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Study One: Citizens of Heaven (Philippians 1)
Key Scripture: Philippians 1:1-30 (The Message)
What is your story? What is your family’s background? How does your cultural and family background influence the way you live today? How do you see yourself? How does this impact the way you see others? These are questions of identity – very real questions when we think of who we are, where we are going, and who we are going with.
‘Citizenship’ is a key analogy Paul uses to describe how we need to see ourselves. He was drawing on the concept of citizenship, which in the Roman Empire, ‘Civic Romanus’ (‘I am a citizen of Rome!’) was a citizen’s cry which was meant to unify all of the conquered people groups under one empire, and one ruler – transcending all different races, languages and cultures. To be a Roman citizen at the time was regarded as a high honor which granted status, privileges, and protection. All citizens of Rome were unified with this identity.
As Christians, on the other hand, instead of being identified as a people unified by conquest, Paul reminds his readers to identify themselves as citizens of heaven, unified by our maturing faith. Paul is using this analogy to describe our shared-identity as believers – understanding how God sees us as His people, which helps us see ourselves and one another.
How does our heavenly citizenship lead to unity and maturity?
I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present.
Philippians 1:5 (The Message)
1. CITIZENS BOUND TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP
In verse 5, Paul says believers are ‘partners in the gospel’. Today’s culture loves labels. Categories of ‘us’ and ‘them’ can often create and cause uncrossable divides. The gospel transcends our differences.
Question: What would it take to be able to say about each other, in your Connect Group, “We are partners in the gospel”?
So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings
Philippians 1:9 (The Message)
2. CITIZENS ABOUNDING TOGETHER IN MATURITY AND LOVE
In verse 9, Paul desires our love ‘as citizens of heaven’ to abound more and more with knowledge and ‘depth of insight’. This is how He continues His good work in us.
Question: How might a lack of ‘knowledge and depth of insight’ hinder us from ‘abounding in love’?
Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people’s trust in the Message, the good news,
Philippians 1:27 (The Message)
3. CITIZENS LIVING TOGETHER IN ONE ACCORD AND ONE PURPOSE
In verse 27, a key identity-trait of being part of a Christian community, is that of unity – in the way we relate with one another not just with what we ‘do’ together, but ‘who’ we are together.
Question: What are some practical ways we can become more unified in ‘accord and purpose’ as we do life together?
PRAY TOGETHER
Pray together, and perhaps commit to praying each day in the week ahead.
Father, it is our desire that Your love may abound more and more in us. May we grow in knowledge, insight and unity so that we can be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Amen.
Thank you to Marley from Melbourne City Campus for these studies.