Two Good Examples

Intro:

Mexico Shoutouts

Elementary School Awards

Timothy (Genuine Concern for Others)

Philippians 2:19–24 LSB

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be in good spirits when I learn of your circumstances. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned about your circumstances. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I evaluate my own circumstances, and I am confident in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.

Background

Chapter 2 of Philippians

Gospel Centered Theme of the Book

Genuine Concern

Fake Love in conversation

What is valued by God? What is important in the Kingdom of God

Two Ways that People Avoid Genuine Care

They remain self focused

They act outwardly concerned as a means of looking Godly

Interests of others, verses the interests of Christ

Furtherance of the Gospel

Epaphroditus (Selfless Sacrifice)

Philippians 2:25–30 LSB

But I regarded it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to fulfill what was lacking in your service to me.

Explain Epaphroditus

Longing for you and distressed

Selfless

Close to death for the work of Christ

Sacrificial

Eric Liddell

Conclusion

How should a Christian conduct themselves

Genuine Concern for other believers

Willingness to Suffer for Christ

Gospel Focus

May God give us the strength and the character to be selfless and sacrificial like the characters we learned about today.