Review

In Christ, Paul is totally free…In Christ, Paul is totally free… To tTo trust in the bigger picturerust in the bigger picture No pity-partiesNo pity-parties Sees beyond personal pain to Sees beyond personal pain to

Christ’s planChrist’s plan Exalt Christ as a purpose and Exalt Christ as a purpose and

serve his people as a defaultserve his people as a default

Whatever happens, conduct Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the contending as one man for the faith of the gospel…faith of the gospel…

……without being frightened in any way without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I you saw I had, and now hear that I still have- Philippians 1:27-30still have- Philippians 1:27-30

Whatever happens, conduct Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ- vs. 27of the gospel of Christ- vs. 27

What might happen?What might happen?

What might happen?What might happen?

- Paul stays in jail and dies for - Paul stays in jail and dies for the gospelthe gospel

- - Beginning a period of more Beginning a period of more intense intense persecutionpersecution

What might happen?What might happen?

- Paul is released and comes to - Paul is released and comes to visit the visit the PhilippiansPhilippians

- - Bringing words of correction to Bringing words of correction to the Christians the Christians at Philippi at Philippi

Ultimately, who is responsible for Ultimately, who is responsible for an individual Christian’s growth?an individual Christian’s growth?

……conduct yourselves in a manner conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ- vs. worthy of the gospel of Christ- vs. 2727

……live in such a way that you are a live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ- credit to the Message of Christ- Message VersionMessage Version

Conduct= citizenshipConduct= citizenship

Literally- Show by your changed life Literally- Show by your changed life the reality of your citizenship in the reality of your citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom by the gospel of Christ’s Kingdom by the gospel of JesusJesus

How? What change is Jesus NOT How? What change is Jesus NOT talking about?talking about?

In what ways do Christians stumble in In what ways do Christians stumble in showing the reality of Jesus today?showing the reality of Jesus today?

Whatever happens…be so Whatever happens…be so centered on Jesus, so sold-out, centered on Jesus, so sold-out, head-over-heels in love with head-over-heels in love with Christ, that every circumstance Christ, that every circumstance is an opportunity to experience is an opportunity to experience the joy and awesome excitement the joy and awesome excitement of God working through you to of God working through you to accomplish his will on this earth: accomplish his will on this earth: Christ glorified in youChrist glorified in you

Then, whether I come and see you or Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel- vs. 27bfor the faith of the gospel- vs. 27b

The most The most missionalmissional church of their church of their time, and time, and lost their love lost their love for one for one another in the processanother in the process

It’s possible to have a lot of activity It’s possible to have a lot of activity for God without having the for God without having the blessings of Godblessings of God

If I have the gift of prophecy and can If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing- 1 not love, I am nothing- 1 Corinthians 13:2Corinthians 13:2

……I will know that you stand firm in I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel- vs. 27bfor the faith of the gospel- vs. 27b

Problems from within and Problems from within and persecution from outside are both persecution from outside are both obstacles and opportunities for the obstacles and opportunities for the church of Jesus Christchurch of Jesus Christ

- We either - We either divide and are divide and are conqueredconquered or or unite and overcomeunite and overcome

Although I am ultimately Although I am ultimately responsible for my growth in the responsible for my growth in the faith, Christianity is always a faith, Christianity is always a team effort team effort

- Never a spectator-sport- Never a spectator-sport

- Never a solo effort- Never a solo effort

Without being frightened in any Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God- will be saved—and that by God- vs. 28vs. 28

In Christ- calm, cool, courage. In Christ- calm, cool, courage. How? How?

What is the sign that they will be What is the sign that they will be destroyed?destroyed?

When Christians (humbly) refuse When Christians (humbly) refuse to back down, walk away or to back down, walk away or retreat, they prove the reality of retreat, they prove the reality of their faith to a watching worldtheir faith to a watching world

For it has been granted to you on For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have- vs. 29-30now hear that I still have- vs. 29-30

Granted= Granted= gracious gift. How?gracious gift. How?

What are the Philippian Christians What are the Philippian Christians facing?facing?

Dear friends, do not be surprised Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed- 1 Peter his glory is revealed- 1 Peter 4:12-134:12-13

If you belonged to the world, it If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the is, you do not belong to the world world (citizenship)(citizenship), but I have , but I have chosen you out of the world. chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you- That is why the world hates you- John 15:19John 15:19

The reality of the gospel is lived The reality of the gospel is lived out daily through your lifeout daily through your life

Christianity becomes a team effortChristianity becomes a team effort

Unity is not an optionUnity is not an option

Suffering and faith go hand-in-Suffering and faith go hand-in-handhand