Paul's Kindred Spirit; Phil. 2:19-24

Delivered during the Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship, 6/16/2024. What is the greatest problem the church faces today? High on the list would be a dearth of godly leaders and congregants sold out for the cause of Christ. One of the reasons I think this is true is because passages like the one before us are not taken seriously. While telling the Philippians why he wants to send Timothy to them, Paul articulates several of the fine attributes of perhaps his closest disciple-- Timothy of Lystra. In these few verses, Paul shows his confidence that Timothy would care for the church in Philippi in the same way he would himself if he were there. Rather than simply reading over paragraphs like this, the serious Bible student should pay close attention when such attributes and virtues are expounded because they are presented to us as models to follow. Ultimately the goal of Christian living is to become kindred spirits with those like Paul and Timothy who are fellow kindred spirits with Christ.