How to be a good team player pt.2

Read Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Explain mulch student service

and lunch

Announce music practice leader,

get ready with your instrument!

Intro

According to statistics

1 out of 3 high schoolers

play on a team.

And every year

it costs almost $750

for equipment and other things

to play on a team.

Why?

Why do we care

so much

about playing on a team?

If you play on a team raise your hand.

What made you want to play on a team?

For me

I enjoyed the sport

but I also

really enjoyed the camaraderie

and support.

A group of people

that looks out

for one another.

That’s what I loved

about playing on a team.

But you don’t have to play

on a sports team.

Your coworkers

are your team.

Your family

is your team.

You know it’s mother’s day today.

How can you be a good team player

a good son or daughter

to your mom today?

But there’s another team.

Your church

and student ministry

is your team.

So we’re going to continue learning

on how to be a good team player.

This is part 2.

Because we need to be a good team

that looks out for one another.

And it starts with you

being a good team player.

1. Be ______ (v.3-4)

1. Be joyful (v.3-4)

There’s nothing that hurts a team more

than negativity.

But negativity

was something Paul

was not.

Let’s look at v.3,

‘I thank my God upon every remembrance of you’

As in the beginning

of many

of Paul’s letters

Paul gives his reason

for writing the letter.

When Paul wrote this letter,

he recieved a gift from the Philippians.

So Paul gives thanks

but interestingly

he doesn’t thank the Philippians.

Usually when you receive a gift from someone

what do you say?

‘Thank you.’

But that’s not what Paul does.

How rude!

Imagine you give a gift to someone

and they just snatch it from you

and say nothing.

That would really irritate you!

But Paul isn’t actually

being rude.

Because he’s thanking God.

How is thanking someone else

not rude?

Let’s say Ryan gives me a gift.

I take it.

And then I say thanks Ms. Beth.

That’s rude!

But why if it’s God

it’s different?

Here’s the answer:

James 1:17 (ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James say any good gift

comes from God.

Because even the person

who gave you the gift

could not give you the gift

if God didn’t first

give them breath.

Give them the job

that allowed the person

to afford the gift.

All good gifts

ultimately come from God.

You know what’s actually rude?

When you don’t thank God.

When you thank everyone

Except God.

That is rude.

Because nothing

belongs to us.

Every single thing we have

from our bodies

even a single hair

and even the very breath

you breath

belongs to God.

This is why

you need to thank God for everything.

And this is why

you can thank God at anytime

and anyplace.

Paul indeed

thanks God for everything.

But he also thanks God for specific things.

He says back in v.3,

‘I thank my God upon every remembrance of you’.

Paul doesn’t say,

‘I thank God for the money you gifted.’

He doesn’t say,

‘I thank God for the clothes you sent.’

He says,

‘I thank God for you.’

But he doesn’t just thank God for them

this one time.

He thanks God for them every time

he remembers them!

Just remembering them

causes Paul to give thanks!

He has a passing thought of them after breakfast,

‘Thank you God for the Philippians!’

And then some time

in the evening,

he suddenly remembers them again

‘Thank you God for the Philippians!’

The point

is that Paul sees far more value

and worth

in people

instead of things.

Do you value

people more than things?

‘But if Paul really valued people

why'’

He’s not ignoring

the Philippians generosity.

He’s giving them

greater recognition

by thanking God!

You want to truly show appreciation

when someone shows you kindness?

Thank God

for them.

To Paul

his ranking

of the most valuable things is

First, God

and then people second.

Why?

Because people are made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

People are made to be like God

and represent Him.

Like a mirror.

We are to reflect

God’s glory.

You are made in God’s image students.

Your value and worth

is not based on what you own

or how much money you have

or how much money make when you start working

or what you look like.

Your value and worth

if you believe in Jesus

is in Christ.

If Christ died for you rose again and gave you eternal life

you have

His life.

And God sees you as valuable and worthy

as His perfect son

Jesus Christ.

What a precious

and beautiful thing!

That Jesus

gives us!

It’s no wonder

that Paul was so joyful.

v.4, ‘always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy’.

Paul is always

praying for others.

We see this in every single letter he writes.

But what’s unique

what’s special

about this letter

is that he says ‘with joy.’

Does anyone know what joy means?

What does joy mean? (ask)

The dictionary meaning is

A state of happiness or bliss.

