Bloom Where You're Planted Series

I. Intro:

A. Pandemic Panic?

1. In the early days of the COVID pandemic, we watched our ministry opportunities almost immediately and completely evaporate—no assisted living/nursing home concerts, no home concerts, no church concerts, NOTHING

2. Rather than respond in fear (but after a little bit of being stunned), we wondered, “How can we adjust our ministry to remain effective and relevant?”

3. As churches would have been preparing for VBS, we developed our own, and while we haven’t had opportunity to fully use it, it has taught us a lot about doing VBS, creating program materials, and trusting God to use what we had, where we were

B. You folks are in transition, too—in a way, we all are—but just because things are different than they were before you got here does NOT mean God is through with you, merely that He has a new plan for how you can serve Him.

C. Scriptural Context

1. Philippians is referred to as the “most joyous book of the Bible,” though during a time when Nero was feeding Christians to lions or burning them as torches

2. Paul’s thankfulness for their faithful partnership and confidence that God will continue and complete the work He had begun in them

3. Paul’s affection for them as fellow ministers and servants of the Gospel

4. Paul’s prayer for them that their “knowledge and insight” would grow, they would be able to recognize righteousness, and bear fruit

II. A Purpose in Prison (v.12)

A. Paul’s situation: He is in prison in Rome-where Nero lives!

B. “To advance”: a term often referring to forward movement in spite of obstacles, dangers, distractions (like an army)

C. Paul says this creates opportunities—in 4:22, he says “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.”

III. A Reputation is a Sermon (v.13)

A. Everyone around him knew Paul was no criminal; preaching Jesus was not actually illegal

1. Ephesians 6:20–“…I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

B. Paul was actually locked down in a private house but was unable to go anywhere at will—sound familiar?

C. Paul knew that his situation was common knowledge, and not just in the house he was limited to—here he refers to all of Rome (among those who had met or heard of him)

D. Sometimes God uses us best where we want to be least

IV. An Opportunity to Inspire (v.14)

A. “Confident…by my imprisonment”—not that the brothers were glad Paul was imprisoned, but were positively affected by his faithfulness to act out their own faith

B. “Much more bold to speak”—Paul was an example of God’s faithfulness, serving as an encouragement to "speak without fear” regardless of negative outcomes

C. “Most of the brothers”—Paul knows there are some who will be detractors or competitors, but regardless the reason, the Gospel gets spread (v.18)

V. Conclusion

A. Unpleasant circumstances are not a punishment, they are opportunities to grow stronger in our faith, closer to God, and bolder with our message

B. Our demeanor and our conversation say a lot about us. Let them be attractive and uplifting of others, even while we uplift Christ—this will give us a reputation that honors God.

C. Don’t assume that limitations on your mobility are actual limitations to the Gospel. Good news spreads when we show others we aren’t afraid of challenge, but also think enough of them to make an effort to share love with them