All Things Without Complaining

Welcome “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:1–5, ESV)

Announcements

†CALL TO WORSHIP based on Psalm 108:1-4

Pastor Austin Prince

Minister: Our hearts are ready, O Lord, our hearts are ready!

Congregation: We will sing and make melody! We will awaken the dawn!

Minister: We will give thanks to you, O Lord, we will sing praises to you among the nations.

Congregation: For your steadfast love is great above the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION

O Lord our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You alone are worthy of our worship for you are the one true and living God. Your purpose will be established and you accomplished all your good pleasure. Your mercies are great. You are compassionate and gracious; you so loved the world that you sent your only begotten son that whoever believes should not perish. Remember your promise to meet with your people when they have gathered in your name. Draw near to us as we draw near to you. We praise your unfailing love Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

†OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE #277

“Before the Throne of God Above”

† CONFESSION OF SIN & ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth in his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow man (Ps. 15:1-3).

Before we confess our sins together, let us take a moment for a time of silent confession

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION

Let us confess our sins together in prayer

Congregation: Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings, and deeper than our sin. Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes, our refusal to relieve the suffering of others, our envy of those who have more than we have, our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure, our indifference to the treasures of heaven, and our neglect of your wise and holy law.

Help us to change our way of life so that we may desire what is good, love what you love, and do what you command, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1–2, ESV)

CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Exodus 20:1-17

Steven Hoffer, Elder

THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

†HYMN OF PREPARATION #279

“O Christ, Our King, Creator, Lord”

SERMON Philippians 2:14-15 // All Things Without Complaining

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

O Lord, as we open now your word, we pray that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened, so that we may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Text Philippians 2:12-15

Philippians 2:12–15 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

AFTER SCRIPTURE

Every word of God is perfect, let his people bless his Holy name.

Intro

Two weeks ago we started this series on contentment with God’s call to “be anxious for nothing”. And this was a call to contentment from a standpoint of perspective. It was about seeing that God is near to us and not distant.

Looking to the future is a mystery, so we often think about it in fear and worry. But the Christian has the glory of looking to the past and seeing that God is faithful, which enables them to live in the present with worship. And worship is reality. Worship clears away the fog of worry and brings clarity. We said that as love covers a multitude of sins, joy covers a multitude of worries. That first week was about perspective. Christians aren’t to pursue contentment as stoics who grow calloused and cold; we are to set our minds on things above, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, we are to think of these things.

Last week we looked at what the secret to contentment is. That’s how Paul phrased it — through all things, he learned the secret to being content. How can you pull this off? We noted that the secret to contentment was a deep satisfaction with the will of God. Contentment knows God’s heart and trusts the work of God’s hands, even when they can’t see what they are doing or building. We aren’t being punished, neglected, or abandoned — God is working all things (even hard things) for His glory and our good. (It’s hard to believe this, but this is the repeated testimony of scripture to us — our upcoming series on Ruth)

This week we want to take a look at what contentment looks like in real-time. What does it look like and what does it sound like to be a contented person? Is there any specific attribute that marks the contented person? The text today says yes — we are to do all things without grumbling and complaining. Contentment isn’t just an ideal or a state of mind — it comes out in our speech and in our demeanor.

An Outworking of Salvation

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Notice the phrasing here: “work out” your “salvation”.

What is that about? Does that suggest that our salvation is something that we contribute to or we work to achieve? Wasn’t our salvation by grace and not by works?

Yes, it was. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8–10, ESV)

We should “work out” that which was “worked in” to us. (repeat)

We should “work out” (good works) that which was “worked in” (grace and salvation) to us.

And what is one of the first things mentioned after the call to work out our salvation? Doing all things without grumbling and complaining.

Before Christ and without Christ, what was worked into us is what the Bible calls “the flesh”. It’s the curse of Adam. And what works its way out of us in that state is complaining, and fear, and frustration.

Specifically, I don’t know that I ever noticed how grievous complaining is. I had to stop for a minute and think about why complaining was put right here as one of the first examples of “worked out” salvation. I think the reason is this: The sum of the Law is to love God and to love our neighbor. Complaining does the exact opposite of this. Complaining is a distrust of God and a frustration/irritation with neighbor. Complaining distrusts God and is bothered by neighbors.

But when Christ works in us, the old man is dead. And what works out of us now is our salvation.

