Fellowship in the Gospel

All right, can you hear me okay?

All right, I'll take a thumbs up, that's good.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas.

I was glancing over some old communications from earlier this year,

and I was reminded of how things have changed.

Back in March, we had a conversation about how we were going to leave the doors open at the school

so the people didn't have to touch the handles,

and we were going to hand out communion with gloves on.

And in my mind, I remember thinking, this is pretty good.

We're putting some good, safe things in place for whatever is going to happen.

Little did we know how much things were going to change.

And so I was just thinking through how we were at Kennedy Longfellow,

and then they closed, and we went to Rent24 and the police station,

kind of a combo deal for a little bit.

And then we broke into small groups, and we met in houses,

and then we came here to Hope and then Starlight,

and then we find ourselves back here at Hope.

And it's been a wild year.

I say that because this is the end of 2020,

and so I think it's helpful to look back over it.

And I want to commend you, our church,

for your flexibility through this difficult year

and your determination to want to gather together as a church.

And I don't mean physically gather together, so don't hear that.

Whether it's a couple dozen here or a group over there

or an individual in their house,

meeting together like this is difficult.

And so I appreciate the lack of fighting and divisiveness,

and I appreciate the patience and understanding you guys have

in fighting to meet together, whatever that looks like.

And I'm thankful for Sean because I know how much time he's put into

looking to how policies have changed.

And there was a time where it seemed to change daily,

and it took up a lot of his time.

And he sought to make it as comfortable as possible

for as many people to be accommodating,

to do what was right by both what was happening with the government

and also us as people in the church and to do it biblically.

And so I thank Sean for that.

You guys and Sean, us together,

I'm grateful for what God has brought together,

and we need each other.

And I say this because it's true,

but I say it also because it goes so well with Philippians

and what Paul is doing with a church that he started back in Philippi.

Last week, Sean brought us the word

and reminded us of our great example of Jesus Christ,

his example of humility that he showed when he died on the cross for us,

and how we should live as lights in the world because of that.

And three characteristics, if you remember, that Sean brought out

were unity, humility, and perseverance.

Before we move in our passage tonight,

I wanted us to be reminded that those three characteristics,

they can't happen by themselves.

I mean, they're not individualistic in nature.

Unity can't be unity unless there's people involved, right?

Humility and perseverance can't happen unless there's people around us.

And so I want all of us to remember that those characteristics

are characteristics that happen in our partnership in the gospel.

And that's what we're going to be looking at tonight.

Partnership in the gospel, or as the title says,

fellowship in the gospel.

What does that look like?

And how do we do it?

In our passage this evening, we'll read it in just a minute,

but we'll be looking at Paul's travel plans.

We'll see two examples that Paul is going to give us

so that we can observe and we can examine

and ultimately follow these examples that he gives us.

Two examples of gospel partnership.

That is, Christ-centered service for one another.

That's the partnership we're talking about.

When it's done for Christ and not an inward focus,

then it'll have those characteristics that Sean preached about last week.

The unity, the humility, the perseverance.

So let's pray, and then we'll read our passage together.

Amen.

Lord, we pray that you would meet us this last Sunday of the year.

We pray that you would speak to us through these few verses.

Help us to see the example that Paul has for us to see here in Philippians.

Encourage us, Lord, through your word,

and we pray that you would correct us where we need to be corrected.

May we not waste this service.

May we not waste the last few days of this year.

May we plan not to waste next year

in our service to one another, in our glory to you.

And we ask these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Philippians chapter 2.

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

If you would turn with me or flip in your device,

Philippians chapter 2, we're going to read verses 19 through 30.

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

Verse 19.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon,

so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

For I have no one like him

who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

For they all seek their own interests,

not those of Jesus Christ.

But you know Timothy's proven worth,

how as a son with a father,

he has served with me in the gospel.

I hope, therefore, to send him

just as soon as I see how it will go with me.

And I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus,

my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier,

and your messenger and minister to my need.

For he has been longing for you all

and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

Indeed, he was ill, near to death.

But God had mercy on him,

and not only on him, but on me also,

lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

I am the more eager to send him, therefore,

that you may rejoice at seeing him again

and that I may be less anxious.

So receive him in the Lord with all joy

and honor such men,

for he nearly died for the work of Christ,

risking his life to complete

what was lacking in your service to me.

