Virtues Worth Pondering
Standing Firm In This Way • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 5 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Last week we saw Paul telling Philippi of his love and affection for them, encouraging the two ladies to bury their disagreement and live in Harmony, and call for an unknown person to help them.
Then we learned that we are encouraged to live in the Lord three ways
Stand firm
Live in harmony
Rejoice
Lived out in four commands
Rejoice
Again Rejoice
Do not be anxious
Let your gentleness be known to all
Leading to Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
This is our lead in for the passage today
Chair Bible page 787
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Cool, let’s get to it!
As Paul brings this letter of friendship and exhortation to a close, he wraps up this section by presenting two things
Think about such things - The virtues of a good life
Put into practice - what they learned from Paul
8 Virtues to Ponder
8 Virtues to Ponder
In six adjectives and 2 nouns arranged in an impressive rhetorical fashion Paul defines all that is excellent.
This list of eight virtues leads to the imperative to “think about these things...”
The list true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, any excellence, worthy of praise
These 8 virtues given by Paul bear a striking resemblance to Greek literature.
Paul is showing Philippi how a citizen of heaven can relate to the wisdom of the world.
Paul does not reject the teaching of the Greeks and Romans as long as followers of Christ resist imitating uncritically their wisdom.
This is true for us. God made the world and there are still good things in the world to ponder. The fact that we are still here attests to that fact.
Paul teaches us that God wants us to ponder deeply virtues that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, any excellence, worthy of praise
So lets to take a deeper look at this list
True (adjective): consistent with fact or reality; not false. Sincerity and accuracy not only in thought or word, but in deed and attitude
Honorable (adjective): worthy of being honored, respect or holy. Those things that are majestic and command respect, which lift up one’s mind from the mundane
Right (adjective): in conformity with justice, law, or morality. Literally giving God and others that which is their due.
Pure (adjective): Having the characteristics of moral purity in all spheres of life: ideas, actions, motives, etc.
Lovely (adjective): This refers to those things that grace attracts. Giving pleasure and satisfaction. A warmth that calls forth love from others.
Commendable (adjective): Well sounding, praise worthy, attractive, appealing. What people think only good things about.
Excellence (noun): The excellence of a person or thing that enables it to achieve its end or purpose; especially of moral excellence. The most comprehensive Greek term for moral excellence and the central theme of Greek ethics.
Worthy of Praise (noun): Something worthy of high commendation.
These are the virtues that Paul commands we think about.
This word for think about, means dwell on, ponder, reflect, or reason about. The action of this verb calls us to habitual or continual action.
Paul seems to desire the Philippians to direct their attention to those people who embody all the virtues in their character and conduct.
Since the entire letter points above all to Christ and the next verse recalls his own teaching and example, Paul expects his reader to see how the noblest aspiration and highest standards in any culture are uniquely fulfilled in Christ and in those who are in Christ.
This command to think about these things also requires us to give careful thought to any matter, consider, ponder, and let one’s mind dwell on such things.
Developing a Christian mind and character requires a lifetime of reflective, meditative, and disciplined thought about all the things that are excellent and praiseworthy.
Christ Centered Teaching and Example
Christ Centered Teaching and Example
All the virtues listed in verse 8 now receive redirection in the teaching and example of Paul.
9 As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
This verse offers the reminder of the clear Christ centered teaching and example they saw in Paul while he was with them.
Learned and received reflect Paul’s Jewish background, where what is learned is received by students. This was the way Rabbi’s trained their disciples.
To remind his readers of the transformative experience of receiving his teaching and observing his example, Paul strings together four verbs:
You’ve learned - to gain knowledge or skills
You’ve received - to formally receive authoritative teaching, as from an approved source
You’ve heard - to learn or become aware of something, conceived of, as hearing about it
You’ve seen - to perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
The verbs learned and received refer primarily to his teaching of the gospel
The verbs heard and seen refer to the illustrative vale of his life
These four verbs are followed by the command to “practice these things!”
WIth the command to put into practice Paul is challenging his readers to move beyond contemplation to action.
This imperative calls for us and the Philippians to accomplish something through activity.
The time has come to get out of the chair of theoretical refection about Christ and the Christian life and press toward the goal
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
As I see this Paul knew that new converts needed more than an instruction manual; they needed a mentor to know how to have the same attitude of mind as Christ.
The call to be Christ like is not enough; in this verse Paul lays out his own life as a model for following Christ.
His imperative here in verse 9 to practice his Christ centered life repeats his previous challenge
17 Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
This is a challenge that appears often the letters of Paul. This call to imitate his example was entirely appropriate in the context of his day and conformed to the understanding of the teacher student relationship in the Jewish, Greek, and Roman cultures.
This is a command that still calls us to fulfill today.
It is the model of teacher student, that helps new converts become true Christ centered disciples!
Where can we accomplish this? Not on Sunday morning, this kind of transformation happens in small groups!
Let me know if you are interested, we have several going on!
Two verses that say a great deal about Christ centered life and teaching!
Conclusion
So the challenge is to go back and think abut the 8 virtues of 6 adjective and 2 nouns:
true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellence, worthy of praise
The next challenge is to put into practice the example of Paul and others who live Christ centered lives:
As Paul put it in four verbs:
Learned
Received
Heard
Seen
17 Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
How does your life look in view of these two verses this morning?
Are you willing to give your life to Christ? come to the altar
How do you feel God calling you today? come to the altar.