New Testament Churches — Lesson 5

The Church in Philippi

Partners from the Beginning · Acts 16; Philippians 1–4

Edward Rangel · September 16, 2026

What This Lesson Should Do

Trace Philippi’s obedient beginning.
Learn to pray with purpose.
Face opposition faithfully.
Share in gospel work.
Continue serving over time.

How much of our heart goes with the work we support?

Philippi’s care included prayer, hospitality, gifts, and personal service.

A faithful church obeys, prays, stands together, and keeps sharing in gospel work.

Paul’s second missionary journey

Troas → Samothrace → Neapolis → Philippi · Acts 16:11–12

Begin with obedience to Christ

Acts 16:13–34

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

Acts 16:14 · NASB

And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

Acts 16:15 · NASB

They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Acts 16:31 · NASB

And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

Acts 16:32 · NASB

And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

Acts 16:33 · NASB

And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

Acts 16:34 · NASB

Faith receives Christ’s word and obeys it.

Read Acts 16:31 with the response recorded in verses 32–34.

For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11 · NASB

Talk It Through

How did Lydia and the jailer respond?
Why read Acts 16:31 with verses 32–34?
What must remain our foundation?

Learn to pray for what matters

Philippians 1:3–11, 19–20

always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,

Philippians 1:4 · NASB

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,

Philippians 1:9 · NASB

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Philippians 1:10 · NASB

having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:11 · NASB

for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Philippians 1:19 · NASB

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Philippians 1:20 · NASB

Pray for faithfulness as well as relief.

Name the need: courage, discernment, endurance, or righteous conduct.

Talk It Through

What growth did Paul pray for?
How does verse 20 explain his confidence?
What spiritual need should shape our prayers?

III

Stand together when the gospel is opposed

Philippians 1:27–30; 3:2, 18–19

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 1:27 · NASB

in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

Philippians 1:28 · NASB

For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

Philippians 1:29 · NASB

Opposition alone does not prove that we are right.

Examine both our teaching and our behavior by the gospel.

Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;

Philippians 3:2 · NASB

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,

Philippians 3:18 · NASB

whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Philippians 3:19 · NASB

Defend the truth with truthful conduct.

Firmness and self-control belong together. Refuse slander, gossip, and dishonest accusations.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

Philippians 4:2 · NASB

Talk It Through

How can we resist error without sinning?
What teaching must we test against Scripture?
Why must strong churches still accept correction?

Act when there is work to do

Philippians 4:15–16

You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;

Philippians 4:15 · NASB

for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.

Philippians 4:16 · NASB

Do the work Scripture authorizes when the opportunity is present.

Identify the real obstacle. The missing resource may be willingness.

Talk It Through

What priorities did their early help reveal?
What authorized work could we begin?

Share in the work and in the worker’s trouble

Philippians 1:5; 2:25; 4:14–18

in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

Philippians 1:5 · NASB

But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;

Philippians 2:25 · NASB

Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

Philippians 4:14 · NASB

Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.

Philippians 4:17 · NASB

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:18 · NASB

Know the work you support.

Read the report. Learn the needs. Pray specifically. Let concern produce action.

Talk It Through

How did their care extend beyond money?
What would closer concern look like here?

Keep serving after the first enthusiasm passes

Philippians 4:10; 1:6

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

Philippians 4:10 · NASB

Their gift was renewed; their concern had continued.

Paul recognized a lack of opportunity without accusing them of apathy.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 · NASB

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Galatians 6:9 · NASB

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58 · NASB

Keep doing faithful work when it becomes familiar.

Continue teaching, encouraging, praying, and supplying real needs.

Talk It Through

How are concern and opportunity different?
What good work needs renewed attention?

Pray by name for a specific need.

Ask for knowledge, courage, and righteous conduct.

Take one available step in gospel work.

Arrange the study. Open your home. Provide needed help.

Repair the relationship that weakens our common work.

Address pride, resentment, and careless speech honestly.

Philippi’s history calls us to examine our own participation.

Receive the same apostolic instruction and put it into practice.

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 · NASB

Hear Christ’s word and obey Him.

Believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized for forgiveness. Begin a faithful life.

Christian, renew the obedience this lesson has exposed as missing.

Pray with purpose. Act on a need. Repent and seek reconciliation.

Keep sharing in the gospel’s work.

Philippians 1:5

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