Advent Workshop Phil 1:3-11

 Phil. 1:3-11.

This reading is an invitation for us to use the cultural Christmas feelings in songs and TV movies that surround us.

I suppose this section is an Advent reading as it twice mentions the day of Jesus Christ. Here Paul seems to see as it a culmination and conclusion for the movement of life that start with the advent of Christ. The advent of the church in Philippi presages the day of Christ. It may well be that he is adapting the OT day of the Lord for the day of Christ here.

It may be that Paul is linking the day of Christ to judgment day, so he wishes them to be pure and blameless.

 It's a good reading for the time after Thanksgiving, as Paul says that he thanks God for the church there. . Look at v.6 about the completion of good work in you on the day of Jesus Christ. Notice that Paul transforms the day of the Lord from the OT into the day of Jesus Christ with no fanfare. For whom are you thankful in your life? Do you tell them that? Who is thankful for your life? Are you told? 

We speak of togetherness at this time of year. Paul adds the prefix syn(m) to words to emphasize being together. Even with koinonia (community/fellowing) he add together to get a sense of mutual participation.Saring is community here (v. 5)

Paul uses a number of words for thinking through situations here: phronesis

What would a harvest of righteousness appear to be?

Does Scrooge enjoy a harvest of righteousness?

See the children’s book an Orange for Frankie

See Capote's a Christmas Memory for an overflowing of love.

Possible Preaching Pts

1. Confidence in God's work with the church in Philippi moves throughout. In ouur difficult time, would we be bold enough to speak with such confidence of god’s work in our congregation?

2. Here some fields are waiting to be harvested as I write. One of my favorite images of abundance is seeing grain pouring into a truck from a combine, into a wagon, or into a silo. That could be one entry point into considering a harvest of righteousness. Be careful to be clear in how you are defining that word.