Sermons on Philippians 1:18-20:

When The Holidays Are Hard: Finding Peace When You Can't.

Contributed by John Dobbs on Dec 1, 2022

The holidays are often the happiest time of the year for many people.  It’s easy to forget that for many, the family gatherings, songs, and celebrations overlook the losses they have endured - and instead of being the happiest season of all, it becomes a hard time of year.

When The Holidays Are Hard: Finding Peace When You Can't Introduction The holidays are often the happiest time of the year for many people.  It’s easy to forget that for many, the family gatherings, songs, and celebrations overlook the losses they have endured - and instead of being ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19, Philippians 3:12-14, Philippians 4:6-7

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain

Contributed by Hans Krause on Oct 14, 2018

When we focus on Jesus Christ in our day-to-day lives, we discover purpose and meaning that outweighs the fear of suffering and death.

[Sermon preached on 16 September 2018, 17th Sunday after Pentecost / 3rd year, ELCF Lectionary] Today, the topic for our sermon gets really serious. No more and no less than a matter of life and death: “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” The apostle Paul is dead serious—forgive me the ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:20-26

Denomination: Lutheran

Lesson Of The Garbage Truck!

Contributed by Melvin Newland on Oct 15, 2018

Paul mentions some negative things that are going on in his life - unpleasant circumstances, unreasonable people, & his uncertain future. But Paul shows that God was able to use those negative things in a very positive way.

MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK TEXT: Philippians 4:8; Philippians 1:12-23 ILL. Someone wrote, "One day I got into a taxi & we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when a car ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 4:8, Philippians 1:12-23

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

The Advance Of The Gospel Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on Apr 13, 2019

Philippians 1:12-18 teaches us to put the advance of the gospel at the center of our ambitions.

Scripture We are in a series of sermons on Paul’s letter to the Philippians that I am calling, “The Christian’s Contentment.” After the opening greeting of his letter to the Philippian Christians, Paul gave thanks to God for them, and then he prayed for them. He had planted the church in Philippi ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

To Live Is Christ Series

Contributed by Freddy Fritz on May 10, 2019

Philippians 1:18-30 teaches us to live for Christ.

Scripture We are in a series of sermons on Paul’s letter to the Philippians that I am calling, “The Christian’s Contentment.” Paul planted the church in Philippi on his second missionary journey. About ten years after planting the church, Paul was under house arrest in Rome. His future was ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-30

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Gospel Always Wins Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 11, 2021

Sometimes, in our zeal, we overthink--and overreact--to our worldly environments and how we should be salt and light in them. Paul helps us focus on right thinking when it comes to our witness and testimony.

I. Intro: “How Not to Fight Atheism” As reported by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. of the CHRISTIAN POST: “In December 2010, the Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason - a group dedicated to raising the profile of secularists, atheists, and agnostics - began running advertisements on Fort Worth public buses ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:15-18

Find Joy In Service Series

Contributed by Michael Mays on Sep 11, 2021

We spend a lot of time in this life chasing things that we cannot take with us when we die. Paul recognizes the value of eternal rewards, and it’s a good problem to have to be conflicted between continuing to earn more, or being in heaven to enjoy what’s been won.

I. Intro A. Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who give what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” B. We spend a lot of time in this life chasing things that we cannot take with us when we die C. Paul recognizes the value of eternal rewards, and it’s a good problem to have to be conflicted ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-26

Gospel Centered Ministry Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on May 14, 2023

Paul rejoices that the Gospel is advancing in spite of obstacles

Technicolor Joy: Philippians 1:12-18 Gospel-Centered Ministry Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 5-14-2023 On January 8th, 1956 Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, Pete Fleming, and their pilot, Nate Saint landed near a river in the jungle of Ecuador. They ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Baptist

"Let's Start A Movement!" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jul 10, 2017

If I want to learn to be truly happy, I want to learn from someone who didn’t have everything just handed to them, I want to learn from someone who had some struggles and was still happy. So I choose to learn from the Apostle Paul.

“Let’s start a Movement!” Philippians 1: 9-19 For those of us who really enjoy reading your probably will aware that there is a book out there on every topic you can imagine. Many offer self-help; advice on how to change your life for how to achieve a particular goal. If you want to be wealthy ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:9-19

Denomination: Baptist

Having Joy In The Hard Things Series

Contributed by Patrick O'loughlin on Jul 16, 2017

Philippians is a manual on living in joy. Here is how we live with joy in the hard things.

Text: Philippians 1:12-18 Title: Having Joy in the hard things Introduction: We have been looking this month at the book of Philippians. One of the major themes in the book of Philippians is joy. The words “joy” or “rejoice” are to be found in all four chapters of the book. ( 1:4,18, 25,26 ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Assembly Of God

"First Things First" Series

Contributed by David Henderson on Jul 17, 2017

Happiness is a choice. If you do not have it, it is no one else’s fault. It is because you have chosen otherwise. Arrange your priorities and choose the things that really matter.

“First things First” Philippians 1:20-30 Here we find the great apostle Paul in prison in Rome. There would be some similarities in prison in that day and today but certainly there are some differences as well. In Paul’s day, the prisoner was often shackled, in chains to a guard. This guard had ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:20-30

Denomination: Baptist

Making Something Good From Something Bad Series

Contributed by David Owens on Oct 30, 2017

We learn from Paul's experience with his Roman imprisonment that God can use bad things that happen to us for good.

Introduction: A. Today, we are continuing in our sermon series on Paul’s letter to the Philippians called “Joy for the Journey.” 1. I want us to continue to understand how attitude makes a difference in whether or not we experience joy for the journey. 2. But by attitude, I don’t mean a foolish ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Someone To Live And Die For Series

Contributed by David Owens on Nov 6, 2017

In this sermon, we consider Paul's confidence, conviction and conflict that gave him someone to live and die for.

Introduction: A. Life can often be complicated and confusing! – How is that for an understatement? 1. In his famous “Peanuts” cartoon, Charles Shultz marvelously captured that reality of life. 2. In one cartoon, Lucy was front and center, delivering one of her characteristic lectures. 3. She ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:19-26

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Are You Living, Or Are You Dying? Series

Contributed by Nickolas Kooi on Oct 1, 2017

My dorm mate used to say, "Are you living, or are you dying?" His saying brings up a point. What is living? As Paul sits in a dark, dank, depressing prison cell, he gives us and the Philippians an answer.

Are you living, or are you dying? One of my dormmates, Josh, would tell me that all the time. He would say that to encourage me to get out of my room, to stop studying, and to go have some fun, which, in his definition, would be living. Then what is dying? Well, that is what I was doing, and ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14, Philippians 1:19-26

Denomination: Lutheran

What To Do When Stuff Happens

Contributed by Stephen E. Trail on Oct 2, 2017

How to cope when things go wrong.

"What to Do When Stuff Happens" Philippians 1:12-19 Introduction: How many of you know that "stuff happens" in life? Most reasonable thinking folks understand that things happen in life; difficult things, unexplainable things, unimaginable things, stuff that just happens. Now there are all kinds of ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-20

Denomination: Baptist