Sermons – Grace Evangelical Free Church // Wyoming, MN

Philippians 3:1-11 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

I love the book of Philippians. There is an intensity and earnestness in the language Paul uses throughout the book that emphatically puts Jesus on display as the supreme treasure that he really is. There is a sharp edge to the way in which he wants the Philippians to live a life with the singular purpose of making Jesus the center of everything. Paul is all in on Jesus and spends 4 chapters showing what that means. He writes in such a way that these verses ought to grab us by the shoulders and shake us. Chapter 3 is dialing up the intensity of us seeing what his life looks like as a follow of Jesus.

These eleven verses show the exclusivity of Christianity. Other religions lay out ways to make yourself right with God through outward acts of good deeds. One afternoon I had a Mormon show up at my door to share with me about his religion. Some of what he said sounded Christian, yet all of what he was saying was leading towards having a better life. Become a Mormon and you will do better in business, your family will be more moral, and you will have a happier life.

When he finished, I said I had one question about what he believed. How do I get right with God? How can my relationship with God be restored because of what sin has done to cut it off? He said that you live a good, moral life that is pleasing to God. My follow up question to that was, if I were to die in the next few days, how would I know if my good deeds were good enough? He didn’t have an answer.

He didn’t have an answer because he was putting confidence in the flesh. The exclusivity of Christianity is that we put no confidence in the flesh. Our salvation is not based on doing. Jesus did the doing. We bring nothing to the table. We offer nothing. Jesus offers everything. May we never become so familiar with this amazing truth, that we cease to be in wonder of it.

Paul is writing to people that know the gospel. Paul started the church in Philippi. He has taught them the gospel, yet here he is reminding them of the snares of putting confidence in anything else other than Jesus. There will always be the subtle pull and danger of putting our confidence in the flesh.

When I was a teenager I was in an orienteering course, learning how to use a compass and a map to navigate through the woods. I learned that it is really important to shoot a straight bearing as I was walking through the woods. If I was off slightly, over time I would get way off from where I was supposed to get to. Paul is warning the Philippians to continue to be on guard against putting any confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 2:19-30 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Intro

Good morning. If you have a Bible, let’s open to the book of Philippians. If you don’t have a Bible, we have some on the back shelf.

Compared to the last several weeks, this text looks much different. As you hear this, does it seem out of place? Paul gives some details about a few people and says he’s sending them to Philippi. Nice for them, but what does that possibly have to do with us? Especially after such a rich, well-known passage we looked at over the last three weeks?

Over the last three weeks in Philippians we have been showered with glorious truths about the gospel. It probably feels like we are going too fast and there is just too much to cover and focus on. It’s a large section filled with a lot of theology and several commands.

We can’t miss the gospel of grace that is at every step, but with all of the huge ideas and commands Paul has laid out, it can feel daunting. There is a lot to absorb and try to obey. Maybe it’s not the weekly gut-punch of exposing your sin that Hosea was, but if you’ve been here every week, it might feel like you need to catch your breath. And I think this sermon might serve us in that way today.

With all that Paul has said in the previous chapters, there’s a risk that it sounds abstract or impossible. We have the model of Jesus, but he isn’t physically here to show us humility. Sure, Paul was a real human, but maybe you don’t’ easily relate to an apostle. He was specially chosen by God, he was well-trained and traveled the world planting churches, writing letters. How can we identify with Jesus or Paul?

Another risk is that all of the theology we’ve heard remains in our brains. If this is only an academic or intellectual exercise, we’ve missed it. If it only puffs us up in knowledge, but our lives don’t result in actual change, how will the world see our light? James says ‘be doers of the word and not hearers only’. The gospel has to travel from our heads, to our hearts and to our hands where it comes out in action.

This is where our passage finds us this week. In God’s grace, he gives us tangible examples to follow, both to the Philippians, and also in our current church setting. If the last three weeks have been the theology to believe, this week we will look at two examples of how thinking like Christ works its way out in application.

The main point of the sermon is faith applied in self-denying, life-risking examples.

What I want to do in this sermon is first set the context of what Paul is describing. Why is Paul wanting to send people to the Philippians?

So we’ll answer that question and then look at the ways that Timothy and Epaphroditus are examples of Christ. And I think,

Philippians 2:19-30 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Intro

Good morning. If you have a Bible, let’s open to the book of Philippians. If you don’t have a Bible, we have some on the back shelf.

Compared to the last several weeks, this text looks much different. As you hear this, does it seem out of place? Paul gives some details about a few people and says he’s sending them to Philippi. Nice for them, but what does that possibly have to do with us? Especially after such a rich, well-known passage we looked at over the last three weeks?

