makes up the
whole:
- some but not all of something:
- one of the pieces from which something is designed to be
assembled. (the model car came in several small parts that had to be
put together)
 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (1 Corinthians 12:20)

7.  Part·ner [ˈpärtnər]
- a pair or group of people engaged together in the same
activity:
- the person to whom another is married. Synonyms: better
half, consort, mate.
 Part·ner·ship [ˈpärtnərˌSHip]
- the state of being a partner or partners:
- an association of two or more people as partners:

8. I. THEY WERE PARTNERS IN
HEART
“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.” v.7
 The Philippians were in Paul’s heart.
 Because their loyalty to God’s cause, Paul could not help but to say,
“It is right for me to feel this way about you all.”
 Paul loved them as much as he loved himself. (Luke 10:27)

9. I. THEY WERE PARTNERS IN
HEART
 How about us? Our partnership with one another.
 Do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ just as you love
yourself?
 Do you see yourself in partnership with him/her in the service of our
Lord?

10. II. THEY WERE PARTNERS IN
THE GRACE OF GOD
“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.” v.7
“Grace – unmerited favor”
The Philippians had given proof that they belong to the fellowship
v.1:5
 That is the operation of God’s grace which enables one to work in
the interest of the gospel, to suffer for it and to assist those who
proclaim and defend it.

11. III. THEY WERE PARTNERS IN
SUFFERING
“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.” v.7
 They sympathized/empathize with Paul, sent hope, & were suffering
for the gospel.
 Their hearts went out to each other, what one experienced the other
felt. (Acts 9:4)
 When we are partners in suffering, then and only then can we truly
bear one another's burdens. (Galatians 6:2)

12. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of
all comfort, who comforts us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
those who are in any trouble, with the comfort
with which we ourselves are comforted by
God.”
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV)

13. III. THEY WERE PARTNERS
IN SUFFERING
 Our Lord understands what we are going through.
“Therefore, in all things He had to be made
like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful
High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make
propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He
Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those
who are tempted.”
(Hebrews 2:17-18 NKJV)

14. III. THEY WERE PARTNERS
IN SUFFERING
 Our Lord understands what we are going through.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we
are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV)

15. IV. THEY WERE PARTNERS IN
THE GOSPEL
“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.” v.7
 They took the great commission of our Lord seriously. (Matthew
28:19-20)
 They were actively defending the gospel, engaged in the same
conflict.
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in
Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you
saw in me and now hear is in me.” (Philippians 1:29-30 NKJV)

16. IV. THEY WERE PARTNERS
IN THE GOSPEL
Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of
me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel
according to the power of God, (2 Timothy 1:8 NKJV)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready
to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope
that is in you, with meekness and fear; (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV)

18. “When we became Christians, God does not only wants us to be in
heaven. He gave us the command to share the good news to
everyone. By the empowering of the Holy Spirit and by
committing ourselves in partnership with the Lord. We can do
marvelous and great things in life that will satisfy the longings of
your soul.
Change your mindset on how to live life by the biblical principles
that God wants us to live for.
Let us all be united in Spirit, in Love and in Partnership in the
service of the Lord for the Glory of His Name”