It’s not that our salvation is being figured out or achieved by us progressively, it’s that we are bearing the fruit of our salvation. It is being worked out in us, “or working its way out of us”.

The old man sees the world as difficult, scary, things are in his way, people are in his way, he just wants some peace, everything is hard, he’s just searching for hope and relief.

But when Christ in working in a man, he sees the world as a place of wonder. People aren’t obstacles in his way. He has peace. He has relief. His world isn’t sustained by momentary ease and affabilities

And this is not a case of merely putting on rose-colored glasses. This is a case of putting on crimson-colored glasses. We see all of life through the lens of Christ.

Living without complaint and grumbling isn’t just behavior modification — one more thing to do to show our honor to the Lord. He is the one who is working in us. He is the one who is changing us. (brings us to the next point)

God Working In Us: Will & Work

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Remember: It is God who is working this in. And this changes the way we see the commands in the Bible. And, specifically, to do all things without complaining.

Gospel motivations. God is changing our will and our works. We are not obeying God like a man with a gun to his head. (That’s how so many people, even in church, think about obedience)

God is changing us from the inside out. It’s not that we just obey the commands against our wills — that isn’t right. “I know I’m not supposed to murder you, but I sure want to” doesn’t cut it.

God is reshaping our wills and our works. What we want to do and what we actually do. And we are taught that this is the proof in the pudding. A tree is known by its fruit.

You are changed. And there are some things you just don’t want to come out of you anymore. Like when you sneeze in public, there are some things that come of out you that you simply wish other people wouldn’t see.

Complaining becomes one of those things that we don’t want to come out anymore. A good friend can help you out — “you have a little bit of complaint right here, you might want to take care of that.”

All Things Without Complaining

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

Grumbling is so incredibly common. It’s just how we talk to each other. It’s the vast majority of social media and news. In fact, it’s often the only way we know how to strike up a conversation with someone. “You know, my wife would make a great archaeologist; she’s always digging up the past.”

We complain about our jobs, circumstances, finances, our kids, our neighbors, grocery prices, and our marriages.

Complain, Mutter, groan, whine, fuss, kvetch, bleat, carp, gripe — we have a lot of words for this.

Remember the way it was phrased at the beginning. Contentment is an outworking of our salvation. When complaining comes out, it’s the testimony of someone whose problems haven’t been solved. And since there is little perspective and little hope, everything becomes a large annoyance. The Christian’s testimony isn’t that we are technically “saved” but everything is still in shambles and cumbersome. Our testimony is that God has worked into us a new heart and a renewed mind. And what is working out is gratitude and perspective and worship.

Catechism: Complaining is a catechism to our homes and about our world.

What is worked out in us is potent gratitude. (next point)

Lights of The World

Philippians 2:15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

One of the main contributors which makes the contrast between the children of God and the children of our crooked and twisted generation so sharp is the spirit of grumbling versus the spirit of gratitude.

It is potent. And it comes from Christ.

Illustration: It’s not that there aren’t still real difficulties in the world. Of course that’s true. But our response to them is different in Christ. Think about Adam and Eve in the garden. Part of the curse was the thorns and thistles and the sweat of working the ground. But remember that God came to them and covered their nakedness with animal skins. So, you have this task of navigating a thorny world still, but it’s like you are handling it with a pair of leather gloves. Christ is that sacrifice. Christ is the glove. We can handle the thorns of this world through Him, and that’s a great joy.

And he isn’t calling us to do something that he hasn’t equipped us to do. He isn’t asking us to produce what isn’t there. The law is that there should be no complaining. But the gospel is that we are in Christ. The gospel is that his record of perfect obedience has been given to us. The gospel is that THAT savior is working in us and working His character out of us.

Contentment is a deep satisfaction in God’s will. And a life of gratitude - a rejection of complaining - testifies publically to our great and all-consuming salvation.

†HYMN OF RESPONSE #538

“Take My Life, and Let It Be”

†THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Leader: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

BAPTISM REMARKS

Jesus famously rebuked his disciples by saying, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”

When Jesus blesses – that’s a big deal. Consider the Beatitudes, where Jesus is not simply making a list of desirable attributes but is actually dispensing covenant blessings on those who belong to him. And here, people are bringing children to Jesus in faith (their faith, not the child’s!), and Jesus is blessing them.

