How to face enormous problems
Reflections for a Church in Lockdown
The more I’ve read Philippians over the last few weeks, the more I’m seeing it through the lens of anxiety. The Church in Philippi is a fearful and anxious church: a small community in a hostile and difficult place, worried for their own future, concerned for Paul, who taught them their faith and concerned for their future. Paul does everything he can in his letter to calm this anxiety, but he offers them something much more important than an answer…
Questions for discussion from Philippians 2:
- What are the significant choices which face your own parish and benefice around the re-opening of churches for physical worship? How likely is it that there will be conflict?
- Read carefully the encouragement to unity and to humility. How best can you take notice of this appeal and this lesson for your local church?
- This episode mentions three key questions for humanity in the next decade: the environment; equality and diversity questions and living well with technology. How will an understanding of Christ as God taking human form help to address these issues?
- What are the ways in which you have learned humility and seek to live your life after the pattern of Christ?
