Shining Lights

If you have your Bible and I hope you do, turn with me to Philippians 2. Philippians 2 is where we are going to be today and we are going to be examining verses 12-18. Paul is following up his instruction from verses 1-11 to show us how our unity makes a huge impact in our ministry of the Gospel.

I remember hearing one time of a church that split over chicken. It’s true! There was a church that was hosting a potluck and the ladies overseeing the meal usually ordered fried chicken. A new lady was on the team and was placed in charge of ordering the chicken and she opted for baked chicken since it was healthier. Oh man! The things that were said! Folks were up in arms over it! Arguments were had. Motions were made and ultimately the baked chicken people decided to start their own church, Harmony Fellowship was planted. Ironic, huh?

Meanwhile the community saw all this and thought… if that’s what Christians are about I don’t want any part of it. I don’t blame them honestly. And what Paul is going to teach us today is applicable to where we’re at right now. Let’s stand together in honor of God’s Word as we read Philippians 2:12-18

Philippians 2:12–18 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, 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.

Pray for Dale and his surgery, Keri and her recovery, Steve Warren, Denny Johnson, Judi Jewell, Charlie Roden. Pray for volunteers in the children’s ministry and youth ministry. Pray for unity in our church. Pray for the sermon.

Paul has called the Philippians to unity. There’s selfishness, disunity, and vast amounts of pride. Paul has also pointed us to Jesus’ example of humility in service and obedience to death. Then God exalted Jesus, so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.

That’s passage is one of the most glorious in all of Scripture. But Paul doesn’t leave us up in the heavens with Christ’s exaltation. He brings us right back down into the life of the church. And he starts verse 12 with the word “Therefore.” He says, because Christ obeyed and humbled Himself, because Christ was exalted, here’s how we must now live.

And that’s what makes this passage so powerful. Paul is saying, “If you really believe in the humility and lordship of Jesus, it will show up in the way we live together as a church.”

Now remember — the church in Philippi had some serious unity problems. Back in chapter 1, Paul talked about people preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry. In chapter 2, he warned against selfish ambition and vain conceit. Later in chapter 4, he even has to call out two women by name, Euodia and Syntyche, and tell them to get along in the Lord. So this was a church that was alive in the gospel, but threatened by disunity.

And here’s the principle Paul lays out for them — and for us: A united church is an obedient, Spirit-empowered, joy-filled witness.

When we are pulling together in obedience to Christ, depending on the Spirit, guarding our attitudes, shining as lights, and rejoicing in sacrifice — the church becomes a living testimony of the gospel to the watching world. And notice how tenderly Paul speaks here he calls this church that is struggling with unity “my beloved”. These aren’t just church members on a roster— these are people Paul dearly loves. He’s not barking commands at them as a drill sergeant; he’s urging them as a spiritual father.

So let’s look at this point by point: First thing I want to point out is our

Shared Obedience

We Pursue the Same Goal. He says, “as you have always obeyed” Paul highlights their pattern of obedience. Obedience is the motor of Christian growth. To obey means to yield to a superior. Think about how the disciples marveled in

Matthew 8:27 ESV

27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Mark 1:27 ESV

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

Jesus obeyed the Father perfectly, and now we are called to walk in His steps. And he instructs the Philippians to “work out your own salvation… that’s a strange teaching isn’t it? What does Paul mean when he says this? Notice — he does not say “work for your salvation.”

Salvation is not earned by our obedience. It was earned by Christ’s perfect obedience and now salvation is received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Paul is saying that what God has planted in you, you now cultivate. Let what’s been worked in our hearts show itself by being worked out in our lives.

Jesus Himself “worked out” His divinity in Philippians 2:6–8. He didn’t enforce His rights, instead He poured Himself out in humility and obedience. Now Paul says, do the same.

But then comes the phrase that makes us pause agian “with fear and trembling” What does that mean? This is not the fear of a slave cowering before an abusive master. It’s the reverence of a child standing in awe of a holy Father. The Old Testament uses this phrase in several areas — in

Job 4:14 ESV

14 dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.