Joy is one of the

major themes

in this letter.

You know why?

Because joy is so rare.

Ironically

the Philippians

who were highly privileged

and were solid financially

would seem to be the least people

who Paul needs to tell

to have joy.

And yet

it’s them

that Paul says, ‘you need joy!’

Why?

Because joy

doesn’t come

when your circumstances

are peaceful and perfect.

It doesn’t come

when you are finally finished

with all your tests and exams.

It doesn’t come

when you have a certain amount

in your bank account

or wallet.

So where

does it come from?

How can we

have joy?

In a world where joy is so rare?

Where depression

and suffering

is far more common

than joy?

We can start

by looking at someone we know

has joy.

And that’s Paul.

And you learned

that Paul thanked God

not the Philippians for their gift

because

Paul knows

that everything

belongs to God.

And nothing belongs to us.

Students when you realize

that you own nothing

that everything

is God’s.

You begin to let go

of your possessions.

You value

things

clothes

money

less.

And then you become content.

That’s the second place

where joy comes from.

The first is recognizing

everything belongs to God.

And the second is contentment.

That’s what happened to Paul.

Philippians 4:10–11 (NKJV)

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Look at the joy

that Paul has.

God is taking care of him

through

the Philippians.

But Paul makes sure

that they know

that he isn’t dependent

on their gift.

He wasn’t waiting around thinking,

‘oh when is my gift coming?’

Like how we constantly check

the tracking number

for an order

that we are overly excited for.

No Paul says he’s content.

And he also explains

what content means!

Right in the next verse

Philippians 4:12 (ESV)

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Paul talks about high times

and low times.

You want to be in the high times

the good seasons

all the time right?

Not for Paul.

He doesn’t care

whether it’s the high time

or

the low times.

He doesn’t care

if he’s hungry

or has plenty of food!

In this church

we always have plenty of food!

I could use

some low times

some famine at this church

as you can tell

by looking at my belly!

Paul defines content

by simply saying,

‘in any and every circumstance’.

Contentment is unchanging joy no matter the circumstance.

No matter

if your friend

that you were supposed to hang out with

suddenly fakes last second.

No matter

if you don’t make

the team

you were trying out for

or job

that you were applying for.

You are content

you are satisfied.

You have joy

no matter what’s happening in your life.

So that’s

how you get joy students:

Recognizing everything belongs to God

Being content

So students

do you have joy?

Take a moment

to look at yourself

and ask

‘do I have joy in my life?’

‘Do I have

an unshakable happiness

in my life?’

And if you’re not sure,

when things don’t go

your way

‘how upset do you get?’

Or are you still joyful

when things don’t go your way?

Because joyful person

makes a great team player.

Take a look at this team (happy team pic).

When a team is happy

and joyful

it affects everyone!

When you are joyful

you make others around you

joyful too!

When you greet each other

with a smile

you spread positivity

and joy

to each other!

When we greet one another

in the beginning

look at it

as an opportunity

to share

and give joy

to other!

I mean who doesn’t

want to be around this team?

If our student ministry

is joyful like that

what new person

wouldn’t want to join?

But on the other hand

who wants to be

around this team? (sad team pic)

Nobody

wants to be around

people who are frowning

blank faces

pouting

and people who kill the vibe.

You see

joy

isn’t just for your benefit

it helps others around you.

Be a good team player

by first having joy yourself

and then sharing it with others. (happy stock art pic)

According to statistics

teams that are happy and joyful

accomplish 20% more

than those who are not.

How much more can

student ministry do

if we are a joyful student ministry?

How much more can we do for the Lord?

But student ministry

isn’t the only team

you are a part of.

You have other teams too.

Your workplace

your fellow classmates

your family

will all do better

when you are a good team player

by being joyful!

2. Be faithful (v.5-7)

Before we understand the relationship

of faithfulness

and being a good team player

does anyone know

what being faithful means? (ask)

Faithful - being there for each other to the end

Let’s look at v.5,

‘for your fellowship in the gospel’

We see another reason

Paul thanked God

for the Philippians

was for their fellowship in the gospel.

The word fellowship is like

the word partnership.

And the word translated

as fellowship

means a partnership

or team

based not just

on beliefs

but because

of action.

The Philippians

didn’t just say

they believe in Jesus

like Paul

they actually did things

like Christ.

