Tonight we begin our study of the book of Philippians by way of Acts 16. In Acts 16 Paul begins his first missionary journey without Barnabas as his partner. His first two steps are “blocked” by the Holy Spirit and then, in a vision, Paul and his team are directed to go to Macedonia, their first stop being the city of Philippi. I’m not sure if it’s because of the circumstances that led them there or the heaviness of Paul’s heart when he arrived but the church in Philippi became like no other in Paul’s life. They were not merely disciples, converts or even spiritual children, they became his friends. The book of Philippians is, more than anything else, a letter written to friends and I believe it can become a template for Christian friendship. Join us as we take a look into the friendship of an apostle in prison and a church, many miles away and yet somehow right there with him in both his chains and his heart. The themes of the letter are friendship, a Christ-led mindset, joy in suffering and unity because of joy and contentment in Jesus. My prayer is that, through the course of this study that we will see Jesus more clearly, think of Jesus more fully and live in friendship because of Jesus more freely.