So we see travel plans for Timothy,

possible travel plans for Paul

and some other guy named Epaphroditus.

Why is he telling the church at Philippi this,

and what is its importance to us?

I'm sure as we read through this passage,

you see that there's more there than just travel plans.

See, for these guys,

as it should be for all Christians,

traveling is living.

Paul isn't just talking about their travel itinerary,

he's talking about their life.

And we get to get a glimpse into how they live life.

Their traveling is an aspect of their life

for Christ in service to others.

So here's the breakdown of,

you see it up on your screen,

of what we're going to be looking at tonight.

So the example of Timothy, the first half.

The second half is the example of Epaphroditus.

And then we'll spend a few minutes

on you and me, our church,

and thinking of 2021.

One question that came to my mind,

and maybe yours,

is why does Paul give us two more examples to read about?

I mean, we've been given the example of Jesus Christ,

the prime perfect example.

And next we have Paul.

He wasn't Jesus,

but Jesus came to Paul, right?

Like physically came to Paul.

Like Jesus came and busted into Paul's life

and gave him a godly smack

as he's going in the wrong direction.

And Paul turns around

and with that same fire in his soul,

he spends the rest of his life for Christ.

Obviously we need Jesus.

We live for him.

He died for us.

There's no gospel without Jesus.

And we need examples like Paul, right?

But if you're like me,

sometimes there's a disconnect.

I'm sure Paul knew this

and probably it's one of the reasons

why he gives us this passage.

He gives us two examples.

Two examples of people who,

in my mind,

are a little bit more average,

normal, day-to-day people

that I feel like I can connect with a little bit.

That's where most of us are.

But I think we all can be a Timothy.

We can all be an Epaphroditus.

And I'm not putting them down

saying that they didn't serve wholeheartedly

like Paul.

But I think you know what I'm talking about.

Sometimes Paul can feel like someone

that is kind of untouchable

after Christ,

but a good example to follow.

Paul says this to the church at Corinth

in 1 Corinthians 4.

He says,

So Paul knows this,

and he's helping us,

these churches that he is creating,

that we're all to follow Christ.

And we're to follow and imitate Paul

because Paul is doing the same thing.

And we're to follow Timothy

and Epaphroditus.

As long as we're all imitating

what Christ wants us to be doing,

we're going in the right direction.

So Paul has given us

just grab points

to hold on to

as we go through life.

Paul's planting churches for Christ.

He's teaching Timothy.

There's other brothers and sisters

who are learning,

hearing about Christ.

They're becoming followers of Christ.

They're living for Christ.

Day-to-day,

walking out the Christian life.

All of this.

It's all about one big mission

for the glory of God

and the building of His church.

Let's look at verse 19.

Paul knows that God is sovereign

and is in control.

He's not sure how things are going to work out.

He hopes he gets out of prison.

He hopes that he's not going to die there.

But he's hoping to send Timothy back to Philippi

so that you are encouraged by him

and I will be encouraged

by hearing news from you.

He knows that Timothy

is that communication line

between him and this church

that he loves back in Philippi.

So before we go any further,

who's Timothy?

Some of us may not know

the background or who Timothy is,

so just briefly.

We'll read more about this

as we get into Acts,

hopefully next year.

But Acts chapter 16,

Acts 16 · chapter mention

the first three verses say this.

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra.

This is before the church of Philippi

has even started.

So just a little bit of perspective.

Paul came to Derbe and to Lystra.

There was a disciple there.

His name was Timothy,

the son of a Jewish woman

who was a believer,

but his father was Greek.

He was well spoken of

by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him.

And so he took him.

He circumcised him

because of the Jews

that were in those places,

for they knew his father was a Greek.

I won't get into

all of what is entailed there.

We'll get into that

when we get into Acts.

But Paul wanted young Timothy.

We don't know exactly,

but most likely Timothy

was around 18,

22 years of age at this point.

Paul and Silas

are going on a missions trip.

They want to spread the gospel.

They're looking to start a church

somewhere.

They're not sure where.

And Paul wants to take Timothy with him.

So we know Timothy was young.

He was a Christian

and he had a good reputation.

It says here that brothers,

that is Christian believers

from these neighboring cities

of Lystra and Iconium,

they spoke well of him.

To me, that means

not only was he likable,

but he was involved with things

outside of his immediate circle.

