Shine Bright

*Turn to Phil. Ch. 2.... V.14-18*

Passage Reading:

Philippians 2:14–18 (ESV)

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,

16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

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Open in Prayer

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Intro: Christian Distinguishers…

I WANT TO ASK YOU TO THINK OVER YOUR LIFE...

AND TO CONSIDER THE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE THAT ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN.

CHRISTIAN FAITH & WORLDVIEW: SHAPE NEARLY EVERYTHING ABOUT US...

WAY WE INTERACT W/ OTHERS

VALUES

LIFE WE LEAD...

**THE CHRISTIAN FAITH SHOULD DO MORE THAN JUST CHANGE our SUNDAY MORNING DESTINATION**

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MIGHT THINK of “BIG” THINGS...

DON’T STEAL

DON’T COMMIT ADULTERY

I’M HONEST…DON’T CHEAT...

THINGS MANY NONBELIEVERS ALSO DO...

**FAITH SHOULD INFECT US MORE DEEPLY THAN THIS**

NEED:

· AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I BELIEVE WE NEED THIS TEXT THIS MORNING....

TEXT WILL SHOW US SOME of the MORE SUBTLE THINGS THAT SHOULD CHARACTERIZE our LIVES...

BOTH INDIVIDUALLY

& CORPORATELY

INVOLVES the WORDS WE SPEAK...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE DIVE IN THIS MORNING, I WANT TO OFFER A SHORT RECAP FOR THOSE WHO WEREN’T HERE LAST WEEK.

RECAP: “COUCH TO GODLINESS”

Last Week:

Command: “WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION” W/ FEAR & TREMBLING...

WORKING OUT—WHAT GOD HAS WORKED IN

Philippians 2:13 (ESV)

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

TRANSFORMATION in CHRISTIAN LIFE COMES FROM GOD’S SPIRIT WITHIN

GOD BEGINS WORK,,

GOD is at WORK…

& GOD PROMISES to COMPLETE the WORK

GOD WORKS in US— SHAPES OUR DESIRES & GIVES US POWER to FULFILL HIS “GOOD PLEASURE”

GOD GIVES INGREDIENTS & RECIPE—NOW UP to US—BAKE the CAKE...

THIS WK:

WE’RE GOING to SEE—SOME SPECIFIC WAYS WE “WORK OUT” WHAT GOD HAS WORKED IN...

(T) LOOK W/ ME @ PHIL. CH. 2: VS. 14-15

THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES,

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PREACHING PASSAGE: PHIL. 2:14-18

THOUGHT 1 (V14-15)

Philippians 2:14–18 (ESV)

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,

CHALLENGING THING— EXPECTED CONSISTENCY of CHRISTIAN LIFE....

I’M SURE MANY of US WEAR DIFFERENT HATS...

@ CHURCH— I’M a PASTOR

@ HOME— I’M HUSBAND & FATHER

YOU MIGHT GO to WORK:

I.T. GUY HAT

NURSE HAT

MAINTENANCE HAT

TEACHER HAT

BUILDER HAT

COME HOME:

HUSBAND/ WIFE HAT

FATHER/MOTHER HAT

SON/DAUGHTER HAT

**ALL of US HAVE MULTIPLE ROLES**

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DIFFERENT ROLES in FRIEND GROUP:

FUNNY GUY

WISE ONE—KEEPS OTHERS FROM GETTING HURT

LIFE of the PARTY

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INTERESTING THINGS....CHRISTIAN LIFE...THE CHRISTIAN HAT NEVER COMES OFF.

@ WORK:

CHRISTIAN I.T. GUY

CHRISTIAN NURSE

CHRISTIAN MAINTENANCE

CHRISTIAN TEACHER

CHRISTIAN BUILDER

@ HOME:

CHRISTIAN HUSBAND/WIFE

CHRISTIAN FATHER/MOTHER/SON/DAUGHTER

**EVERY ASPECT of OUR LIVES = TO BE AFFECTED...

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TODAY’S TEXT: PAUL SAYS, “DO ALL THINGS...”

HOW?

DO ALL THINGS—WITHOUT GRUMBLING or DISPUTING!

GOD’S PEOPLE AREN’T to BE COMPLAINERS… & NOT to BE ARGUMENTATIVE....

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HEARING: “GRUMBLING” = REMINDS US of ISRAEL in O.T. in WILDERNESS...

EN ROUTE to PROMISED LAND—UNDER MOSES’ LEADERSHIP

COMPLAINED—NO FOOD

GOD PROVIDES MANNA

COMPLAINED—MANNA GOT BORING—MISS LEEKS & GARLIC

GOD PROVIDES QUAIL (OUT THEIR EARS)

COMPLAINED—ABOUT MOSES

GOD BROUGHT JUDGMENT

COMPLAINED—GIANTS in LAND

GOD BROUGHT JUDGMENT

**WHAT GOD GAVE WAS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH**

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IN N.T..... PAUL = SAYING, “DON’T BE GRUMBLERS” DON’T BE LIKE ISRAEL in WILDERNESS....