Over the last three weeks in Philippians we have been showered with glorious truths about the gospel. It probably feels like we are going too fast and there is just too much to cover and focus on. It’s a large section filled with a lot of theology and several commands.

We can’t miss the gospel of grace that is at every step, but with all of the huge ideas and commands Paul has laid out, it can feel daunting. There is a lot to absorb and try to obey. Maybe it’s not the weekly gut-punch of exposing your sin that Hosea was, but if you’ve been here every week, it might feel like you need to catch your breath. And I think this sermon might serve us in that way today.

With all that Paul has said in the previous chapters, there’s a risk that it sounds abstract or impossible. We have the model of Jesus, but he isn’t physically here to show us humility. Sure, Paul was a real human, but maybe you don’t’ easily relate to an apostle. He was specially chosen by God, he was well-trained and traveled the world planting churches, writing letters. How can we identify with Jesus or Paul?

Another risk is that all of the theology we’ve heard remains in our brains. If this is only an academic or intellectual exercise, we’ve missed it. If it only puffs us up in knowledge, but our lives don’t result in actual change, how will the world see our light? James says ‘be doers of the word and not hearers only’. The gospel has to travel from our heads, to our hearts and to our hands where it comes out in action.

This is where our passage finds us this week. In God’s grace, he gives us tangible examples to follow, both to the Philippians, and also in our current church setting. If the last three weeks have been the theology to believe, this week we will look at two examples of how thinking like Christ works its way out in application.

The main point of the sermon is faith applied in self-denying, life-risking examples.

What I want to do in this sermon is first set the context of what Paul is describing. Why is Paul wanting to send people to the Philippians?

So we’ll answer that question and then look at the ways that Timothy and Epaphroditus are examples of Christ. And I think,

[Note: In the middle of the sermon, Mat discovered there was an error with the printer leaving him with no sermon notes for the last half of the sermon. He makes a comment about the printer and asks for a Bible. After a minute or so of preaching his wonderful wife, Miranda, who was in the audience and had noticed her husband struggling, pulled up the sermon from Google Drive on her phone and gave it to him. Gratefully, he was able to finish the sermon as prepared.]

Philippians 2:12-18 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Good morning Grace,

We are preaching our way through Philippians. Today we find ourselves in the middle of the sermon series Pastor Mike has so aptly entitled Joyfully Following Jesus Together ‘till the End.

Frankly, that would be a perfect title for today’s sermon. As I’m sure it would be for many of the sermons preached from Philippians because we will hit on all of these points. Joyfully, we rejoice like Paul. Following Jesus, into his humility and exaltation. Together, as a church. Until the end, when we are exalted and given heavenly crowns.

Since that title was taken I’ve called this sermon Our Joyful Working is Worship.

ContextBefore we dive into this morning’s text, we must backtrack and understand that we are not stumbling across these verses in isolation. We didn’t just receive these verses in a tweet. If you’re just joining us this morning, we are at the end of a long train of thought that Paul has building since chapter 1 of his letter. So let’s quick refresh.

First, he’s addressing believers. That’s extremely important. He’s not teaching unbelievers how to become children of God. He is writing to the children of God, the church, as the Bride of Christ, not individuals, so as an audience they are secure in Christ.

Next, he magnifies the beauty and worth of Christ while in chains and facing is probable death. Still, he expresses how we are to rejoice in the face of persecution and trials.

The Philippian church is caught up in arguments and grumbling and Paul says, “You’re never going to advance the gospel that way!” So, he exhorts them to Christ-obedience and unity for the sake of God’s glory, and the watching world.

Then in verse 29, he says something astounding. Something so difficult it’s hard to comprehend. This is probably the hardest part about being a Christian, and why many reject the true gospel. He says, “If you live like the world, and you have their goals and their beliefs and their desires, and spend money on yourself to buy big houses and nice cars and fine clothes, God will be glorified all the more and the entire world will confess Christ as King!” No. He said the exact opposite. Paul said that “it has been granted to you, that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” But people don’t want to suffer. That doesn’t make us happy! We want comfort and stuff. That makes us feel good.

This brings us to chapter 2 where Paul begins to describe what it looks like to imitate Christ. He says, Christ emptied himself,

[Note: In the middle of the sermon, Mat discovered there was an error with the printer leaving him with no sermon notes for the last half of the sermon. He makes a comment about the printer and asks for a Bible. After a minute or so of preaching his wonderful wife, Miranda, who was in the audience and had noticed her husband struggling, pulled up the sermon from Google Drive on her phone and gave it to him. Gratefully, he was able to finish the sermon as prepared.]

Philippians 2:12-18 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Good morning Grace,

We are preaching our way through Philippians. Today we find ourselves in the middle of the sermon series Pastor Mike has so aptly entitled Joyfully Following Jesus Together ‘till the End.

Frankly, that would be a perfect title for today’s sermon. As I’m sure it would be for many of the sermons preached from Philippians because we will hit on all of these points. Joyfully, we rejoice like Paul. Following Jesus, into his humility and exaltation. Together, as a church. Until the end, when we are exalted and given heavenly crowns.

Since that title was taken I’ve called this sermon Our Joyful Working is Worship.

ContextBefore we dive into this morning’s text, we must backtrack and understand that we are not stumbling across these verses in isolation. We didn’t just receive these verses in a tweet. If you’re just joining us this morning, we are at the end of a long train of thought that Paul has building since chapter 1 of his letter. So let’s quick refresh.

First, he’s addressing believers. That’s extremely important. He’s not teaching unbelievers how to become children of God. He is writing to the children of God, the church, as the Bride of Christ, not individuals, so as an audience they are secure in Christ.

Next, he magnifies the beauty and worth of Christ while in chains and facing is probable death. Still, he expresses how we are to rejoice in the face of persecution and trials.

The Philippian church is caught up in arguments and grumbling and Paul says, “You’re never going to advance the gospel that way!” So, he exhorts them to Christ-obedience and unity for the sake of God’s glory, and the watching world.

Then in verse 29, he says something astounding. Something so difficult it’s hard to comprehend. This is probably the hardest part about being a Christian, and why many reject the true gospel. He says, “If you live like the world, and you have their goals and their beliefs and their desires, and spend money on yourself to buy big houses and nice cars and fine clothes, God will be glorified all the more and the entire world will confess Christ as King!” No. He said the exact opposite. Paul said that “it has been granted to you, that for the sake of Christ, you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” But people don’t want to suffer. That doesn’t make us happy! We want comfort and stuff. That makes us feel good.

This brings us to chapter 2 where Paul begins to describe what it looks like to imitate Christ. He says, Christ emptied himself,

Philippians 2:5-11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Intro

Good morning Grace. We are moving along in Philippians and we come to this glorious mountain in 2:5-11. I mentioned several weeks ago in my introduction to the book of Philippians that I think of this passage as the giant mountain that can be seen from anywhere else in the book. Maybe living in Minnesota it’s hard to picture mountains. Think about visiting Duluth or the North Shore. No matter where you are, you can’t help but notice Lake Superior. Everything is in relation to this massive body of water. Even if you can’t immediately see the Lake, you feel the effects. This is what Paul is doing with this passage in 2:5-11. It’s the mountain or the giant lake that everything else is situated around.

While it would be easy to look at this passage simply for the theology it contains, it sits in the middle of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul was writing to a particular group of people in a particular context and we have to keep this in mind when we look at this passage. There is deep theology here, but Paul has a point why he would include this hymn where he does. In some ways it’s easy to see the glory of Christ in this passage. It’s so explicitly about the gospel. But there is so much here, I want to be sure we see it in the proper context and to see how it matters for us. It would be a miss if we saw this passage as abstract or distant from our own lives. Would you join me in prayer?

Father, thank you for sending your Word to us. For revealing yourself through the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms. And even more by revealing yourself through Jesus Christ, the exact imprint of your nature. It’s his name we proclaim this morning. It’s his life we must see in order to understand this text well. Please convict us of sin. Please assure us of your promises and the truths your word contains.

Kyle preached last week on the importance of unity. We see the command to complete Paul’s joy by being united and showing humility to others. This theme of unity runs throughout Philippians. Any group of people, no matter the size or setting, operates better with unity. From a country to a company to a sports team or smaller group like a family. If you have like-mindedness, things work better. And you can create unity in a number of ways, even forcefully: you might pay people to be united, you might you power and threaten exclusion or firing for disunity. Or people are drawn to unite over a common cause or goal. The unity the gospel has in mind is based on something different. It’s a command for unity, but the reason is rooted in our status with Christ: the example of Jesus.

It’s because the source of our attitude is found in the mind of Christ, who displayed his mind during his life. The text breaks down like this: There is the command to Think like Jesus thinks in verse 5 and then two sections as a result of the incarnation: A humbled Life (verse 6-8) and A glorious Life in (9-11).

Think like Jesus thinks (v5)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

We start this first section with a command that is a bridge between verses 1-4 and what follows in 6-11. When Paul says have “this”, he’s pointing back to the mind in verses 2-4.

If you have a Bible, look at Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 2:5-11 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Intro

Good morning Grace. We are moving along in Philippians and we come to this glorious mountain in 2:5-11. I mentioned several weeks ago in my introduction to the book of Philippians that I think of this passage as the giant mountain that can be seen from anywhere else in the book. Maybe living in Minnesota it’s hard to picture mountains. Think about visiting Duluth or the North Shore. No matter where you are, you can’t help but notice Lake Superior. Everything is in relation to this massive body of water. Even if you can’t immediately see the Lake, you feel the effects. This is what Paul is doing with this passage in 2:5-11. It’s the mountain or the giant lake that everything else is situated around.

While it would be easy to look at this passage simply for the theology it contains, it sits in the middle of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul was writing to a particular group of people in a particular context and we have to keep this in mind when we look at this passage. There is deep theology here, but Paul has a point why he would include this hymn where he does. In some ways it’s easy to see the glory of Christ in this passage. It’s so explicitly about the gospel. But there is so much here, I want to be sure we see it in the proper context and to see how it matters for us. It would be a miss if we saw this passage as abstract or distant from our own lives. Would you join me in prayer?

Father, thank you for sending your Word to us. For revealing yourself through the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms. And even more by revealing yourself through Jesus Christ, the exact imprint of your nature. It’s his name we proclaim this morning. It’s his life we must see in order to understand this text well. Please convict us of sin. Please assure us of your promises and the truths your word contains.

Kyle preached last week on the importance of unity. We see the command to complete Paul’s joy by being united and showing humility to others. This theme of unity runs throughout Philippians. Any group of people, no matter the size or setting, operates better with unity. From a country to a company to a sports team or smaller group like a family. If you have like-mindedness, things work better. And you can create unity in a number of ways, even forcefully: you might pay people to be united, you might you power and threaten exclusion or firing for disunity. Or people are drawn to unite over a common cause or goal. The unity the gospel has in mind is based on something different. It’s a command for unity, but the reason is rooted in our status with Christ: the example of Jesus.

It’s because the source of our attitude is found in the mind of Christ, who displayed his mind during his life. The text breaks down like this: There is the command to Think like Jesus thinks in verse 5 and then two sections as a result of the incarnation: A humbled Life (verse 6-8) and A glorious Life in (9-11).

Think like Jesus thinks (v5)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

We start this first section with a command that is a bridge between verses 1-4 and what follows in 6-11. When Paul says have “this”, he’s pointing back to the mind in verses 2-4.

If you have a Bible, look at Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 1:27-2:4 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

My prayer for us as we are working through Philippians this summer, is that the all the promises, truths and commands that pack these verses would work their way into the crevices of our lives seven days a week. I pray that as we drive home, as we begin a new week, as we do our work, as we sit on our deck in the sunshine, as we go for a run, as we talk to our neighbors, as we meet for discipleship group, and as we wake up next Sunday to hear another sermon; I pray that the splendor of the gospel and the charge to live gospel-worthy lives would dominate our minds and hearts day after day. I pray that we will be satisfied in Christ to the extent that we are routinely considering how we can advance the gospel. To that end, let’s pray together. God, please grant us the ability to see what is in these verses, in order to be enjoy and delight in you more, so that we can live out more gospel worthy lives.

There’s a lot in these verses. We will go too fast through them, but perhaps that may serve us well so that we get a more sweeping view of what Paul is telling the Philippians and telling us. What Paul tells us in verses 1-4 of chapter 2, flow from a heart that is saturated in verses 27-30 of chapter 1. You simply can’t do what Paul commands here over years and decades, unless your deepest joy is the gospel of Christ. Without joyful faith, you will not be able to sustain joyful unity, joyful suffering, or joyful service.

Paul talked about partnering in the gospel in verse 5, advancing the gospel through suffering in verse 12, a defense of the gospel in verse 16, and now living a life worthy of the gospel. As we will see in these verses, Paul is using words to help the Philippians think of themselves as citizens of heaven who are fighting together for the advancement of the gospel.

Consider your life. How are you taking the gospel on the attack in your own heart, in your family, in your job, in your neighborhood and within Grace Church? We ought to be striving side by side for the faith of the gospel so that through suffering and opposition we are showing that Jesus is our deepest joy, the gospel is the greatest news, and counting others as more significant than ourselves is a very high calling.

LIVE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL FOR UNITY IN THE GOSPEL

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27).”

The verse begins with the word only. Paul is telling the Philippians to pay attention to what he’s about to say, because this is the most important thing that should characterize your life. Your life ought to be worthy of the gospel of Christ. The word only carries the image of living as a citizen and carrying out his or her duties as a citizen.

