Living and Dying – Our lesson begins with a parallel statement that provides balance and summary of Paul’s assessment of life, a sort of personal vision or goal statement. The words, "Christ" and "gain" form a homophonic relationship: Christos / kerdos which is particularly effective when read in the Greek.

Dying is Gain? – Dying as a way to get some permanent relief from troubles was a common conclusion among the ancient philosophers, including Socrates and Aristotle as well as the Jewish historian Josephus. Paul, howe er, is more positive than just the cessation of troubles or problems. His relationship to Christ is intimate such that he seeks to honor Christ through any means and in whatever contexts he finds himself. Death is a definite gain in Paul’s thinking, if such a grand exit will provide a new way to magnify Christ.

A Living and Dying Prayer – Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing.

What is something you would like to accomplish before you die?

• What difference has your personal faith in Jesus Christ made in your attitude towards death and dying?
  
• "For me, to live is Christ . . ." Given your priorities and schedules this week, how would you honestly finish this sentence? What would change if you said, "Christ?"
  

Block #1—Reflect on how our culture views death (comic strips, advertisements, sayings, television, movies, radio talk shows—esp. PBS, etc—novels, and bestsellers).

Block #2—Shift to ancient views of death, which included the view that death released us from our suffering and troubles.

Block #3—Add Paul’s view of death as gain; close with the reflection that one’s view of life is shaped by one’s view of death.

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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible XI (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000), page 490.
[2] Taken from John Wesley’s Methodist Covenant Service.