Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Intro
Happy Valentines Day
It is a fitting night tonight to look at this passage.
Last week we looked at Paul’s prayer for the Philippians and we noticed that he prayed for their love to abound more and more through knowledge and discernment
One of the dangers of knowledge is that it can artificially inflate a person’s ego
Famous Intellectual arguments - Edison vs. Tesla
In the early 20th century Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla worked together
Tesla developed a DC system for Edison but Edison refused to pay the promised bonuses
Tesla struck out on his own to develop an AC system
In 1915 both men were reportedly in line to share the Nobel Prize in Physics
Their personal disagreement was so great that each refused to accept the award if the other person accepted as well
Arrogance will get you no where
It is interesting to note that this passage comes so quickly on the heels of Paul’s prayer for the Philippians
Prayer
Paul’s Perspective
2 Cor.
11:23-28; 2 Timothy 4:16-18;
Ratatouille Illustration
Anton Ego shows up to critique the restaurant and when asked what he would like he asks for “some perspective”
Paul sets the tone of unity for the Philippians by providing them a look into his perspective.
The annals of the world’s epic lives and journeys contain nothing to rival the courage and endurance and love of the Apostle Paul.
Paul has been a man of action
3 Missionary journeys covering 11 years
Paul’s desire has been to make it to Rome and then to Spain
Paul is imprisoned
Held in Caesarea for political convenience and in the hopes that money could be exhorted from him
Shipwrecked on the way to Rome
His life was threatened first by the soldiers and then by a viper bite
Under house arrest in Rome
abandoned by the church he had so longed to visit
At this point Paul could hardly be blamed for throwing up his hands and giving in
Paul has kept to the pattern of letters written in the ancient world
A greeting
Some sort of thanksgiving/prayer
Now is the portion of the letter where the readers could expect Paul to inform them of his status - his Facebook page if you will
His health
His meals
Thanksgiving for the gift the Philippians had sent with Epaphroditus
With the barest allusion to his circumstances, Paul exulted in the advancement of the gospel, which for him was the main thing
With the barest allusion to his circumstances, Paul exulted in the advancement of the Gospel.
General McCauliffe illustration
“Aw Nuts”
Paul’s reaction is much the same
Instead of being overwhelmed and defeated by his circumstances he maintains his perspective on the Gospel and recognizes that God is actually using this to further His Gospel
Suffering can come into our lives for many reasons
Sin
As a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba a child died
Discipline
For His purposes
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers
He was wrongly imprisoned by his master
He was forgotten by the cup bearer
He rose to prominence over Egypt and was in a position to save his family
Paul says that what has happened to him has actually furthered the Gospel
Among the Pagans
The whole Praetorian guard has come to know that Paul’s imprisonment is for the Gospel
Company of 9000 soldiers
Paul probably didn’t have access to all of them but every four hours a new guard would be assigned to him
Instead of viewing this man as an enemy or being intimidated
Paul looks past the chain on his own wrist to see the man at the other end
A man who needs the Gospel
The other Christians in Rome have become emboldened to preach the Gospel because of Paul’s imprisonment
This is counter-intuitive to civic discipline
Generally used to deter behavior
In this case it actually works to embolden the Christians in Rome to preach the Gospel
Acts illustration
Battle of Thermopylae
King Leonidas leads 300 Spartan warriors against the Persians
1 year later a united Greek army defeated the Persians to maintain Greek independence
This letter is written just before the persecution carried out by Nero against the church - many of these men would soon be ripped limb from limb in the Coliseum or used to light Nero’s dinner parties
Yet they are still preaching the Gospel
Persecution has often resulted in the Gospel being furthered
Conversation with Hayden about going to jail
Queen of Mary in 1553
Bishops Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley
Latimer cried out “Be of good cheer, Mr. Ridley, and play the man!
We shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.”
You can’t preach what you don’t know.
Because of Paul’s example and his teaching the Gospel is impacting the the pagans and the church.
In all of this Paul maintains his perspective on the Gospel
Envy and Strife?
These men are not heretics
In Galatians 1 Paul addresses heretical teachings and teachers
In one of the most offensive Bible verses he goes so far
In our own book
This is certainly a correct way to treat heretics - wolves should be labeled as such and we shouldn’t shy away from naming names in a misguided attempt at showing Christian love or unity
But this is not Paul’s tone
He counts these men among the brothers that he talks about in verse 14
some in the church were apparently bitter toward him, feeling that his appeal to the emperor would bring harder times upon them.
Most likely these are men who hold some doctrinal difference with Paul - but not to the extent that they have compromised the Gospel.
Doctrinal Differences are common today
These men were also spreading rumors regarding why Paul was in prison, seeking to undermine his credibility as an apostle
Paul gives us a lesson in perspective - and in humility
How should we react to those who seek to cause us frustration?
With grace
Grace tells me that I am no better than they are
We need to understand the differences between preferences and the Gospel - between secondary issues and primary issues
Preferences are the gray areas that are left open in the Bible - Worship music, Bible translation, etc.
This is also an area with respect to the teachers you listen to - whether Chuck Smith, John MacArthur, Timothy Keller or John Piper - among other high profile evangelical teachers
The Gospel is non-negotiable - so we should be careful who we partner with when we plan outreaches, etc.
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