What did they do exactly?

First

they sacrificed

by giving

and supporting Paul

financially

and materially.

But also

Paul says in the rest of the verse

‘for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now’.

Does anyone

know what from the first day until now means? (ask)

It means

from the very beginning

all the way to today

for months to a year

or more

worth of time

they supported Paul.

They stuck around.

They were faithful.

You see

Real faithfulness

is seen

over time.

You know this too.

If some random person on the street

helps you

because you are lost

and gives you directions

one time.

You’re not gonna start trusting them

all of a sudden.

But when someone is always there for you

over and over

for months

and years

you trust them.

The Philippians

stuck around for Paul

and were faithful to him

for months and years.

But there is someone

even more faithful

than the Philippians.

And that’s

God.

Look at v.6

‘being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ’

Paul is confident

certain

that the One

who gave

the Philippians

the very faithfulness

that they showed Paul

will show the ultimate faithfulness

to them.

Because God

the one who starts salvation

He is also

the one who finishes salvation.

This also means

that God is the one

who starts salvation

and that if it weren’t for God

you would not be saved.

Because if you are the one

who starts your salvation

then it’s impossible

for you to finish it.

But how comforting

to know

that because God is the one who starts salvation

He will also finish it.

Because God is faithful.

He always finishes what he starts.

He never leaves things undone.

Students you can rest assured

and have peace

and great joy

knowing that it is not your job

to maintain

or keep

your salvation.

It’s God’s.

Because of that

you have certainty

that when you die

you will be with God

forever.

No matter how many times you fail

Jesus will never abandon you

and He will

complete your salvation.

1 John 5:13 (ESV)

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Only Christians

have certainty of their salvation.

Because we don’t work for our salvation

Jesus already did.

Your friends

coworkers

and classmates

have no idea

where they are going

after death.

And deep down inside

though they don’t say it

they are terrified.

But you do students.

So give it to them students.

Help them know

how they can have eternal life

and be certain about it.

And because

The Philippians

were faithful to Paul

because

Jesus is faithful to them

you know what that means?

Paul is also faithful to them.

Look at v.7,

‘just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart’

The beautiful faithfulness

that God shows to the Philippians

spreads to Paul as well.

Just like joy

faithfulness is contagious.

So contagious

that it went deep

all the way

into Paul’s heart.

Paul loves them.

And because he loves them

he is faithful to them

to the very end.

They are in his heart

and they are going nowhere.

And Paul

is going nowhere.

Because he’s in prison.

‘inamuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are partakers with me of grace. ‘

But even though

Paul is in prison.

That didn’t

stop the Philippians

from supporting him.

They could have abandoned Paul

when he went to jail.

But they didn’t.

Even though Paul was on trial

they didn’t leave him.

How many of you

would support someone in jail? (Raise your hand)

I wouldn’t.

But now students

I hope

you see

how being a good team player

means being faithful.

Good teammates

don’t abandon one another

when things get tough

They stick up for one another

to the very end. (epic handshake pic)

How can there be a team

if no one is faithful

and everyone leaves

in your time of need?

So how can you be faithful?

Be there for one another.

Not only

when we’re all here.

But even when some are not.

If any one at student ministry

stops coming

you haven’t seen them

in a long time

reach out to them.

Often

they are going through a tough time

and they need your encouragement.

By the way,

if you’re

going through a tough time

the last thing you should do

is stop coming to church.

It actually brings more harm

than good.

Isolating yourself

from God’s people

makes you weaker.

But also we’re a team.

We need each other.

If you don’t come

you’re not

being a team player.

Because you’re leaving us

when we need you.

So be faithful students.

Be there for one another.

Gospel/conclusion

Because a world

full of joyful

and faithful

teams

is how God designed this world. (God’s design slide)

But because of sin

we become miserable

and selfish

and faithless

thus leading to a broken world. (broken slide)

But the good news (gospel slide)

is that Jesus lived a perfect life

died on the cross

and rose again

to give eternal life.

How do receive eternal life from Jesus?

Simply by faith alone (believe slide)

in Jesus.

Not by earning it with good works.

And when you put your trust in Jesus

He will give you eternal life

not just after you die

but today

so that you become a new creation

begin a new life today

and are restored back

to being the good team player

God made you to be.

Let’s pray.