Mark 16:8 ESV

8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

This means that Christians should have a holy seriousness and reverence for the God we serve. It’s not flippant. To work out your salvation with fear and trembling means we recognize that the holy God who saved us is worthy of our deepest respect and our full obedience.

Now let’s be honest — obeying the Lord can be scary. Sometimes God calls us to things that push us beyond our comfort zone. Sharing the gospel with a neighbor. Forgiving someone who hurt us. Giving generously when finances are tight. Standing firm in a culture that mocks our faith. Those things can make our hearts tremble. But here’s the good news — as we’ll see in verse 13, we tremble because God Himself is at work in us.

So don’t think of obedience as drudgery. Think of it as joining Christ in His work. Obedience is not the enemy of freedom — it’s the pathway to it. Think of a rowing team. If each rower were to decide to row at a different rhythm, the boat wouldn’t go very fast. Everyone’s sweating and straining, but the boat just meanders along. But when they row in sync, when they follow the same cadence, the boat glides across the water with power and speed. That’s what Paul is saying to the Philippians. Row in sync! Get on the same page and row together! Obey Christ, pull in the same direction, and watch the Gospel advance.

John MacArthur’s said: “A church’s greatest testimony to the world is not its size or programs but its loving, faithful obedience to Christ together.”

That’s what Paul is after here. Shared obedience. Pulling together in the same direction. Working out what God has worked in, with a holy reverence for the One who saved us. Let’s look at the second point:

Shared Source

We Depend on the Same Power! Look at verse 13: “For (This is the why) it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

We learn in verse 12 that we are to obey and that’s on us, verse 13 teaches us that we don’t carry that weight alone. Yes, we are called to obey as new creations, to “work out our salvation” But here’s the balance: God Himself is the One working in us. The word “works” is the Greek word energeo — it’s where we get our English word energy. It means active, effective, unstoppable power. God doesn’t just zap us to life and leave us; He continues working on us.

And Paul is very specific. God is working in two ways:

First, “to will” — that’s desire, intention, purpose. God changes what we want. Left to ourselves, we would never desire holiness. But by the Holy Spirit, God works in our hearts so that obedience becomes a delight.

Second, “to work” — that’s action. God not only stirs the desire but supplies the strength to follow through.

Why does He do this? Paul says, “for His good pleasure.” God takes joy in transforming His people. He delights in making us more like His Son.

This verse guards us from two extremes. Legalism, the idea that obedience depends only on our effort and passivity — the “let go and let God” mindset that waits for holiness to magically appear. Paul says no. God works, and because God works, we respond.

John Murray put it like this, “God’s working in us is not suspended because we work, nor our working suspended because God works. God works and we also work. But the relation is that because God works, we work. All working out of salvation on our part is the effect of God’s working in us.” That’s the tension of the Christian life. We are responsible, but we are never alone. We obey, but it is God who energizes both the desire and the doing.

Thomas Chalmers, the Scottish preacher, once said, “The only way to dispossess the heart of an old affection is by the expulsive power of a new one.” You don’t kill sin by simply trying harder. You kill sin by loving Christ more. And that love itself is God’s gift to you.

Have you ever faced a moment when you knew the right thing to do, but your heart didn’t want to obey? Maybe forgiving someone. Maybe resisting a temptation. Maybe serving when you felt tired. In those moments, you need more than willpower don’t you? You need God to give you the desire to obey Him. And Paul says that’s exactly what God does. He not only gives you the command, He gives you the will and the strength to follow it.

So here’s the principle: our unity is Spirit-driven. We don’t just share a mission; we have the same Holy Spirit Who empowers us. Unity comes when we stop trying to row in our own strength and instead recognize that God Himself is energizing us together. And that’s good news for a divided church. Because left to ourselves, we’ll always drift toward selfish ambition and grumbling. But with God working in us, we can actually desire holiness, act in obedience, and bring joy to the Father. The next point is a

Shared Attitude

Notice again Paul’s use of sweeping language: “Do all things.” Not some things. Not the things you happen to enjoy. Not the things you agree with. All things. Every act of service, every ministry, every conversation, every team meeting, every decision — do it without grumbling or disputing.

Now, what does Paul mean by those words?

Grumbling means murmuring, whispering complaints. Think of Israel in the wilderness. Exodus 16 says they grumbled against Moses and against God. It led to their destruction in the desert.

