SERMONIC THEME
Opening Statement: Last week, we began looking at something that I entitled Christianity in Action as it was embodied in a man by the name of Epaphroditus. “Ep” was one of four examples that Paul mentions of selfless Christian living. In Philippians 2:3-4 Paul wrote: 2:3 Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 2:4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. He then proceeds to give four examples of individuals who were living selflessly: Jesus, Paul himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. As I pointed out last week, it appears that one of the reasons that he’s writing about selfless living is to help two individuals (probably women) resolve a spat. In Philippians 4:2 we read 4:2 I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord. They were being selfish and joyless. Paul gives four examples for them and others to emulate. We focus again today on the fourth example cited, Epaphroditus, who was a source of joy.
Notation: This man is every pastor’s dream! He served. He sacrificed. He fought. He did everything within his power to assist the great apostle and to build the body of Christ. In fact, if my own children grow up to be like Epaphroditus, I’ll be a happy father!
Title: Epaphroditus – Selfless Christianity in Action!
Question: Is there really any other kind?
Text: Philippians 2:25-30
***************************************************
Background: As his name indicates "favorite of Aphrodite”, Epaphroditus came out of a pagan environment, born to pagan parents. Somewhere along the way, he had encountered the gospel and was one of the faithful leaders in the church at Philippi. He was so reputable and trustworthy that the church actually sent an offering to Paul via his hands to support Paul’s ministry efforts in Rome as well as to pay Epaphroditus’ salary to stay in Rome and be Paul’s assistant (4:14-19). Unfortunately, Epaphroditus had become physically ill after arriving in Rome. This news had gone back to Philippi. This caused Epaphroditus a lot of pain. He did not want the church to worry about his health and he wanted so much to fulfill his mission to Paul there in Rome. Paul, knowing all of this and needing to write them a letter anyway, decided to use this opportunity to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi with the letter as soon as he was well enough to travel. Paul knew what the Philippian believers had intended for Epaphroditus. For Epaphroditus, this whole affair could have been a potentially embarrassing situation. He had to return home without completing his term of service. To help ease this fear of embarrassment and to help answer any second-guessing on the part of the church in even sending Epaphroditus in the first place, Paul wrote a very glowing testimony for him, commending him for such incredible service.
Application: If I as your pastor had to write a testimony for you, what could I include? What kinds of things could I say about you? Here’s the kind of thing that I want to be able to say about you.
Key Word: In fact, Paul notes SEVEN wonderful CHARACTERISTICS in Epaphroditus that really clarifies what the Christian life can and should look like eventually in all of our lives.
Recitation: Philippians 2:25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need. 2:26 Indeed, he greatly missed all of you [Have you ever been homesick?] and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. 2:27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. [Have you ever been this sick or felt this badly?] But God showed mercy to him—and not to him only, but also to me—so that I would not have grief on top of grief. 2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety. 2:29 So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 2:30 since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. [Give him a heroes welcome. He did his job, even though he is returning home a little earlier than planned.] He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.
Transition: The first CHARACTERISTIC that Paul notes…
OUTLINE
The Christian Life Includes Becoming a Family Together
Recitation: Philippians 2:25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother…
Exposition: Don’t miss that. It’s the first of several images that Paul thinks of when he thinks of Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus was like a brother to him.
Definition: The term adelphos carries the idea of camaraderie, friendship, affection, feelings. And so Paul is saying, first of all, I want you to know that Epaphroditus not only shares with me common life, but he is like a brother to me. I have affection for him, he is my comrade, and he is my friend. The expression “my brother” says a lot about the way Paul viewed the new community. The first thing that I want to be able to say about my partners here at Sunman Community is that they have a real sense for family and ministry within the church family.
Illustration: One of my former pastor’s shared how that his older brother and he were close as kids but how that over time they drifted apart. However, when his son became ill with spinal meningitis and was near death, he called his distant brother and told him about it. My former pastor was living in southern Florida at the time and his brother was living in Houston, Texas. His brother drove well over a thousand miles to be with him. Pastor Danny said that Ronnie wasn’t a trained counselor. He didn’t have a lot of money to help with the hospital bills. When he got there, he had no formula to take away the pain. He didn’t try to step in and make all of the decisions. Pastor Danny said, “He was just there; he was my brother. And I can never tell you how much his presence meant to me during those difficult days.”
Application: Ninety-five percent of ministry is being there in the critical moments. The new community is a family where we learn how that our presence many times is a ministry. So when you come to church, visit someone in the hospital, help a family in need, or cover someone who is vulnerable to embarrassment or mistake (just like Epaphroditus was), you’re a ministry, contributing to the family.
Observation: Paul covered his brother with this glowing testimony about him. That’s what family members do, you see. We cover and protect. We don’t berate and ridicule. Paul could have been much more harsh. He could have written, “Man, what kind of wimp did you send me here? This guy is homesick and physically sick and nearly died. He’s costing me money! He’s not insured! These Roman doctors charge an arm-and-a-leg. Please interview your short-term missionary candidates more thoroughly!” He didn’t do this. You see, when you’re part of the family, you’re covered. Have you heard of the phrase, “I got your back?” Paul had his back. Why? Epaphroditus was like a brother to him. How would it make you feel today if someone in this congregation told you, “I got your back”? Would you feel relieved, appreciated, safe, and secure? Would you have a new appreciation for the new community?
Illustration: This phrase "I got your back" reminds me of my college internship as a prison chaplain in Belle Glade, FL. Imagine being incarcerated for the first time in a prison filled with people who are there for the most part for committing some incredible misdeeds. It is a fearful thing. Living in bunk style dormitories, the opportunities to harm another inmate were plentiful. However, if you were a Christian and identified with them, the Christians would watch over you because you were a "brother." They’d watch your back, just like Paul and Epaphroditus watched each other’s back.
Clarification: The new community is to believe in holding our own accountable. We are to help people see and fulfill their responsibilities. Watching someone’s back does not mean always covering for someone’s immaturity. Watching someone’s back does not mean that we are to cater to the hurt feelings of others or placate the childish. It’s not any of these things. You see, Paul knew the track record of Epaphroditus. He had established himself as a reliable worker and responsible Christian. It was easy to go to bat for him and to write this wonderful testimony for him. Do you make it easy for others to go to bat for you or for others to carry you? Have you given your pastor plenty of material to include in writing your biography, if he was to write one? In writing your biography and coming to the chapter entitled, “New Community and Brotherhood,” what could I say about you there?
Illustration: You’ve heard about the story of a man who sees a young six-year old boy carrying another little boy almost as big as he was. The man commented: “You’ve got quite a load there, don’t you, young man?” The young boy replied: “Why, he ain’t heavy; he’s my brother.” You’re a whole lot easier to carry when you’re a brother, and partnering with the new community.
CONCLUSION
Invitation: I can’t help but be reminded today of a God who looked down through eternity and seeing our great need, sent his Son, Jesus, into our world to tell us, “I’ve got your back. I’ve got you covered and all you have to do is believe that it’s true.” Isn’t that great news? Deacons come forward and I will invite others to come while we sing our closing hymn. This is your invitation to be a part of the new community by way of spiritual new birth.
