“Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.”
Phillipians 4:15 NKJV

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In this scripture Paul gratefully recalls that this recent gift from his friends at Philippi was another example of the same generous spirit that had characterized them from the time when they were first committed to the gospel. After his departure from Macedonia and particularly when he settled in Corinth, the Philippians—the only congregation in such a close personal relationship with him—had continued to support him with their gifts.

The Spirit of generosity is from God. It is a characteristic of God shown most clearly in the life of Christ. This same character trait will be seen in those who follow Christ. In our giving to support the ministry of our church we are following in the footsteps of Jesus and the spirit that actuated the saints at Phillipi.

Appeal: “Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts.” (AA12) Today, our church will benefit from our offerings to the entity upon which God bestows His “supreme regard.”


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