“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.”
- HUGE APP: We are to work together UNTIL we are face to face with Jesus!
-- Why? Because God has called us to it, and it is where we need to be!
- TR: Now, look at how Paul reflects on his feelings to the reader …
Point 2 – The Gospel must become personal to us
- BIG: If we do not make the Gospel personal, it will NEVER be a living Word
- v7 he encourages them: “… it is right for him to feel this way about ALL of you”
-- YOU! It is right that God would inspire Paul to want to edify (lift up) the church
- APP: Paul’s commitment to them is unwavering
-- Proclaims that whether he is in chains (physical or spiritual) he applauds them
-- His encouragement is that we would continue on, even in the face of trials
-- Why? Because if we do (GET THIS):
-- Because … v7(b), “you share with me the special favor (aka grace) of God.”
-- GR: charitos (car-ee-tos); grace, kindness
- Did he just say that we will share in God’s grace WITH him? YES!
-- It is a privilege to share the Gospel; it is an honor to give others the Gospel
-- And because of the Gospel, Paul’s declaration is to be invested in one another
- If it’s a privilege to preach Christ, it is ALSO a privilege to suffer WITH Him!
-- HUGE: We are blessed to be trusted with sharing what we’ve received!
- Paul says (v8) that only God can testify of how long he desires that we’d know
-- He says that his heart aches that we would know what he knows of Jesus
- REM: Paul is a slave (GR: doulos) of Christ, affirms we are to be as well
-- It is right for him to feel this way because … they (we) share in this work
-- We are called to be responders and defenders of the same Gospel
-- It is why this sentence is so endearing (or personal) and why it means so much
- Let me rephrase it and see if it makes more of impact to you:
-- It is right for me to feel this way because we both know the love of Jesus Christ
-- We share in the cohesion of Christ, so we must have affection for one another!
- Get this: When Paul speaks this way, it is not in a casual manner
-- It is his intention to bring to mind the importance of where we’ve been
-- “All of you share in God’s grace with me”; both in His suffering and His glory
-- If we have been captured by the same Spirit, we are to have same deep affection
- v8 goes even deeper: “God knows how much I love and long for you”
-- APP: God is making me more like Himself, therefore my heart aches for you
- Don’t allow the devil to let you wander here, the transparency is VERY clear
-- APP: We are called to have a deep affection for members of the body
-- Why? Because we share in the same knowledge that without Christ we are lost!
- TR: It is in this spirit & relationship that Paul’s prayer should be considered
-- But look at the following verses to see how Paul really feels about this church
-- And in that, we see a tremendous lesson for you and me on how to act …
Point 3 – Our compassion must extend past these walls
- Let me be very clear here: Paul does not believe in “drive by prayer”
-- I don’t think Paul would be one to click “like” on Facebook and call it done
-- Nor, would he respond with a pair of praying hands and think that is prayer
-- Paul gets down to the heart of his prayer in three wonderful parts:
- Part 1: READ Verse 9
- That your love, that the very inner part of your being and who you are
-- That IT might grow in the knowledge and understanding about Jesus Christ
- “Knowledge” deals with general principles (things that are taught to you)
-- But when he uses “understanding” he’s referring to how it is applied in your life
-- Meaning: That we would learn how to apply what we know, daily, to ourselves!
-- And what do we know? That God loved us first, that He is our first love
- IMP: Paul literally prays that we’d grow deeper in showing love for one another
- Part 2: READ Verse 10
- When we understand, or are discerning, we are dividing the truth from a lie
-- Paul is calling us to be wise, to know how to apply the things of God daily
-- 2 Tim 2:15, “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”
- Additionally, that we would “live pure and blameless lives UNTIL” …
-- That when Christ appears, we would be found working for the Gospel
-- We’d be doing the things He has called us to do (Great Commission) ? KEY
- Part 3: READ Verse 11
- Now, here comes the why we should do these things he is praying for …
-- Paul’s desire is that the Church would be filled with righteousness character
- FACT: We need the righteousness that only God provides through Jesus
-- Romans 3:10-12, “As the Scriptures say, No one is righteous - not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”
-- See this: Our righteousness will not get it done; Paul’s prayer is to know Christ
- Why? Because it can only come from the One who has authority to give it!
-- Look at revelation of Jesus: John 15:1-4, “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit (fruit: results of Godly works), and he prunes (GR: damaskina: lop off) the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, (watch this) and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
-- HUGE: Our righteousness comes from a place of being attached to the vine
-- The result of our work is, “this will bring much glory and praise to God”! (v11)
- TRANS: So, what’s this mean to us today?
Big Idea
- Paul’s opening word is dedicated solely to his affection for the church
-- See this: Not just a church, a but a Church that is living rightly for God’s favor
-- A church that is doing the things it’s supposed to do … not faking it
-- Go even deeper: A church that loves ALL who come; that drags people to God
- When we start praying and loving people like this, it ONLY honors God (v11)
-- Know this: It is the outward expression of what Jesus has done on your inside
- The personal mission of the church is simple:
• Give thanks and pray for others
• Work with others in partnership for the same cause (Gospel)
• Seek to give the Gospel to everyone we encounter; it is God’s work for us
- Take away challenge:
-- Living worthy of the Gospel means that we are to be found doing the work
-- That we, as Christians, are in this together – but not for our ego, desire, or needs
- Truly, it is discipleship at its finest – given to us by the chief sinner of men
-- When God’s people unify, how can we not engage the world personally?
-- Is there a part of you that DOESN’T want to make this personal? Why?
-- What are you waiting for? What is holding you back? Stop it!
- Pray
