SCRIPTURE:
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's Holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:1-2, NIV)

Approach Question:
"What is your opinion of being trained by others if you are already in a leadership position?"

Observations:
I asked myself how does Paul address those receiving the letter at Philippi?

1. To all God's Holy people
2. To the overseers
3. To the deacons

Interpretation:
I asked myself what does overseers mean?
According to Dictionary.com, overseers mean chief, head, boss, and director.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what does deacons mean?
According to Dictionary.com, deacons mean an appointed or elected officer having variously defined duties.

Interpretation:
I asked myself the significance of Paul addressing the letter to the overseers and deacons too?
What I thought was both the overseers and deacons had leadership positions at the Philippi church and Paul wanted to make sure they were trained well so they could lead the flock of God that were put in their care. As leaders of the Church at Philippi, they needed training on how to live their lives and how to conduct themselves in light of those around them. So, Paul is the one who takes initiative to train them and lead them by setting an example of how he is living his life even amidst persecution because of His love for Jesus Christ. It is very significant to remember that this letter was written to the overseers and deacons while he was imprisoned in jail for preaching the Gospel.

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
No matter whether I am in a  leadership position or not, I need to always be open to be trained by others whose training is godly and will help me live my life the way the Lord Jesus wants me to live as I allow God's Word to be my main basis for my training. Paul acted as a mentor to the Church of Philippi to the saints in Christ Jesus and the overseers and deacons. I too should look to the leadership of those that the Lord Jesus sends my way to train me and lead me in the Ways of the Lord just as God's Holy people, overseers, and deacons are trained by Paul.

I have been so blessed that Pastor Ed, Pastor Hugo, and Edwin wanted to train me while they were here. With Pastor Ed, I read 'Transforming Grace'; with Pastor Hugo, I read 'Making of a Leader'; with Edwin, I read 'Change My Attitude Before It is too late', and now I am reading 'Spiritual Leadership' with Pastor Josh. I am so blessed to be mentored through the years. Yet, I see how frail I am and falter so many times. This reminds me that I should seek spiritual strength from the Lord everyday. Not only that but training should not be a one time thing. These mentors of mine met with me almost every week.

I am reminded of what I learned this morning in my Quiet Times with the Lord: "But grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and splendid honor, both now and forevermore.." (2 Peter 3:18, TLB)

I am also so blessed that Pastor Lake was a former journalist who is willing to work with me in the future to improve my journalistic writing too :) The commonality is training. I love how Paul did not think to himself, they are already leaders so they don't need training. On the contrary, from prison he chose to train them. More than all this training, the one that impacted my life the most in the past was Kevin, who would come from miles away just to do a Bible study with me in the Gospel of Mark even though he had to come from out of the city each week. By him taking me through the Gospel of Mark, I learned about inductive Bible study training too. To this day, I used inductive Bible study training that I learned from Kevin, a former InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff volunteer. Thank you Jesus, the apostle Paul knew the impact training would have so he trained the overseers and deacons with the letter to the Philippians but also to the laypeople. When Kevin trained me, I had no leadership position. Later, I went on to become a staff volunteer and staff worker for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

Just as Paul trained the saints in Christ Jesus, the overseers, and deacons on how to live a joyful life amidst persecution through his letter to the Church of Philippi, I am reminded of how the Lord Jesus has been using  Pastor Paul Bucknell of http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net Biblical Foundations for Freedom to train leaders of churches all over the world through the writings our Lord Jesus has blessed him to train others. Pastor Bucknell has also given me books to read on how to have a godly marriage and how to parent including other books.

You too can be trained by those the Lord Jesus has placed in authority over you who will help disciple you to live a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as you make Jesus your central focus.  Never think you do not need to be trained for we all need training.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV)

Pastor Lake shared that he won the Pulitzer Prize as a journalist but it is nothing compared to knowing Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior and being know by Him.