Isaiah 58:9 ESV

9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

this verse equates grumbling with wickedness. It’s that subtle, under-your-breath criticism that poisons the atmosphere of a church.

Disputing means quarreling, arguing, debating in a contentious spirit. We see this attitude in

Luke 9:46 ESV

46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest.

1 Timothy 2:8 ESV

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

In other words, these attitudes of grumbling and disputing are not Christian characteristics. They have no place in the church. They are the marks of a disunified and worldly people.

And Paul says the goal is that we would be:

Blameless — literally “without fault,” above reproach. The opposite is being liable to accusation.

Innocent — unmixed, pure. The opposite is deceitful, dishonorable.

Without blemish — spotless, like Christ Himself

This is our identity: “children of God.” Rare language for Paul — he’s saying, “Act like your Father.” Don’t be like Israel in the wilderness who grumbled after being delivered from oppression, slavery, and darkness. Don’t be like the world around you that is crooked and twisted — bent out of shape by sin, warped in its thinking, distorted in its priorities. Instead, live like the children of a holy God which is what you are!

This attitude of grumbling is indicative of something much deeper. Adrian Rogers told the story of a husband who constantly complained. His wife decided to make him a nice breakfast. She said, “Honey, would you would like your eggs?” He said, “I want two eggs. I want one fried and one scrambled.” So his wife cooked the eggs and placed them in front of him. He didn’t look very happy and she said, “What’s wrong?” The man said, “You scrambled the wrong egg.” That’s what grumbling does. It finds anything to complain about. But you know what the real issue is? It’s that the man wasn’t hungry enough. I believe that this is the real matter in church today. People aren’t hungry enough for the Lord! Jesus taught blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled! When is the last time you were so hungry for God you were desperate for Him? Are you starving for the Bread of Life? He promises to satisfy and He invites you to Himself to be filled!

But with a complaining heart. A heart that is prone to grumbling and arguing, will never be content. No matter what God gives, no matter how good the church is, that heart finds a way to complain. Paul says — that’s not who you are. You are children of God. And the children of God are meant to stand out as blameless and pure in the middle of a crooked and twisted world. But here’s the good news — Jesus, who never grumbled or reviled, bore the punishment for our complaints at the cross. That means we’re not only forgiven of our grumbling but free to live in gratitude instead of complaint. So when we do grumble, we’re not just complaining about people — we’re ultimately complaining against the God who called us. But because of Christ, we can now walk in joy, contentment, and gratitude, and reflect His character and show the world a different way to live.

Shared Witness

We Display the Same Light. Pick up with the end of verse 15: “…among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.” Paul pictures Christians as stars in the night sky. The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The world is crooked and twisted — bent by sin, warped in its thinking — but in the middle of that darkness, Christians are called to shine brightly.

The language here alludes to Daniel 12:3

Daniel 12:3 ESV

3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Jesus took this to another level and applied this to the disciples.

Matthew 5:14 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

So how do we shine? Paul says by “holding fast to the word of life.” This phrase can mean two things — and likely Paul intends both:

Holding fast = clinging to the word for perseverance. We grip the word so that we are not swept away by the world’s crookedness.

Holding forth = presenting the word to others. We don’t just cling to the gospel privately; we hold it out publicly.

This is the mission of the Church. Not only to avoid grumbling and disputing within, but to shine by living holy lives and proclaiming the Word of life.

At night, when you see a bright star, people point it out because it stands out. When the moon is shining, people admire the moon. But during the day, no one stares at the sun—they notice the beauty of the world the sun lights up. In the same way, a Christian may stand out like a star, or a stronger Christian like the moon. But a mature Christian, who reflects Christ most clearly, isn’t the focus at all. People don’t see them—they see the truth and the beauty of Christ that their life is shining on.

And don’t miss this: Paul isn’t talking about individual sparks scattered here and there. He says “you” plural — together you shine. The church’s witness is corporate. We shine brightest not when we’re off doing our own thing, but when we stand united in holy contrast to the world. D.A. Carson puts it this way: “The church is to be light in the darkness not by blending into it, but by standing united in holy contrast.”