When people in other cities,

other churches know of him,

he was involved.

He served.

He did things.

That was before he traveled with Paul.

What does Paul say about him now?

We can read that in verse 20

through 22.

For I know no one like him

who will be genuinely concerned

for your welfare,

for they all seek their own interests,

not those of Jesus Christ.

But you know Timothy's proven worth,

how as a son with a father,

he has served with me

in the gospel.

Timothy was there in Philippi

when the church was started,

so they knew him

and he knew them.

Paul says,

I don't have anyone like him.

Timothy was like Paul's son,

his protege in the Lord,

in the ministry.

And it's important to remember here also

that humility is not lost on these guys.

As we look at the beginning of this letter,

notice it says in verse 1,

Paul and Timothy,

servants of Christ Jesus.

Paul didn't say,

Paul and my helper,

or Paul and my student,

servants of Jesus Christ.

They're peers.

They're on the same level

working the mission for Christ.

Paul says that Timothy

was genuinely concerned

about others.

Many people that Paul worked with

were not like this,

at least that's what he says here.

There was an aspect to their service

that was self-serving in nature.

They helped in the ministry,

they served,

but there's an interest in self

that seems to be greater

than their interest in Christ.

They served with an agenda.

And I wonder,

as we look at this,

if there are times

where we struggle with that as well.

If we come into the church

and we serve,

or we get involved

with different things,

and there's more of an agenda

on self than there is on Christ,

and we don't just genuinely serve

caring for one another

in any way that we feel

God wants us to serve

instead of finding somewhere

that suits our needs.

Serving with an interest for Christ.

Because notice in these verses

how Paul ties the concern of others

to what Christ is interested in.

It says in verse 20,

For I have no one like him

who will be genuinely concerned

for your welfare,

for they all seek their own interests,

not those of Jesus Christ.

So we see this connection

of others seeking their interest

where Timothy is seeking other people,

and that lines up

with what Jesus Christ's interests are.

And so we need to be careful

that what we are in line with

is Jesus Christ and not ourselves.

Let's move on.

Verse 23 and 24.

I hope therefore to send him

just as soon as I see

how it will go for me,

and I trust in the Lord

that shortly I myself will come also.

Most likely when Paul says

as soon as I see

how it will go for me,

he's referring to

getting out of prison.

Now I don't know for sure

what the reason is

why he wants Timothy there.

Maybe it's for physical support.

Maybe for court reasons

it's helpful to have Timothy there.

Maybe it's just to encourage him

while he's in prison.

I'm not sure.

But we know that Timothy

is loved and very special to Paul.

And so at the same time,

we know how much Paul

wants to send him back to the church

and encourage them.

So you can easily see this tension

between what would help Paul

and what would help the church.

Timothy, a young man living for Christ

and genuinely concerned for others.

So as we move into the next section,

we see in Timothy

these characteristics of humility,

of unity and perseverance.

Paul can't send Timothy yet.

He still wants to encourage the church.

So his other option that he sees

is Epaphroditus,

who is with him

and his goal is still the same.

I want to encourage the church

and I can encourage Epaphroditus

if I can send him back.

So we pick it up in verse 25.

I have thought it necessary

to send to you Epaphroditus,

my brother and fellow worker

and fellow soldier

and your messenger and minister

to my need.

For he has been longing for you all

and has been distressed

because you heard that he was ill.

Epaphroditus was one

of Paul's brothers.

Now not brother from the same mother,

brother in the Lord, right?

Brother with the same heavenly father.

Some people say,

well, yes,

but aren't we all children of God

and we're made in his image?

Yes, that's true.

We are.

And we share in that same common grace

that God provides each one of us.

But there's something more

with those who believe in Jesus Christ.

And so when we see in the New Testament,

they say brother or sister.

Besides those times when it's obvious

that we know that they're talking about

their physical family,

it's more than a friendly greeting.

It is a reminder of our connection

to one another in Jesus Christ.

When we talk about this partnership

in the gospel,

it's more than just a common goal.

Church is more than just a club,

something that we go to on the weekends

so that we feel like we have friends.

We're talking about a much bigger family thing.

Being loved by

and living for a heavenly father

because he sent Christ to die for us.

Being adopted into a family

we don't deserve.

Being able to be ruled

by a king who created the universe.