**REMEMBER: PAUL = WRITING FROM JAIL!**

EASY FOR ONE on MOUNTAINTOP to PREACH to ONE in VALLEY—BUT PAUL—UNDER HARDSHIP—OFFERS THIS TEACHING...

CHURCH, REFUSING TO COMPLAIN IS ONE WAY TO WHOLE-HEARTEDLY ACCEPT OUR GOD-GIVEN LOT IN LIFE.

COMPLAINTS = REALLY LEVERAGED AGAINST GOD...

THAT HE’S DONE a BAD JOB:

LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES

PROVISION/WEALTH

HEALTH

**ALL THINGS** WITHOUT GRUMBLING or DISPUTING

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BLESSEDNESS of BEING AMERICANS...

ON AVG: SOME of RICHEST PEOPLE on PLANET...

ACCESS to HEALTHCARE— SOME WITHOUT HOSPITALS

HEAT & A.C. — SOME ARE HOMELESS

CARS to DRIVE—SOME STILL CARRY WATER POTS

FREELY GATHER in WORSHIP—SOME UNDER THREAT of LIVES

AS AMERICANS = OFTENTIMES SPOILED,,

ADDICTED to COMFORTS,,

& ENTITLED...

**WE’VE GOT MORE to BE THANKFUL FOR THAN WE OFTEN REMEMBER…**

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Philippians 2:14 (ESV)

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

CHARACTERIZE the CHRISTIAN LIFE…BUT ESP. the CHURCH...

CHRISTIAN’S CORPORATE LIFE: WITHOUT COMPLAINT or ARGUMENTATION

PEOPLE YOU DON’T LIKE—COMPLAINT/ARGUING

EVENT WENT POORLY—COMPLAINT

TECHNOLOGY FAILING—COMPLAINT

PEWS UNCOMFORTABLE—COMPLAINT

SONGS TOO LONG—COMPLAINT

SONGS TOO SHORT—COMPLAINT

DIDN’T LIKE SONGS—COMPLAINT

MESSAGE NOT GOOD—COMPLAINT

MESSAGE TOO LONG—COMPLAINT

TOO WARM—COMPLAINT

TOO COLD—COMPLAINT

WHY DOES THIS MATTER??

THERE’S a PURPOSE--

DO ALL THINGS...

(V15)…SO THAT… YOU MIGHT BE...

BLAMELESS & INNOCENT

CHILDREN of GOD W.O. BLEMISH

SHINING as LIGHTS in the WORLD!

THIS WORLD/PRESENT GENERATION = CROOKED—MESSED UP

GOD HAS PLACED YOU. INDIVIDUALLY HERE… AS an AMBASSADOR of KINGDOM of GOD...

GOD HAS PLACED US. CORPORATELY HERE… AS AMBASSADORS of KINGDOM...

IF WE GATHER—WITHOUT COMPLAINT & ARGUMENTATION… WE SHINE a LIGHT!

**WE’RE to BE DISTINGUISHED**

BOARD MEETINGS SHOULDN’T LOOK LIKE SECULAR ONES

PLANNING MEETINGS SHOULDN’T LOOK LIKE SECULAR ONES

ALL OUR CORPORATE STUFF—SHOULD LOOK DIFFERENT!

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CHRISTIAN = IN WORLD…NOT of IT...

BOAT = MEANT to BE in WATER… BUT WATER NOT MEANT to BE in BOAT

WE’RE SUPPOSED to BE HERE,, BUT to BE DISTINGUISHED

ONE WAY (DISTINGUISHED): NOT GRUMBLING or DISPUTING

WE’RE to BE a LIGHT in the DARKNESS...

WE’RE to SHOWCASE HOW WE’RE DIFFERENT...

SETTLING DIFFERENCES W/ GRACE

PUTTING OTHERS FIRST—MORE VALUABLE THAN OURSELVES...

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

NUMBER of CHURCHES & DENOMINATIONS = TESTIMONY to WATCHING WORLD THAT WE CAN’T AGREE...

**DIVIDING OVER IMPORTANT DOCTRINE = ONE THING**

BUT HOW MANY DIVISIONS HAPPEN OVER STYLE of WORSHIP…NOT OVER WHO WE WORSHIP??

DIVISIONS HAPPEN OVER HOW WE DO MINISTRY…

WORLD = CROOKED & TWISTED…IN NEED of HOPE

THIS = ONE AREA WE CAN SHINE a LIGHT!!

OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY SHOULD TESTIFY TO THE TRUTH OF OUR MESSAGE.

(T) AND SO PAUL BEGINS WITH A COMMAND, & PURPOSE FOR THAT COMMAND...

