Living Worthy of the Gospel
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Paul instructs the church at Philippi to live and suffer in a way worthy of Christ and the Gospel.
Text: Phil. 1:27-30
Date: 03/03/2024, the Evening service.
Series: "Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship" Part 10
Description:
After establishing some of the reasons his joy remains untouched by the challenges of his circumstances, Paul turns his attention now to the people of Philippi. He encourages them to be unified in mind, spirit and deed and to live and suffer in a manner worthy of the Gospel. We will grapple with how overwhelming this concept is and how completely it must impact the life of every Christian. Eventually we will recognize that to be Christ-like is to stand firm in suffering in a way that unites us both to Him and to the saints (like Paul) who have gone before us. Ultimately we will begin to understand what Paul meant when he said, "to live is Christ and to die is gain"-- it is a reflection of a saint striving to live and die in a manner worthy of the Gospel!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Phil. 1:27-30.
A. Context
B. Living and suffering worthy of the Gospel.
1. A call to unity in the Gospel, vs. 27.
a. Living worthy of the Gospel, vs. 27a.
i. The importance of the concept.
ii. Monitoring the "manner of life", Phil. 3:20.
iii. A bar set impossibly high.
b. Unified in the work of the Gospel.
i. Regardless of what happens to Paul, 2Cor. 5:17.
ii. Standing firm in the truth.
iii. United in mind, spirit, and deed.
1) Unified in the Spirit.
2) Unified with the mind of Christ.
3) United in good times and bad.
4) United for the sake of the Gospel.
2. Do not fear the adversaries, vs. 28.
a. Do not be frightened.
i. Looking at the words, Luke 13:17, 1Tim. 5:14-15, 1Pet. 5:8, Luke 21:15.
ii. Considering the scope of adversaries, Matt. 10:22,36.
b. What it reveals.
i. A clear sign of the "sons of Cain".
ii. A clear sign of their salvation.
iii. By Divine Decree, Rom. 11:22.
3. The gracious "gift" of suffering, vs. 29.
a. The gift of faith, Eph. 2:4-5, John 17:6.
b. The gift of suffering, Phil. 3:7-9, Acts 5:40-42, Matt. 10:24-25, Luke 6:22-23, Matt. 19:29-30, John 16:33.
4. Fellowship with Paul through suffering, vs. 30.
III. Application
IV. Conclusion
