What Do They Hear About You? {Memorize Philippians 1:27}

For many, the church has a bad reputation for being divisive. For arguing. For judging.

It’s no wonder that some choose to stay far away from Christianity when they see those negative images of the church.

What can we do about it?

My friend’s Sunday school class wanted to counteract that bad reputation. The women and men talked about their dreams for unity in the community. One idea led to another.

They then decided to do something with their ideas. Something big, something that people would hear about.

I heard about it. And I showed up last Wednesday to see it in person.

Memorize This Week

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Philippians 1:27

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Hear, If Not See

We read in this week’s memory verse that the apostle Paul wanted to show up, too. He wanted to visit his Philippian sisters and brothers. He wanted to see for himself that they were remaining faithful to the cause of Christ, spreading the good news to others.

But he couldn’t go because he was imprisoned in Rome at the time. So he wanted to at least hear about them.

If word could spread in A.D. 62, how much more in 2019?

People are always watching, listening. If not in person, at least digitally.

Even if you’re not on Facebook yourself, your face may pop up there on friends’ pages. Others see you on Instagram. A blog post. A text. An email.

And if it’s bad news? Expect it to spread even quicker than good news.

We quickly hear when Christians are bickering amongst themselves. This was the very thing that Paul was hoping not to hear from the Philippians.

Then or now, it gives God a bad reputation.

Paul’s Good Advice

Paul’s advice to the Philippians in Philippians 1:27 is still good advice for us today. He also gave this advice to the Thessalonians, the Ephesians, and the Romans.

1. Stand firm 

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”
2 Thessalonians 2:15

2. Work together

“[Be] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:3

3. Walk in the Spirit

“[So] that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:4

Spread Good News

Paul wanted to hear good news about fellow believers. The world needs to hear good news about believers today, too.

• Good news encourages others to follow God.
• It makes spiritual mothers and fathers proud.
• It gives God glory and praise.

The event last Wednesday night I attended was called A Night of Harmony. It was a night to celebrate the work of Christ in their community. It was about praising Jesus, about helping others, about doing love.

I’m glad I wasn’t absent. It was good news. I was glad to hear it.