AND NOW HE’S GOING TO FURTHER QUALIFY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD…

NOT ONLY DO WE AVOID GRUMBLING AND DISPUTING…BUT ALSO, HE CONTINUES…LOOK WITH ME AT VERSE 16.

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THOUGHT 2 (V16)

16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

2ND PART to SHINING as LIGHTS in WORLD...

HOLDING FAST—TIGHTLY GRIPPING—WORD of LIFE—GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST...

**WE’RE GOSPELIZED PEOPLE**

WITHOUT COMPLAINT

WITHOUT ARGUMENTATION

DISTINGUISHED FROM WORLD

HOLDING FAST to TRUTH of GOSPEL

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REMEMBER: PAUL ORIGINALLY WRITING to CHRISTIANS in PHILIPPI...

HIS PRAYER: THEY’D HOLD FAST...

…SO THAT… HIS LABOR WOULDN’T BE in VAIN

HIS MINISTRY WOULDN’T BE:

“WITHOUT PURPOSE OR RESULT, ”[1]

WOULDN’T COME UP: “EMPTY-HANDED”

PAUL GAVE HIS LIFE to MISSION WORK...

HOPING IT’D PAY OFF...

AS a PASTOR—OFTEN WONDER if ANYTHING YOU STAY is STICKING

SURELY PAUL—MUCH GREATER MINISTRY EFFORT—WOULD’VE HOPED IT ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING FOR the KINGDOM!

BEAR: the ONLY THING YOU CAN TAKE to HEAVEN WITH YOU is PEOPLE...

HOUSE STAYS HERE

401(K) STAYS HERE

COLLECTIONS STAY HERE

ACHIEVEMENTS STAY HERE

CAR, TRUCK, BOAT STAY HERE

ALL MATERIAL POSSESSIONS REMAIN HERE

BUT YOU CAN TAKE PEOPLE.

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MY PRAYER— MY LIFE MAKES an ETERNAL DIFFERENCE in LIVES of OTHERS....

PAUL’S HOPE: DAY of CHRIST—HE CAN BOAST

**NOT in HIMSELF**

BUT of THOSE CHRIST USED HIM to IMPACT

IN PHILIPPI:

PHILIPPIAN JAILER & FAMILY

LYDIA the SELLER of PURPLE FABRICS...

TIMOTHY & EPAPHRODITUS—COWORKERS in MINISTRY

EUODIA & SYNTYCHE—TWO WOMEN WHO COULDN’T GET ALONG in PHILPPI

PAUL’S PRAYER—MY PRAYER—OUR PRAYER…SHOULD BE THAT HEAVEN is MORE FULL BECAUSE of THE LIFE WE LIVED

THE ETERNAL FRUIT of LABOR—PEOPLE.

(T) AND NOW, OUR TEXT IS GOING TO CLOSE, LOOK WITH ME AT VERSES 17 AND 18. THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES,

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FINAL THOUGHT (V17-18)

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

PAUL’S HOPE—HE DIDN’T LABOR in VAIN...

#1 THING to HIM...

THEN HERE HE SAYS: EVEN IF I’M to BE MARTYRED AS a BONUS to YOUR FAITH—I’LL BE GLAD...

DRINK OFFERING BACKGROUND:

UNDER SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM—SOMETIMES POUR OUR WINE as SACRIFICE IN ADDITION to OTHER SACRIFICES

THEY WOULDN’T ENJOY IT—IT WAS “SACRIFICED”

PAUL’S LIFE— METAPHORICALLY “POURED OUT” in DEATH

WHAT MATTERS MOST—IS THEY REMAIN STEADFAST—HIS LABOR ISN’T in VAIN...

IF HE’S POURED OUT—HE REJOICES— AND THEY SHOULD TOO...

THEY JUST MUST REMAIN FAITHFUL...

**REMEMBER—PAUL’S in JAIL—CONFIDENT HE’LL BE GETTING OUT—BUT NOT 100% SURE…EVENTUALLY HE’D BE MARTYRED

(T) AND SO, WE SHOULD LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE, THE IDEA THAT,

HOMILETICAL IDEA:

THE CHRISTIAN is TO SHINE a LIGHT in a DARK WORLD—AND SOMETIMES ALL THAT TAKES is AVOIDING COMPLAINT & ARGUMENTATION...

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GOSPEL: HOW WILL YOU STAND ON THAT DAY?

PAUL OFFERS TEACHING—GUIDANCE,, ETC...

BUT HIS GREATEST HOPE— THEY WOULD REMAIN FAITHFUL—THEY WOULD HOLD FAST to WORD of LIFE

SO THAT WHEN CHRIST COMES AGAIN—HE’D NOT HAVE RUN in VAIN....