That's the family that we're talking about.

We all have an earthly family

that God did create

and we love them.

At least we should.

Most of them.

That's good and natural.

But there is a bigger,

a deeper,

a far-reaching,

more important family of God

that is being referred to here.

God is making for himself a people,

a family,

a church

for himself

so that when he returns

we can be like him

and we can live with him

for eternity

in the presence of our God the Father.

So Paul says,

Epaphroditus is my brother.

That's big.

That means something

when he says that.

He also calls him

his fellow worker.

Why?

Because life as a Christian

is work.

Not working only for yourself,

which we do.

We have jobs.

We have to work.

But working for Christ,

for others.

Serving them.

Jesus says in Mark 10, 45,

for even the Son of Man

did not come to be served

but to serve.

First Peter 4, 10,

each one

should use whatever gift

he has received

to serve others.

Serving others is work.

Serving in the church is work.

Caring for other Christians

is work.

Being a Christ follower

involves some level of work.

It's what we are called to do.

Epaphroditus was from Philippi.

He was a worker in the church

at Philippi.

We don't know exactly

what he did

but he was a partner

in that work

of the gospel.

So Paul calls Epaphroditus

a fellow soldier.

He's not talking about

serving in the military together.

He's referring to

being fellow soldiers

in God's army.

Paul likes to use

this language

of fighting

and army

and

some of them might say

well that sounds violent.

I thought God was

about love

and peace

and Christians

should be as well.

But God's army

is not a physical

fighting thing.

It's about spreading

the good news

of the gospel

and fighting

against the lies

that Satan has out there.

It is a war

but it's a spiritual war.

It's a fight

against Satan

and the lies

of sin and darkness

because Satan

doesn't want us

to know anything

about a God

a heaven

or in hell.

He wants us

to be content

right exactly

where we are

so that we will

live for ourselves

and in the end

we'll die

and we'll be in hell

with him

which he has no choice

of being pulled into

because of what he did

back in the beginning.

So Satan

doesn't want anyone

to know about this.

That's the war

that is going on.

Epaphroditus

was one of those people

who worked

and fought

alongside Paul

for the advancement

of the gospel.

Paul also calls him

your messenger

speaking of the church

of Philippi

and minister

to my need.

The Philippian church

collected

a gift of money.

Growing up

in the church

that I went to

or that I grew up in

that was called

a love offering.

Missionaries

would come

on occasion

to our church

and they would tell us

about their mission

and what they were doing

for spreading the gospel

and we would take up

an offering

like all good Baptists

right?

We'd take up offerings

and that money

that we collected

would be given to them

as a love offering

as an encouragement

as a way to help them

in their mission

and that's what

the Philippian church did.

They collected money

and they needed

a way to get it

to Paul

whom they wanted

to support.

Not having a

Western Union nearby

Venmo wasn't quite

on the scene.

They had the money

but not a way

to get it

to Paul

who was in Rome.

And so someone

needed to take

that money

and travel

800 miles

from Philippi

to Rome

and give it to Paul

and that's where

Epaphroditus

raises his hand

and says

I'll do it.

Now

probably not

traveling alone

because

they just

didn't do that.

He may have been

traveling with his son

or with a servant.

Either way

I get the idea

that Epaphroditus

was probably

not someone

who

couldn't handle

himself

if need be.

I wouldn't sign up

for this mission

if I was

well

me

small

and looked like

I could be

beat up

easily.

I don't imagine

Epaphroditus

was like that.

I don't know

what he was like

but he had

it was common

to be robbed

while traveling

and at this distance

we're talking

six to eight weeks

of day to day

traveling

from Philippi

to get to Rome

carrying money.

I don't know

how much

but it was

a substantial

amount of money.

Doable

but tough

and dangerous

nonetheless.

He was the church's

messenger

for their gift

to Paul.

During his trip

most likely

as he is getting

near Rome

he gets sick

so sick

that he almost dies.

Verse 27

says

indeed he was

ill

near to death

but God

had mercy

on him

and not

only on him

but on me

also

lest I

should have

sorrow

upon sorrow.

Can you

imagine

the sorrow

the sadness

and guilt

Paul would

have

if Epaphroditus

dies

as a result

of wanting

to minister

to him?

Can you

imagine

what the church

of Philippi

would feel like

if they sent him

and he dies

somewhere in that

mission?