The Philippians needed to hear this because their disunity threatened their witness. And we need this teaching as well. Internal grumbling always obscures external shining. But when the church is united, obedient, and joyful, our light is unmistakable! You see, the world doesn’t need another club, or special interest group, or divided gathering of people fighting for their own way. The world needs to see the radiant unity of God’s children shining with the light of Christ. Last point:

Shared Joy

Paul shifts the focus forward — to “the day of Christ.” He lives his whole life with the final day in view. He says, I want to look back on my ministry and know that it wasn’t wasted. That I didn’t run or labor in vain. What mattered to Paul wasn’t comfort in the moment, but fruit for eternity. And then he uses an incredible picture in verse 17: “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering…” The word is spendo — it means to pour out completely, with no retrieving it. In the Old Testament, a drink offering was wine poured onto the altar, evaporating instantly in the fire, symbolizing total giving to God. Paul says, that’s my life. I’m gladly poured out for Christ and for you, the church.

And here’s the amazing part: Paul doesn’t complain about it. He doesn’t resent the cost. He says, “I am glad and rejoice with you all.” And then he tells them, “You also should be glad and rejoice with me.” Do you see the logic? Shared obedience and shared power lead to a shared attitude and shared witness. But all of it culminates in shared joy. Even sacrifice becomes a reason to rejoice — because it magnifies Christ.

Jim Elliot once wrote, “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” That’s what Paul is doing here. He is fully present, fully poured out, and yet fully joyful. The world says, “Joy comes when you hold on tightly to your life and get as much as you can” The gospel says, “Joy comes when you pour it out for Christ and for others.”

Paul’s joy wasn’t rooted in circumstances. It wasn’t dependent on whether he lived or died. It wasn’t tied to the approval of people. His joy came from knowing that his life — however short or costly — was part of God’s greater plan. And here’s what we learn— Gospel growth produces Gospel joy. When we see others standing firm in Christ, when we see the church united, when we see the gospel advancing — even if it costs us everything, we rejoice.

And that joy rests on the resurrection. Because Christ rose from the dead, Paul knew that no labor in the Lord is ever in vain. Sacrifice is never wasted — it becomes a reason to rejoice, because it will bear eternal fruit.

That’s the kind of joy that keeps a church from fracturing. That’s the kind of joy that shines as light in a dark world. And that’s the kind of joy that makes the watching world say, “Surely Christ is among them.”

So let’s tie it all together. What is Paul teaching us?

A united church is an obedient, Spirit-empowered, joy-filled witness.

Shared obedience — we pursue the same goal.

Shared source — we depend on the same power.

Shared attitude — we guard the same spirit.

Shared witness — we display the same light.

Shared joy — we rejoice in the same sacrifice.

And all of it points back to Christ, who humbled Himself in obedience, who was exalted by the Father, and who now works in His people by the Spirit.

So here’s my question for you: What kind of church are we going to be? Are we going to be a church that grumbles and disputes, that pulls in different directions, that stalls out like a rowboat out of sync? Or are we going to be a church that pulls together in obedience, empowered by God’s Spirit, shining brightly as witnesses, and rejoicing in the costly privilege of following Christ? I want to be that kind of church because when the church is united like that — obedient, Spirit-empowered, and joy-filled — the world cannot help but see the light of Christ and be drawn to Him. And that is our calling.

Head: God wants you to know that a united church shines when its members obey Christ together in the power of the Spirit.

God calls His people to live out their salvation together, not as isolated individuals but as a unified body. When the church obeys Christ in step with the Spirit, it becomes a bright witness that makes the gospel visible to the world.

Heart: God wants you to believe that He is actively at work in you — both to give you the desire and the strength to obey Him.

God is the One Who is at work within you. He is shaping your desires and empowering your obedience. Because He supplies both the will and the strength, you can follow Christ with confidence, knowing your efforts are not in vain.

Hand: God wants you to live out joyful obedience by putting away grumbling, choosing humility, and shining together as lights in the world.

Because God is working in you, choose to put away grumbling, pride, and selfishness, and instead walk in joyful obedience. As each of us does this together, our unity becomes a living witness that points the world to Christ.