Moving Forward Together: A Church United in Purpose and Faith

Watch the full service and sermon from Philippians 1:3–6: Moving Forward Together as Christ’s Church. This message calls us to move forward with gratitude and joy for God’s blessings, faithful partnership in the gospel, and confident trust in the work God is building among us, as an empowered church rising to move His kingdom forward.

The start of a new year brings fresh possibilities. It's more than flipping a calendar page—it's an invitation to look back with gratitude and ahead with faith. We remember who God has been and trust who He will continue to be. He was faithful in the storm, present in the silence, working in the waiting, and healing in the brokenness. Now, a new chapter unfolds with new days and new mercies ahead.

But here's the beautiful truth: we don't go forward alone. We go with hope, and we go with Jesus—the one who makes all things new. The same God who held us yesterday holds tomorrow in His hands.

The Apostle Paul's words in Ephesians 4 ring with timeless relevance. He urges believers to "walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love." This isn't a casual suggestion—it's a divine calling to live differently, to embody the character of Christ in every interaction.

Christianity was never meant to be lived in isolation. When Scripture identifies us as a church, it implies unity and togetherness. We are stronger together. We are more effective together. And together, we glorify God in ways impossible alone.

Paul emphasizes making "every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." There is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. This unity isn't uniformity—it's diversity held together by the transforming power of Christ.

Colossians 3 reminds us that because we've been raised with Christ, our lives now flow from a new identity and direction. We're called to set our minds on things above, to put off the old ways of life and put on the character of Christ.

What does this look like practically? It means putting to death sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed. It means putting away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language. It means refusing to lie to one another since we've put off the old self with its practices.

Instead, as God's chosen ones—holy and dearly loved—we put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We bear with one another and forgive one another, just as the Lord has forgiven us. Above all, we put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

In Philippians 1, Paul writes with deep affection to the believers: "I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in every prayer because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."

Notice the gratitude that flows from Paul's heart. He doesn't take his spiritual family for granted. He thanks God for them, remembers them, and prays for them with joy. This is the attitude that moves a church forward—thanksgiving directed to God for the blessing of community.

When Paul says "my God," he emphasizes his intimate, personal relationship with the Almighty. This is the same privilege we have through faith in Jesus Christ. John's Gospel tells us that God gave us the right to be called His children because of our faith in Christ. We can say with confidence: "You are my God."

Paul doesn't just remember the Philippians—he prays for them constantly, and he does so with joy. This reveals something profound about prayer: it's not primarily for God's benefit but for ours. God already knows what we need before we ask. Prayer is the bridge of communication that builds our relationship with Him.

Prayer is a personal interaction with God, much like the daily conversations that strengthen family bonds. We'll never grow spiritually without personally interacting with God through prayer. We'll never grow in our relationships with each other without prayer.

When we pray with joy, it's because the Spirit of God is producing that joy within us. Joy is fruit of the Spirit, evidence that we're walking in His power rather than our own flesh.

Galatians 5 draws a stark contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. The flesh produces sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, hatred, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, and envy. But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The key is simple yet profound: "Walk by the Spirit, and you will certainly not carry out the desires of the flesh." It's impossible to live the Christian life effectively without the Spirit's influence and power. When we submit to the Spirit and follow Him, He manifests His presence and fruit in our lives.

Paul rejoices because of the Philippians' "partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." The word "partnership" means koinonia—fellowship, a shared common purpose centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We exhibit this partnership through giving, which acknowledges God as the provider of all things and enables gospel effectiveness. We exhibit it through prayer, interceding for lost souls and each other. We don't serve God individually without each other—we serve together and move forward together.

Here's the anchor that steadies us: "I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

This church, this work, this transformation isn't successful because of us—it's because of Him. He started the work. He continues the work. And He will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus, when we all stand before the judgment seat of Christ to be evaluated and rewarded for how we lived and served.

All that God does in our lives is good, even when it doesn't feel that way. When God allows trials or suffering, there's a good purpose behind it. Romans 8:28 promises that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

We live in times that oppose Christ and His church. To rise above our culture and move God's kingdom forward, we need strength—not our own, but the strength God supplies.

Ephesians 6:10 commands: "Be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength." Without His strength, we remain weak. But with Him, we can face each day victoriously.

We must also rise against the devil's work. When a church thrives, the enemy seeks to deceive, divide, and destroy. His strategy is always to distort truth, fracture unity, and derail the church from its mission.

The solution? Put on the full armor of God—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Our struggle isn't against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil.

Yet we stand confident because Christ is our victory. First John 3:8 declares: "The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the devil's work." The devil is a defeated foe.

Finally, we must rise with the love Christ has shown. Jesus gave us a new command: "Love one another just as I have loved you."

First John 4 reminds us: "Love consists in this, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another."

Because we love one another, we're patient and forgiving. We seek the wellbeing of the whole body. We protect unity. We reach out to those in darkness with compassion. Our love is gospel-driven.

As we step into this new year, let's commit to three things: live by His word, build each other up, and move His kingdom forward.

Together—that's the key word. We are a church, a family, the body of Christ. We need each other to move forward. We build each other up and strengthen each other to advance.

God is at work, blessing, using, building, and empowering His church. Let's walk worthy of our calling, unified in Spirit, confident in His faithfulness, and empowered by His strength.

The same God who held us yesterday holds tomorrow in His hands. And together, we move forward into all He has prepared.

This week's sermon emphasizes the importance of unity and collective forward movement as the body of Christ. Drawing primarily from Philippians 1:3-6 and Ephesians 4 and 6, the message outlines how the church must remain focused on Christ, live by His Word, build each other up, and advance His kingdom.

Choose 1-2 action steps to commit to this week: