Making The Gospel Personal, Philippians Part 1 Series

“Making the Gospel Personal”

Philippians Sermon Series, Part 1

Philippians 1:1-11

Introduction

- Today we begin our series in Philippians, want you to be as excited as I am!

-- This is a great book of discipleship; prayerfully help us draw closer to Christ

- Brief set up: Philippians was written by Paul, to the church in Philippi

-- Philippi was filled with a mixed people, not just one specific group in the land

-- It was often used as a thoroughfare for merchants traveling the area

-- Let me give you just some background at the 50,000 level …

- Philippi was located in Eastern Macedonia (modern day Greece)

-- King Philip II founded this city as a stronghold in 357 BC

-- The area was surrounded by mountains between these two continents

-- It had a very convenient harbor and was well known for gold mines

-- Also provided perfect cover for armies, allowed settlements to blossom

- So, let’s explore this wonderful book … THEME: discipleship for the church

-- Read (NLT Version) Philippians 1:1-11 / Pray

- Before we dive in, let’s see if we can level set:

1. Christians must reflect the joy of Christ in everything we do

2. This means you and I are to make the Gospel personal, because it is!

3. Not telling others shows them that we have nothing different to offer them

- Consider this:

-- If someone has a sour puss on 24/7 – how effective can they be?

-- Or, how about people who have NO happiness but only complain (Eeyore)?

-- Philippians is a great example for believers on why we should share the gospel

Point 1 – (must see that) Paul is personally invested in the Church

- We know Paul is not traveling alone, but with another familiar man

-- Timothy was traveling with him; he would’ve joined Paul in the city of Lystra

-- Acts 16:1 reflects the tale of when they met: “Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer (Eunice) but his father was a Greek.”

- While in Philippi, he develops a real affection for the believers

-- It’s shown in how he writes this letter – ex: how personal it is addressed

-- What we must note, is the overall encouragement that Paul gives to the reader

- This encouragement is what we will focus on: “Living Worthy of the Gospel”

-- GET THIS: It is a joy to serve Christ together, and we must recognize that

-- TR: Let’s see how Paul describes his personal circumstances and his heart

- APP: Letter is written to the church and those charged with protecting it (v1)

-- To the leaders (or elders) and the deacons (servants / elders)

-- But … it’s also to those who are in the church: “all of God’s holy people”

-- GR: hagiois (hag-ee-oh-is); sacred, holy, set apart for God

- Paul extends to them grace and peace (a common greeting in Christ)

-- Why? It is something that we should mirror when as we live our lives today

-- APP: We are to live our lives as a reminder with the things God has given us

- Amazing line (v3): “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.”

-- APP: Friends, the apostle Paul prayed for and thanked God for these

-- If there is ever a verse where we should draw together, there it is …

-- God is not calling us to division, but to rejoice in what Jesus has unified

- Some of us might need to examine this and consider what it really means

-- EX: Paul was able to pray for all (v4) … knowing, society is NOT the enemy!

- Why? Because we are partners (v5) in God’s truth, challenged to grow together

-- TRUTH: You want to know why churches fail to grow? B/c it’s “us vs them”

-- In 2022, I’d like to declare it the charge of Seasons is to SEEK partners!

-- Re-read v3-5 again … what a joy is it to JOIN together with those in Christ!

- Now, check out v6 (my verse) …

-- I am certain: There’s assurance built on testimony/experience

-- That God, who began: It is and always will be God who calls us

-- A good work: The ministry focus: if it’s not about Jesus, it’s not our work!

-- Until it is finished on the day when Jesus Christ returns: What is the day?

-- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So, encourage each other with these words.”