Beauty for the Cynic: Learning from Philippians

In our next few weeks together, we'll spend time thinking about a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the people who lived in a place called Philippi (sounds like the word Philadelphia coupled with the word hippo, with a capital "I" at the end).

When We Are Rough Around the Edges

Those who are newer to the Bible often care very little for the Apostle Paul. Jesus often (not exclusively) uses the language of poetry and common life. He talks about lilies and shepherds. He asks disruptive questions and feels often free to leave them unanswered. But Paul often speaks more like a professor would. He knows this about himself. He often asks people to pray for him so that he would speak in a way that is plain and understandable (Colossians 4:4). Even Peter acknowledges that Paul's words are sometimes hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16). But humbled as he is, Paul seeks to be faithful to what he believes God gave Him to say, and Peter and others recognize that God does speak through Paul (2 Peter 3:16, "note that Peter call's Paul's words, "scriptures").

There is Grace for our Incompleteness

I feel glad that Paul did push through what humbled him to write and speak. Paul's story gives him every reason to be a cynical, bitter, suspicious, rightly cautious and grumbling sort of man. At this point in his story, he is in prison, and not because he did anything wrong. Yet, amid the repeated trauma's of his story, Paul speaks of the existence and reality of joy.

I feel I can relate in some way. Can you? I have known traumatic and broken moments. I want an equal familiarity with what joy is. If joy truly exists, how can it outlast such darkness and trauma in our lives, and how it was that this man Paul found it when he followed Jesus? I hope you will join me in our study and learn with me.

Consider Your Story

As you enter this weekend, and prepare to meet with God and persons on Sunday morning, consider the following questions:

1. Where have you learned about joy? Who or what in your life would make you cynical about it?

2. What ideas of joy do you doubt?

3. What would you hope would be true about joy if it is real?

4. Do you know anyone that seems truly joyful while remaining real about life?

5. Notice on the commercials, movies and songs you watch or listen to this weekend. What visions of joy are represented there?

Until next time,

He is faithful.