Paul's in prison

and he can't

do anything

about it

and the church

is sending

someone with

money

and that person

just wants

to help Paul

and they die

on their way.

That would be

horrible.

And yet

at the same

time

Paul knows

because he said

it back in

verse 21

that dying

is better.

To die

would be

gain

because it

would mean

we would be

in the presence

of God

and the presence

of Jesus Christ

our Savior.

That's helpful

I think

to think about

because there

are times

there are

situations

when someone

doing the

ministering

like Epaphroditus

doesn't make it.

Like Hallmark

movies

they don't

always end

happy.

Some people

that you think

were doing

all the right

things

should

not die

and they die

and we don't

get it.

Take comfort

in the fact

that Paul

says

dying

is gain

because of

what we get

after this

life.

Sure living

now is good

and we can

tell people

about Christ

but dying

is better

in the end.

But

God spared

his life

and Paul

is thankful

for that.

Paul is eager

to send

Epaphroditus

back to

Philippi

because of

that

and I'm

sure

Epaphroditus

is eager

to go

back

and share

with the

church

how he

was saved

and the

time he

got to

spend

with Paul

and how

he encouraged

Paul

and Paul

encouraged

him.

Also

he gets

to go

back

with a

letter

from the

apostle

Paul.

Now

I'm sure

that probably

is a

bigger

thing to

us

now

than

it

was

back

then

but

that's

still

a

big

thing

and

it

was

also

customary

that

the

messenger

get to

read

that

letter

to

the

church

so

imagine

Epaphroditus

when he

gets

back

he gets

to read

this

letter

Philippians

to

the

church

in

Corinth

and

then

answer

questions

from

the

people

talking

about

that

trip

he

was

on

so

you

can

imagine

Epaphroditus

is

quite

excited

about

his

return

back

and

in

his

reading

he'll

get

to

read

verses

29

and

30

let's

look

at

those

Paul

says

this

so

receive

him

talking

about

Epaphroditus

in

the

Lord

with

all

joy

and

honor

such

men

for

he

nearly

died

for

the

work

of

Christ

risking

his

life

to

complete

what

was

lacking

in

your

service

to

me

now

maybe

some

people

thought

that

Epaphroditus

had stayed

with

Paul

too

long

maybe

they

thought

he

was

too

weak

maybe

he

traveled

at

the

wrong

time

he

took

the

wrong

path

you

know

how

people

get

when

you

do

things

a

little

different

than

what's

in

their

mind

I'm

sure

there

were

people

that

weren't

exactly

happy

with

the

time

frame

or

anything

about

the

mission

regardless

Paul

tells

them

receive

Epaphroditus

receive

him

back

in

the

Lord

with

joy

and

honor

him

honor

people

like

him

why

because

he

came

he did

a service

to me

that you

couldn't

complete

Paul

also points

out how

Epaphroditus

is

Christ

like

and how

he served

others

back in

verse 8

of this

chapter

Paul's

talking about

Jesus

and he

says

he

humbled

himself

by

becoming

obedient

to the

point

of

death

speaking

of

when

Jesus

was

going

to

die

on

the

cross

for

our

sins

and

then

here

when

talking

about

Epaphroditus

Paul

says

he

nearly

died

for

the

work

of

Christ

Jesus

was

obedient

to

death

Epaphroditus

was

obedient

and

almost

died

so

there's

some

connections

here

and

how

he

served

and

wanted

to

serve

whatever

that

cost

was

there's

also

one more

aspect

that

Paul

wants

them

to

know

the

church

of

Philippi

wanted

to

support

Paul

they

wanted

to

send

him

money

but

they

couldn't

have

done

it

until

Epaphroditus

made

that

possible

so

the

church

of

service

to

Paul

couldn't

be

completed

without

Epaphroditus

help

he

needed

the

gift

the

church

needed

him

to

send

it

there

that's

how

God

intends

it

to

work

we

need

each

other

in a

partnership

in order

for the

church

to

grow

to

be

encouraged

to

spread

the

gospel

and that

brings us

to our

last

point

and that

is

that's

you

that's

that's

me

that's

Trinity

Cambridge

Church

as

we

move

into

2021

and

before

we

get

into

that

but

as

part

of

that

are

you

a

Christian

this

evening

before

we

ask

Christians

questions

