Don’t just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: Philippians 1:27–2:4; Luke 18:9–14.

Paul’s message to the Philippians had clear political shades—his gospel, about the resurrected king of David’s line, showed that Caesar was a pretended. The Philippians were to be encouraged that the defining order of their lives was not to be the greasy ladder of Roman social mobility, suspended under Caesar, but the fellowship in Christ and the Holy Spirit that unites the church. The radical implications of this message are sometimes lost on affluent modern westerners, who understand little of the pressures of social exclusion in the ancient world. But what if Paul’s message challenges us where it really counts—our desire for an identity and purpose defined by “me and me alone”?

Our fall sermon series is on Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi. As we go through Philippians, you may want to consult the following commentaries for personal Bible study.

Do you have a question about today’s sermon? Email Sam Fornecker ([email protected]).