Philippians 1:27-2:4 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

My prayer for us as we are working through Philippians this summer, is that the all the promises, truths and commands that pack these verses would work their way into the crevices of our lives seven days a week. I pray that as we drive home, as we begin a new week, as we do our work, as we sit on our deck in the sunshine, as we go for a run, as we talk to our neighbors, as we meet for discipleship group, and as we wake up next Sunday to hear another sermon; I pray that the splendor of the gospel and the charge to live gospel-worthy lives would dominate our minds and hearts day after day. I pray that we will be satisfied in Christ to the extent that we are routinely considering how we can advance the gospel. To that end, let’s pray together. God, please grant us the ability to see what is in these verses, in order to be enjoy and delight in you more, so that we can live out more gospel worthy lives.

There’s a lot in these verses. We will go too fast through them, but perhaps that may serve us well so that we get a more sweeping view of what Paul is telling the Philippians and telling us. What Paul tells us in verses 1-4 of chapter 2, flow from a heart that is saturated in verses 27-30 of chapter 1. You simply can’t do what Paul commands here over years and decades, unless your deepest joy is the gospel of Christ. Without joyful faith, you will not be able to sustain joyful unity, joyful suffering, or joyful service.

Paul talked about partnering in the gospel in verse 5, advancing the gospel through suffering in verse 12, a defense of the gospel in verse 16, and now living a life worthy of the gospel. As we will see in these verses, Paul is using words to help the Philippians think of themselves as citizens of heaven who are fighting together for the advancement of the gospel.

Consider your life. How are you taking the gospel on the attack in your own heart, in your family, in your job, in your neighborhood and within Grace Church? We ought to be striving side by side for the faith of the gospel so that through suffering and opposition we are showing that Jesus is our deepest joy, the gospel is the greatest news, and counting others as more significant than ourselves is a very high calling.

LIVE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL FOR UNITY IN THE GOSPEL

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Phil. 1:27).”

The verse begins with the word only. Paul is telling the Philippians to pay attention to what he’s about to say, because this is the most important thing that should characterize your life. Your life ought to be worthy of the gospel of Christ. The word only carries the image of living as a citizen and carrying out his or her duties as a citizen.

Philippians 1:18-26 Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Good Morning. Happy Father’s day. Whether you have a good earthly father, a bad earthly father or you never knew your earthly father, we gather this morning to worship our perfect heavenly father. Because of the nature of the trinity, God has never not been in relationship within the godhead. The Father has always been a good father. Think for a second how much we learn on the job and figure things out midstream. But God the Father has always had perfect knowledge and perfect relationship as a father. As many or most of you will celebrate Father’s Day this afternoon, take a minute to reflect on the truth of God as Father.

Will you pray with me and give thanks? One of the ways fathers take care of their children is by feeding them. Please pray with me as we ask our Father to feed us his word this morning.

Father in heaven, you are holy. You are a giver of good gifts and you lavish them on us. Thank you that we have certainty of salvation because of Christ. Would you, through your Spirit, help us to bask in appreciation of your perfect Fatherliness today? We come here with different weeks and perspectives. Some of us are tired and worn out. Some of us are indifferent to your glory. Some of us are feeling thin in our faith. Father speak to us in our weaknesses. Don’t let the high bar of this passage allow us to dismiss it. Help us to sit in it, see the glory of Christ more and cause us to live differently. You word causes things to happen: Worlds exist, dead bones dance, sins are forgiven, your kingdom advances. Please give us ears to hear and greater faith to believe your word. God will you speak to us now?

If you were to die tonight, how certain are you of your destiny?

Second question, can you see death as better than what you have in life?

Those are hard questions. But they are incredibly important questions to answer. These questions get at the main point of our passage this morning. A Christ honoring life. Paul is challenging his audience and us to examine how we understand things with an eternal perspective.

Last week we looked at Paul’s current situation in prison. He was facing trial with the potential of punishment by death. Despite these dire circumstances, he maintained a perspective that saw God working to advance the gospel. Even as others tried to afflict him through preaching the gospel, he was filled with joy. The reason for his joy was that Christ was proclaimed and the gospel advanced.

Now in verse 18 he looks forward to what he is confident will happen in the future. Paul knows that Christ will be honored no matter what. Whether life or death. Paul’s goal is to honor Christ with whatever the future holds. He does this in several ways: his hope and joy in salvation means he lives with greater urgency in life. And his purpose for the progress and joy of others. As Paul’s joy increases, so does his desire to see others’ joy increase too.

A Christ-honoring Life means three things in this passage: A joyful life. An urgent life. And a discipling life.

I.