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PAUL’D ALREADY SHOWN US:

Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV)

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

THERE’S a DAY COMING—WHEN EVERYONE HERE WILL HAVE to STAND BEFORE the LORD & GIVE an ACCOUNT FOR THEIR LIVES...

PAUL’S PRAYER— BELIEVERS in PHILIPPI WOULD BE WITH HIM in GLORY

PAUL DID ALL HE COULD:

RESPONDED to VISION

WENT & PREACHED GOSPEL

WROTE (AT LEAST ONE) LETTER

BUT PAUL COULDN’T SAVE THEM HIMSELF...

THEY HAD to RESPOND to the WORD in FAITH

PAUL HOPED THAT HIS MINISTRY EFFORTS PAID OFF...

HE COULDN’T SAVE THEM…OR KEEP THEM…THAT WAS UP to GOD.

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MY PRAYER—BELIEVERS @ GRACE CHAPEL WILL BE WITH ME in GLORY;

YOUNG PEOPLE from “ROCK SOLID” YOUTH GROUP...

I CAN PREACH SERMON AFTER SERMON

OFFER ILLUSTRATION AFTER ILLUSTRATION

TRY & HELP YOU UNDERSTAND the BIBLE BETTER & BRING it to BEAR on YOUR LIFE...

BUT YOU HAVE to RESPOND to GOD’S WORD WITH FAITH...

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GOD SENT HIS SON INTO the WORLD to SAVE US FROM SIN...

TO SAVE US FROM a CROOKED & TWISTED GENERATION

HE PAID the PRICE FOR SIN

HE SUFFERED on OUR BEHALF

& WAS RAISED to LIFE AGAIN...

SO THAT THROUGH FAITH in HIM WE MIGHT BE FORGIVEN...

RECEIVE SALVATION—FREE GIFT of GRACE

**I CAN’T TAKE ANY of MY THINGS WITH ME INTO GLORY....

BUT I CAN TAKE YOU IF YOU RESPOND to the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION in CHRIST**

IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU STAND

HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING MATTERS of FAITH

LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER the SERVICE TODAY...

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APP: DISTINGUISHED THROUGH WORD

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED...

REMEMBER: PAUL’S ADMONISHED US— WORK OUT OUR SALVATION—WORK OUT WHAT GOD HAS WORKED IN...

Philippians 2:13 (ESV)

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

SPECIFIC AREA: WORDS WE SPEAK.

GOD’S DESIRE—WE DON’T GRUMBLE— WE DON’T DISPUTE/ARGUE.

WHEN GOD SAVED ME—MY VOCABULARY CHANGED—BUT THIS is an AREA I STILL STRUGGLE.

SINS of WORD:

GOSSIP

FOUL LANGUAGE

BACKBITING/CUTTING PEOPLE DOWN

COMPLAINING/BEING ARGUMENTATIVE

YOU MIGHT NOT SWEAR or GOSSIP—BUT DO YOU COMPLAIN REGULARLY??

PAUL SHOWS US: DOING ALL THINGS WITHOUT GRUMBLING & DISPUTING == SHINING a LIGHT!

IN PERSONAL LIFE

IN CHURCH

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o WE’RE TO BE A PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF IT.

o WE’RE TO BE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.

o WE’RE TO BE DIFFERENT, AND SPECIFICALLY, TO BE DIFFERENT IN THESE TWO AREAS.

WHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED IN THE CHURCH TO COMPLAIN, TO ARGUE, AND THE REST…ASK YOURSELF,

“IS THIS WORTH HURTING THE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH OVER?”

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**THERE ARE TIMES to STAND FOR TRUTH**

JOHN MACARTHUR:

SOME SAY: “DOCTRINE DIVIDES”

JOHN M.: “YES. IT DIVIDES TRUTH FROM HERESY”

THERE ARE HILLS TO DIE ON.

THERE ARE DOCTRINES to SPLIT OVER

BY in LARGE: BULK of CHRISTIAN COMPLAINING/ARGUING ISN’T OVER:

SIN

DOCTRINE

RIGHT VS. WRONG

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

IT’S OVER “HOW” MORE THAN “WHAT

SECONDARY THINGS

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PERHAPS…SOMETIMES WE DIE ON TOO MANY HILLS...

Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV)

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

RATHER THAN COMPLAINING…ARGUING...

WE CAN SELFLESSLY SERVE OTHERS

PUT OTHERS FIRST

SHOWCASE LOVE

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WE LIVE as CITIZENS of HEAVEN...

BY DOING ALL THINGS in LIFE WITHOUT GRUMBLING or DISPUTING...

& BY HOLDING FAST to the WORD of LIFE

& BY THESE THINGS WE SHINE a LIGHT INTO a WORLD...

...THAT is UTTERLY WITHOUT HOPE APART FROM CHRIST…AMEN?

Close in Prayer

***Communion Sunday***