Though I am not as avid a world-traveler as many, I have been on numerous national and international mission trips. When I get back home, I generally tell my friends and family only a little bit about the culture, the sights, the accommodations, and the travel itself, but I spend the majority of my time talking to anyone that will listen about the people.

My photo albums are not filled with pictures of the (often breathtaking) scenery, but I have scores of pictures of the people that I met while serving there. The individuals in the area are the reason I went in the first place. They are the topics that consume my
post-trip conversations and memories which I will keep with me for life. The most important thing about the mission trip is the people. It is the people that endear the city to our heart. The same is true for Paul and the Philippians.

On Paul’s second missionary journey (recorded in Acts 16), he spends time in Philippi. It is this experience in Philippi that sets the backdrop for the letter that he would write later to the Philippians. Before we study that letter we need to meet the people that Paul met. This first session introduces us to three people that Paul met in Philippi whose stories the Scriptures have preserved for us to study for centuries. Their stories and backgrounds could not possibly be any different.

Though every church has a somewhat unique story of its beginnings, none is as unique as Philippi, the first church in the history of all of Europe. The story is far from how you and I would start the Christian movement on a continent. But then, again, God is a touch smarter than we are. The birth of the church in Philippi is truly an odd and seemingly unadvisable way to start a church, but isn’t that just like God?

Let us hear from you.

What are some amazing stories of how God started the church you attend? What are some of those people’s stories who are in your church? Perhaps you are one of those stories?

Want the whole teaching series on Philippians for your next group study?

You can either it buy it on DVD or rent/buy one session at a time with our exclusive digital delivery service.  This topic is featured in Session 1 of Philippians.

If you sense at this moment you are at the top of your game, at the lowest point in a long time, bored with life or even fulfilled at the moment, God is always relevant and ready to speak truth in your life.

Matt Chandler, Pastor of The Village in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area does an amazing job bringing the meaning of the book of Philippians to live. Our title for this series is To Live is Christ & To Die is Gain. Sound familiar? Of course, it is straight from the scriptures.

Matt starts by taking a look at the first 3 ‘characters’ mentioned in the letter. It is so important to me that when you read scripture, especially New Testament letters that you ‘get into the story.’ Remember, these are literally letters written from a person to a group of people. Of course the words and meaning are inspired directly from God, but there is personality and insight that comes from the text.

So, over the next few days or so, we will look at a profile of these 3 characters, and for fun, you can all vote on which one of these folks you and your story with Christ is most like.

Blessings…Doug

Matt Chandler will give a live video chat that discusses his newest study that is exclusive to The Hub. This 30 minute video chat session will feature a 20 minute overview of the study followed by a 10 minute Q&A session. This chat is a “must watch” for anyone who is a Pastor, Teacher, Bible Study leader or anyone who is passionate about life-changing Bible teaching.

Topic: Matt Chandler and Philippians Live Chat
Host: Doug Hudson
Date and Time:
August 17, 2009 2:00 pm, Central Daylight Time (Chicago, GMT-05:00)
August 17, 2009 3:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)
August 17, 2009 2:00 pm, Central Daylight Time (Chicago, GMT-05:00)
Conference Password is HUMBLE

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To register for the online event
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1. Click here to join the online event.
Or copy and paste the following link to a browser:
https://wbs27beta.webex.com/wbs27beta/onstage/g.php?d=346360687&t=a&RT=MiM3&p
2. Click “Register”.
3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click “Submit”.

Once the host approves your registration, you will receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event.

Sincerely,
Doug Hudson

Please leave questions or comments in the feedback form below. If you can’t attend we will record and post the session on this site as well as our youtube site.