to help

them

navigate

this

next

year

I

want

to

ask

those

who

aren't

Christians

do

you

know

God's

love

for

you

his

greatest

expression

of

love

was

sending

Jesus

Christ

we

just

celebrated

it

in

Christmas

sending

Jesus

Christ

who

would

then

go

to

the

cross

and

die

for

our

sins

that

was

his

greatest

expression

of

love

for

us

and

if

you

don't

believe

that

if

you

don't

share

in

that

love

then

you

don't

get

to

participate

in

that

love

of

God

completely

that

may

not

sound

too

bad

right

now

as

you

feel

comfortable

but

that

also

means

that

as

your

life

ends

you

don't

share

in

that

love

of

God

that

you

never

believed

in

to

start

with

if

that's

you

then

I

would

encourage

you

to

reach

out

to

someone

here

tonight

if

you're

sitting

at home

in a

group

ask

somebody

in your

group

in your

community

group

ask

someone

to

share

with

you

what

the

love

of

God

is

and

they

would

love

to

share

that

with

you

if

you're

already

a

Christian

then

let's

think

about

these

examples

that

Paul

has

given

us

we

already

know

that

God

is

building

a

family

a

people

for

himself

and this

is not

done in

isolation

we

grow

and we

encourage

and we

serve one

another

but it's

not by

ourself

for

ourself

we don't

see a

model of that

anywhere in

the scripture

and yet we

have so many

people trying

to do

life that

way

so

ask

yourself

this

question

are you

a

friend

like

Timothy

or

Epaphroditus

maybe

you're

not

and you

need

a

friend

like

Timothy

or

Epaphroditus

there

are

some

of

those

in

this

church

are

you

working

towards

being

that

type

of

friend

encouraging

caring

praying

loving

serving

one

another

as we

move

into

2021

will

your

mindset

be

like

chapter

1

verse

21

that

says

for

me

to

live

as

Christ

and

to

die

as

gain

or

will

your

mindset

be

more

like

chapter

2

verse

21

that

says

for

they

all

seek

their

own

interest

not

those

of

Jesus

Christ

Timothy

and

Paul

they

weren't

or

Timothy

and

Epaphroditus

they

weren't

Paul

but

they

were

godly

examples

that

were

given

and

called

to

emulate

they

aren't

blazing

in the

spotlight

examples

like

Paul

but

dedicated

consistent

servants

for

Christ

Paul

and

Silas

they

were

out

there

they

were

preaching

they

were

in

their

face

it

was

like

they

were

on

the

front

lines

of

missions

going

forward

and

then

all

of

a

sudden

they

get

arrested

they

get

thrown

in

jail

so

imagine

what

this

looks

like

they're

in

jail

things

felt

like

they

were

on

fire

moving

forward

and

then

Timothy

is

standing

there

if

there's

other

people

with

him

they're

like

what

just

happened

so

what

do

they

do

they

say

we

need

to

pray

for

them

so

praying

and

they're

singing

and

what

happens

supernatural

stuff

happens

now

I don't

want to

give away

all the

things

that we're

going to

dig into

when we

get into

acts

but

mighty

things

happen

to

the

church

when

they

care

for

one

another

putting

other

needs

first

praying

for

God

to

do

things

they

can't

control

that

sounds

like

where

we're

at

right

now

you

might be

thinking

that sounds

really

good

I'd

like

to

live

and

serve

like

Timothy

and

Epaphroditus

but

how do

we

do

that

in

the

church

how

do

we

serve

others

when

we're

dealing

with

coronavirus

that's

a good

question

so

I'd

like

to

ask

or

I'd

like

to

give

you

a

couple

things

to

think

about

as

we

end

this

year

and

realize

that

next

Sunday

when

we

meet

back

together

again

even

though

it

will

be

2021

life

will

still

be

weird

and

church

is

still

going

to

be

uncomfortable

and

separated

at least

compared to

what we

knew it

to be

a year

ago

now

it

seems

right

for

our

church

in

this

moment

to

be

partly

in

person

and

partly

virtual

I

understand

both

sides

and it's

right

and good

add to

that

the fact

that

COVID-19

didn't

catch

God

didn't

catch

God

off guard

God

is

sovereign

God

knows

these

things

before

they

happen

he

controls

them