Gospel worthy conduct

Title: Gospel worthy conduct

Text: Philippians 1:27-2:4

D.T. A welcome home must be a united home

Introduction: Today we continue in our “Welcome Home” theme, the goal of which is to become known for being a welcome home. Last week we asked ourselves the question. How do we become known for being a welcome home? Our study began in Philippians, and we deduced very quickly that Paul regarded the Philippian church as a place he felt welcome. This was evident in the way we spoke about them. Today we begin to answer that question by discussing specific characteristics that make up a welcome home, things we need to have if we want to become known for being a welcome home. These characteristics are load bearing, they are pillars upon which a welcome home is built. We discuss our first attribute as we study Philippians 1:27-2:4

READ Philippians 1:27-2:4

Philippians 1:27–2:4 ESV

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. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Sometimes when you read scripture, it takes a few verses before you reach the main idea of your text. This isn’t the case today. The precedent is set very early. We are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.

When the apostle Paul wrote this letter, his future was uncertain. Paul didn’t know if he was going to be executed, spend the rest of his life in prison, or perhaps even freed.

Paul would grapple as to whether or not it would be better for him to be executed. His death ensures he’s united with Christ, on the other hand, he can continue to strengthen the churches if he continues to live.

Paul’s future was uncertain, and the way Paul felt about his future was uncertain.

Even if Paul was freed he wasn’t sure if he’d ever see the Philippians in person ever again.

Since things were uncertain, he needed to establish certainty. Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Then whether I ever see you again or not, I can at least know you are standing firm in your faith.

So how do we conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of gospel? This advice is really good advice, because it’s so important and relevant to our lives. We are approaching elections. Landscapes will shift, and whether these shifts are to our benefit or determinant, our response should remain the same. We conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel.

Paul gives us some pretty clear direction on what it looks like for us to live our lives worthy of the gospel. The answer is right in front of us in the scripture.

In verse 27 Paul tells us to stand firm in one spirit

In verse 27 Paul tells us to strive for these things together as one

In chapter 2 verse 2 Paul tells us to like minded, and to have one spirit and 1 mind

In the span of 7 verses Paul mentions some various kinds of unity 5 times. I think he may be trying to tell us something. We must be unified.

A welcome home must be a united home. Unity is the first weight bearing pillar that makes a welcome home. This means unity in all we do as a church body. We are simply unified in belief, but we are unified in purpose and attitude as well. We don’t want to be seen as individual families, committees, or friend groups that work independently of each other. Instead we must be viewed as a church body made up of individuals completely united in purpose and attitude.

United in purpose. What purpose unites us? Conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. We discussed what Paul intended when he said that right? We live our lives in equal measure to the gospel's importance in our lives. Christ has welcomed us into his presence while we were far from God, so we must welcome those who are far from God. This doesn’t mean we affirm the distance that separates them from God, instead we welcome them with the purpose of showing that distance can be closed through the grace of Jesus Christ. This is what it means to live worthy of the gospel. This is the purpose which should unite us. In the scriptures Paul explains how we should be united in purpose

In verse 27 Paul calls the church of Philippi to stand firm, and in verse 28 he says they should not be frightened by those who oppose us.

In other words, we are united in purpose. It’s a purpose that is vague, but rather one that is clear. We welcome those who are far from God, so they may be found.

United in attitude What is the attitude that unites us? Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

My favorite part of this passage is found in verse 4, and it’s actually a stipulation. Paul tells us to do nothing out of selfish ambition. He doesn’t want us to be unambitious. He just wants our ambition to have a servant-hearted purpose. He wants our ambition to regard the well being of others above ourselves. He wants our ambition to be based in a conduct worthy of the gospel.

If we wish to be known as a place that is a welcome home, we must be united in our attitudes and willingness to serve others.

Be the church day

If you were to google quotes or sayings about unity, you’d have better luck than you would if you googled welcome home. Some of my favorite quotes are these

Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success. Henry Ford

Build for your team a feeling of oneness, of dependence on one another and of strength to be derived by unity Vince Lombardi

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” - African Proverb.

Seeing people go far should be our goal at Central Church. We want to see faith grow, we want to see a dedication to Christ blossom, we want to see people become part of the family of God. If we want this to happen, we must create a place that is a welcome home. In this welcome home. A welcome home must be a united home.