IF Paul had a favourite church, it would be the Church in Philippi. If the Corinthians gave him the most trouble, the Philippians gave him the most joy. They were among his most loving and most generous converts. Out of their own poverty and pain, they gave beyond their means in support of Paul and the poor. Philippians is, in fact, a thank you letter. And much more.

But not all is well with the Philippi Church. Externally they are facing a low-grade persecution. Internally they are running a low-grade fever. There are bouts of envy and rivalry, discord and disunity, vainglory and selfish ambition. Their condition is not yet critical. But these and other symptoms are alarming.

In this letter, Paul identifies the root causes of the ‘Philippi Fever’. They have shifted from the centrality of Christ. They have lost their grip on the Gospel. And they have forgotten the Glorious Future that God has prepared for them through the Incarnation, Humiliation, and Exaltation of Christ.

Philippians is both a diagnosis and a cure for all that ails the Philippi Church: Rejoice in the Lord in the midst of suffering. Stand firm as one in the face of opposition. Live as citizens of heaven in the city of Philippi. Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling. And live every moment of today in the light of God’s Perfect Tomorrow.

In other words, To Live is Christ. This is the theme of our 40.Day season 2022. The pandemic has brought out the best of the Singapore Church. Hats off to our leaders! They have navigated the storm extremely well. But the plague has also exposed and exasperated pre-existing conditions. Much of what troubled the Philippi Church also ails us. We have survived Covid-19. Will we survive the ‘Philippi Fever’? Yes. Provided we apply the Pauline Cure. Philippians is a word for all seasons, but especially this one. Let’s listen in, pray, and obey.

IF Paul had a favourite church, it would be the Church in Philippi. If the Corinthians gave him the most trouble, the Philippians gave him the most joy. They were among his most loving and most generous converts. Out of their own poverty and pain, they gave beyond their means in support of Paul and the poor. Philippians is, in fact, a thank you letter. And much more.

But not all is well with the Philippi Church. Externally they are facing a low-grade persecution. Internally they are running a low-grade fever. There are bouts of envy and rivalry, discord and disunity, vainglory and selfish ambition. Their condition is not yet critical. But these and other symptoms are alarming.

In this letter, Paul identifies the root causes of the ‘Philippi Fever’. They have shifted from the centrality of Christ. They have lost their grip on the Gospel. And they have forgotten the Glorious Future that God has prepared for them through the Incarnation, Humiliation, and Exaltation of Christ.

Philippians is both a diagnosis and a cure for all that ails the Philippi Church: Rejoice in the Lord in the midst of suffering. Stand firm as one in the face of opposition. Live as citizens of heaven in the city of Philippi. Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling. And live every moment of today in the light of God’s Perfect Tomorrow.

In other words, To Live is Christ. This is the theme of our 40.Day season 2022. The pandemic has brought out the best of the Singapore Church. Hats off to our leaders! They have navigated the storm extremely well. But the plague has also exposed and exasperated pre-existing conditions. Much of what troubled the Philippi Church also ails us. We have survived Covid-19. Will we survive the ‘Philippi Fever’? Yes. Provided we apply the Pauline Cure. Philippians is a word for all seasons, but especially this one. Let’s listen in, pray, and obey.