We see throughout the New Testament, and in our own experience, that when parents believe in Jesus Christ the entire family is blessed by it. Like a pitcher pouring cool water on a parched face and hands, God’s favor and blessing spills over from the believing parents and lands on their children. Scripture says the children are counted holy and they receive rich blessings that come from being part of the household of God.

[Children of the Exodus. God was with their households. The parents put the blood over the door and the children were protected. God was present with them. He covered them with cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And yet the people complained, murmured, and grumbled. A Christian home, a covenant home, knows that God is present]

Baptism does not save – it sets apart a person, signifies a promise, and seals the covenant obligations on the one who receives it. With its flowing water, baptism shows forth that fountain of blessing which eternally springs from the heart of God. It puts the baptized beneath that fountain and it offers them a promise: if you believe, you will be saved. The fountain flows this morning for Ethan Hoffer, because by God’s grace, John and Feagan have the faith to see it.

Let’s pray:

Our almighty and eternal God, how often you speak through water. You judged the unbelieving and unrepentant world with the flood; and in mercy, you saved and protected believing Noah and his family. You drowned the obstinate Pharaoh and his armies in the Red Sea; and in mercy you led your people through to the dry ground. Now, with water, you speak to us and these children by baptism: “believe, and be saved.” We ask that in your mercy you will look graciously upon them, that they may, by your grace, cleave to Jesus in true faith, firm hope, and ardent love. Give faith, and where you have, persevere that faith to the last day, where they may appear without terror before the judgment seat of Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit our one God lives forever and ever, Amen.

Baptism is a naming ceremony — setting someone apart as a Christian. Let us confess together what those who carry that name believe

Confession of Faith

The Nicene Creed p. 852

The Baptism of ETHAN MICHAEL Hoffer

John and Feagan, please join me.

What is the name of this child?

Ethan Michael Hoffer - I baptize you in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Covenant of Grace: We are the family and household of God and Ethan has been baptized into this family. I charge you therefore to love them as family is to be loved: with honor, service, compassion, help in times of need, and prayer in all things.

(The Hoffer’s can remain standing at the front for greeting and reception)

In light of God’s gracious covenant, to us and to our children, let’s sing together Hymn 191 – Our Children Lord in Faith and Prayer.

†OUR RESPONSE #191

“Our Children, Lord, in Faith and Prayer”

Our children, Lord, in faith and prayer, we now devote to thee;

Let them thy cov’nant mercies share and thy salvation see.

Such helpless babes thou didst embrace while dwelling here below,

To us and ours, O God of grace, the same compassion show.

In early days their hearts secure from worldly snares, we pray;

O let them to the end endure in ev’ry righteous way.

†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE

Christians, go in hope and His peace. “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24–25, ESV)

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Leader: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The Apostles’ Creed p. 851 or The Nicene Creed p. 852

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

Minister: Here is the table of the Lord, we are gathered to his supper for a foretaste of things eternal. All who have faith in the risen lord and are united with his church in baptism are invited to come. Come, you who are fearful, to find peace in him. Come, you who are weak, to be made strong in faith. Come, you who are broken, and be made whole. It is not I who invite you, but the Lord. You who trust in him, come.

Congregation: What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward us? We will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast. O taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed are they who trust in him.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS

SHARING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

CLOSING PRAYER

†Greeting & Receiving: ETHAN MICHAEL HOFFER

Grace Notes Reflection

Contentment and gratitude are not mere abstract ideals, but tangible fruits of the gospel working in our lives. As believers, we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God who works in us to change our wills and actions for His good pleasure. One key evidence of this transformation is doing all things without grumbling or complaining, shining as lights in a crooked and twisted generation.

Contentment is a deep satisfaction with God's will, trusting His heart and hands even when we can't fully see His plans. It comes from knowing our lives are secure in Christ.Complaining often stems from distrusting God and being bothered by others. But in Christ, we can see the world and people through eyes of grace, wonder, and purpose. God works in us to change our desires and actions from the inside out. Gratitude and worship, rather than grumbling, increasingly flow out as a testimony to His work of salvation in us. In a world filled with reasons to complain, a spirit of gratitude marks us as distinct children of God, shining His light. This is only possible by continually putting on Christ and relying on His strength.

As we go about our days, may we be mindful of the amazing reality that the fullness of God dwells with us and is for us in Christ. Let us lean into His transforming work, rejecting complaining and pursuing contentment and gratitude as a witness to the watching world. In doing so, we testify that our salvation is not just a future hope, but a present, all-consuming reality.

Grace and peace,