TOMTOM
I love to study Philippians. Paul must have had a great relationship with the church at Philippi. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil.1:3-6) Paul prayed continually for the church at Philippi. He wanted to be with them and he prayed that their love would grow and that they would be filled with the fruits of righteousness (1:9-11).
Sounds to me like he knew a church similar to the church in Hammon, Oklahoma. A church to whom he could boldly say: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (1:21). He knew that the church at Philippi needed him (1:24), and he prayed that they could fulfill his joy by loving each other and being of one mind. He finally told them, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (2:5).
This is a pretty good lesson for the Hammon Church of Christ. (1) Live for Christ in all that we do. (2) Be unified in ONE mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. (3) Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each of us esteem others better than ourself. (4) Take care of each other! (5) Understand that God is working in us both to do His will and to do it for His good pleasure. (6) Do everything without complaining and disputing.
The Hammon Church of Christ is a healthy church filled with serving folks, who love God number one and then love each other sacrificially. We love to worship together Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday night. We love to serve together in countless ways. God is so good and God continues to bless us in all our efforts to be well pleasing to Him. Love you!
Tom