pdave.me

Today I want to give you a place to start your week. It’s Monday and in the wake of a great weekend and a workweek ahead, sometimes you just need a “kickstart” to get focused.  So grab some coffee let’s start a great week together.

Yesterday we wrapped our series “The Collective” at Kfirst. We are taking a few weeks to cast vision for a shift in our church community. We are desiring to move from “Membership” to “Partnership.”

We are using Paul’s letter to Philemon to help be the launch point as Paul uses the word, Koinonia twice to emphasis his heart for the church (v. 6 & v.17). This wonderful Greek word means

• fellowship, a collection, community, communion, joint participation, a proof of fellowship
  • Of business: it was a partnering or merging
  • Of the Church: it was sharing issues, sharing the load

This is the heart of the shift. We want to see ourselves as partnering (Koinonia) with God and each other to further His Kingdom.

In week 3, we settled in Philemon and looked at how the Apostle Paul wrote to his friend Philemon on how to bring life to the relationships. Why? Because it’s through the gift of relationships we can convey the reality of the gospel.

How do we “bring life” into our relationships?

1. Paul checks Philemon’s motive. (v. 4-7)
   • Our motives bring meaning to our methods. In verses 4-7, we read twice about Philemon’s love for others. And Paul challenges Philemon to not limit that but operate out of that to all.
2. Paul call’s into question Philemon’s M.O. (v.8-9)
   • The mode of operation (M.O.) is the way we carry ourselves. And this letter was Paul’s way to help paint the picture that we draw from a love of God to convey love to the world around us. Love isn’t just our motive, it’s the mode of which we operate in.
3. Paul deals with Philemon’s labels. (v. 10-12)
   • Paul had thought Onisemus to be “worthless,” but because of the work of Jesus, his life was changed. We must watch what we label as we must look at others through the eyes of Christ.
4. Paul gives Philemon something to do. (v. 13-20)
   • Paul gives his example as something to follow. One of the first ways we influence others is simply by how we choose to live our lives by example. It’s here that Paul lays out to Philemon that his example is what will speak out to the world around him.

This week, bring life to your relationships by seeing them as the place the gospel is lived out. How can forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love be lived out? What does that look like on Monday?

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you step into the week PARTNERING with the Holy Spirit as you stand in the greatness of God, shining your light to the greater Kalamazoo area.

Love you all. Praying for you this week.