New Year To Do List
MBC Staff Chapel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Philippians 1:21-30
Philippians 1:21-30
As Nathan pointed out on Sunday, most people have their New Year’s to-do list’s all ready to get started on… and then give up on!
I’d like to share a brief to-do list that Paul shares with the believers in Philippi. Paul shares this list so that the church in Philippi would be successful in all that they did for the Lord and grow in their relationship with the Lord both personally and corporately.
What the believers in Philippi needed to hear, are some of the same things we need to hear. The truth’s that were so helpful for the church in Philippi will also be super helpful for our team here at Maranatha.
If you were to summarize the overarching theme of Philippians in one word, what word would you choose?
Some people say “Joy”. It is repeated 16 times throughout the letter.
As Paul writes, three main themes emerge from his letter: like-mindedness, humbly serving others, and rejoicing.
I believe there is one overarching theme that helps to link all of these together. — Unity —
(Illustration of Swiss Team Mates) — When the Swiss team was there… there was no denying which country and culture they belonged to….
… they lived as a reflection of their citizenship…
As we read a few verses today from chapter 1, I think Paul is calling the believers at Philippi to the very same thing…
Live a life worthy of... be a reflection of your citizenship! Represent where your faith says that you belong!
Let’s read a few verses together from chapter 1.
Paul writes this letter to the Philippians, motivated by personal matters. There are no matters of doctrinal error or ministry practice to correct, like his other letters. Paul writes to reaffirm his connection with the Philippian believers, explains the unplanned return of Epaphroditus, and weights in on the conflict between Euodia and Syntyche. Concepts of thankfulness, submission, and self-sacrifice permeate Paul’s letter. Paul encourages the believers to follow his model as he follows Christ.
I think that as Paul wrote this personal letter to the believers at Philippi, he knew that in order for them to become who he knew they could become in Christ…. it would take a gospel-centered unity…. which would then produce joy, like-mindedness, and a community culture of humility and service.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Paul wrestles with this dilemma of wanting to live with Christ…. and then also wanting to be on Earth to help other believers live for Christ.
Paul comes to a conclusion and realizes that even though it would be amazing for him to go on to glory and live with Christ (for him, the far better option!)…. it is better… and more edifying for the Philippian believers if Paul stays and helps to lead others to live for Christ.
But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
I want to draw your attention to this short To Do list that Paul gives us in chapter 1.
Paul’s To Do List:
Remain in the flesh for their progress!
Paul is demonstrating the very self-less, humble service that, in just a few verses, he will call the believers to model their lives after.
I want you to make an observation with me. When Paul was sharing his decision to remain in the flesh for their progress, he did not make his decision conditional on anything. He just makes the statement and then the paragraph ends… or so it seems.
As soon as we start reading in verse 27 (the key verse for the entire book) we see just how connected the next paragraph is to Pauls To-Do list item, when Paul starts his next statement with the word “only”. Using this word “only” is about as close as you can get to a conditional statement.
When you were a kid, did your parents ever leave you at home alone? The Gen-Xer’s here know what that is like. When you mom left, did she ever say something like, “While I’m gone you can do anything you want, only you need to get the dishes done and finish your homework.” — In reality, we weren’t supposed to do anything… until we first did what she asked (dishes and homework). That is the same way the word “only” is used here.
The only statement places a constraint on what sounds like an open-ended arrangement. Paul’s offer to remain in the flesh comes with an obligation on the Philippians’ part.
Once Paul expresses his decision.. He informs the Philippian believers of this one expectation he has of them.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
The word translated as, “let your manner of life” comes from a compound word that reflects the understanding of citizenship.
‘Only, as citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.’
Philippians To Do List:
Live in a manner worthy of the gospel!
If Paul is going to remain in the flesh… then the Philippians are expected to live in a certain way… one that is worthy of the gospel.
Roman citizenship was a big deal throughout the Roman empire, but especially in a place like Philippi, which was re-shaped to be like Rome… it was considered a “little Rome”.
Paul takes the idea of the high level of pride for their citizenship and sanctifies it as he challenges his brothers and sisters.
You are all citizens of heaven…. live like it! Yes, you might be stationed in Philippi for now, but you represent your heavenly citizenship with each and every step you take.
This heavenly citizenship will be recognized by the community… because of how you stand firm in one spirit (your unity!).
What does it practically look like to stand firm in one spirit?
Positive Component: Contending for the faith
One mind: not every person for themselves
Striving side by side: illustrates unity in battle or an athletic competition.
Negative Component: How we respond to opponents (from outside and from within)
Opposition will come. It should not be a surprise. How will we respond when it comes?
Stand firm
Not intimidated
In 1:27, Paul calls the Philippian believers to live in a way that reflects where they belong… in heaven. Live in a way that is worthy of their heavenly citizenship. The rest of the letter is really the fleshing out of what that looks like…
Here is one reason why I think that unity is the overarching them of Paul’s letter.
The climax of the letter seems to be found in chapter 4 verse 2.
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
We have no idea what the issue was, but we know that there was conflict in the church. There is an issue between Euodia and Synthche. It is probably not a doctrinal issue or an issue of practice…. otherwise Paul would have taken a side like he did in some of his other letters.
No matter what the issue, the reality is, in order for Paul to have heard about it… had time to respond to it meant that this issue must have been festering for a while. Why address it here? Why not just let these two ladies agree to disagree?
Because disagreement falls short of like-mindedness and putting the interest of others before your own. How can you esteem someone as more important than yourself and at the same time hold a grudge against them? You can’t do both! This means that we must be proactive in truly resolving conflict rather than allowing it to fester below the surface.
A broken relationship is still broken… even if it looks civil on the surface.
This is why truly cultivating trust as a team is so important. If we are going to have true unity as a ministry team, we are going to have to cultivate genuine and deep trust. (Ask for help, share weaknesses, believe that everyone on the team has our best interests in mind)
Looking at the conflict in 4:2, we can assume that the conflict was an interpersonal conflict issue of some kind. — This kind of conflict usually begins with disagreement of some kind, often over a judgement call. It is not the difference between right and wrong, but between better and best. — If the issue is not resolved early on, it will fester.
Why? Because each side leaves thinking that they are right, without either being willing to back down.
Most of the conflicts we have (will have) can be resolved by us considering others as more important than ourselves, being like-minded, and choosing to rejoice instead of being resentful.
Throughout the letter, Paul calls his Philippian friends to:
Main Idea:
Live in a manner worthy of your heavenly citizenship (illustration of Swiss team mates)
(Reflect the reality of your citizenship!)
Response:
Cultivate deep and intentional trust
Ask for help
pursue being like-minded
Share your weaknesses
consider others as more important than ourselves
Believe that everyone on the team has your best interests in mind… even when they disagree with you!
choose to rejoice
reject resentment
be ready for opposition