Sermon Tone Analysis

Pressing On

One secret to being successful in the world is to learn how to motivate yourself as well as others.

A tough old cowboy counseled his grandson that if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a little gunpowder on his oatmeal every morning.

The grandson did this and lived to be 93.

When he died, he left 14 children, 28 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and a 15-foot hole in the ceiling of the funeral home.

(1)

One secret to being successful in the world is to learn how to motivate yourself as well as others.

A tough old cowboy counseled his grandson that if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a little gunpowder on his oatmeal every morning.

The grandson did this and lived to be 93.

When he died, he left 14 children, 28 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, and a 15-foot hole in the ceiling of the funeral home.

(1)

No, I'm not going to suggest that you sprinkle a little gunpowder on your oatmeal, but don't we all need a little extra push from time to time to help motivate us to do the things we know we ought to do?

So, I'm not going to suggest that you sprinkle a little gunpowder on your oatmeal, but don't we all need a little extra push from time to time to help motivate us to do the things we know we ought to do?

I’ve waited till now to focus on this important section because this is the message that I hope will stick in your memory and be recalled every time you think of Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church.

I’ve waited till now to focus on this important section because this is the message that I hope will stick in your memory and be recalled every time you think of Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church.

Paul was concerned about this church family as he was about each of the churches he had connection to.

But this letter indicates more intensity of relationship than say Corinthians or Romans or Ephesians.

The Philippian letter allows us to see his heart in a better light.

Paul was concerned about this church family as he was about each of the churches he had connection to.

But this letter indicates more intensity of relationship than say Corinthians or Romans or Ephesians.

The Philippian letter allows us to see his heart in a better light.

He loves this family of believers.

They are his joy and his crown (4:1).

He expresses deep gratitude for their help and encouragement both through prayer and financial assistance (1:3-5; 4:14-19).

He knows that they are dealing with some internal struggles (1:27; 2:14; 3:2; 4:2).

He urges them to stop being anxious (4:4-7).

He loves this family of believers.

They are his joy and his crown (4:1).

He expresses deep gratitude for their help and encouragement both through prayer and financial assistance (1:3-5; 4:14-19).

He knows that they are dealing with some internal struggles (1:27; 2:14; 3:2; 4:2).

He urges them to stop being anxious (4:4-7).

In light of all those words of counsel Paul wants them to “Press On!”

You know what the alternative is to pressing on, don’t you.

It’s giving up.

It’s throwing in the towel.

It’s letting the enemy have his way.

Paul doesn’t want that for them or for you!

In light of all those words of counsel Paul wants them to “Press On!”

You know what the alternative is to pressing on, don’t you.

It’s giving up.

It’s throwing in the towel.

It’s letting the enemy have his way.

Paul doesn’t want that for them or for you!

Paul is talking about what it means to be a Christian and live a Christian life here.

In verses 12 and 14 he uses the word press.

“I press on...” he says.

Paul is talking about what it means to be a Christian and live a Christian life here.

In verses 12 and 14 he uses the word press.

“I press on...” he says.

One thing that’s interesting: the very same Greek word he uses in verses 12 and 14 that’s translated press is used in 3:6.

He uses the very same Greek word, but there it’s translated persecute.

Paul says, “I persecuted the church.”

Then he uses the same Greek word in verse 12 and 14, and it’s translated press.

The question is right away what kind of word could serve both contexts?

How could a single word be translated persecute over here and the press on over here?

Here’s the answer.

The word means to pound.

“I pound.

I beat.”

The only difference is it used to be, before Paul was a Christian he was gathering up the whole church and pounding it toward death, but after he becomes a Christian, he’s gathering up his whole self and pounding it, pushing it, forcefully, intensely focusing it toward a single point.

“One thing,” he says, in verse 14. “I’m after one thing now.”

The question is right away what kind of word could serve both contexts?

How could a single word be translated persecute over here and the press on over here?

Here’s the answer.

The word means to pound.

“I pound.

I beat.”

The only difference is it used to be, before Paul was a Christian he was gathering up the whole church and pounding it toward death, but after he becomes a Christian, he’s gathering up his whole self and pounding it, pushing it, forcefully, intensely focusing it toward a single point.

“One thing,” he says, in verse 14. “I’m after one thing now.”

You see, Christianity is not passive.

It is intentional and deliberate.

Paul had a major paradigm shift in his approach to life.

He was now fully focused on his relationship to Christ and what it means for Him to be Lord of his life.

You see, Christianity is not passive.

It is intentional and deliberate.

Paul had a major paradigm shift in his approach to life.

He was now fully focused on his relationship to Christ and what it means for Him to be Lord of his life.

Remember I mentioned the problem of compartmentalizing your life last week.

Some Christians see their Christianity as a piece of their life.

But Paul says no.

To be a Christian means that your entire life is gathered up and it’s intensely focused and pushed on, pounded out toward a single thing.

Your whole life is about one thing.

Your whole life is pushed into one thing.

Remember I mentioned the problem of compartmentalizing your life last week.

Some Christians see their Christianity as a piece of their life.

But Paul says no.

To be a Christian means that your entire life is gathered up and it’s intensely focused and pushed on, pounded out toward a single thing.

Your whole life is about one thing.

Your whole life is pushed into one thing.

In Paul wrote, “I struggle by the energy he so mightily inspires within me.”

Paul’s attitude is reflected in the acrostic for the word PUSH.

P.U.S.H. “When life seems difficult...Push Until Something Happens!

In Paul wrote, “I struggle by the energy he so mightily inspires within me.”

Paul’s attitude is reflected in the acrostic for the word PUSH.

P.U.S.H. “When life seems difficult...Push Until Something Happens!

So in light of these verses, this morning, I want to frame my message around some key questions that arise out of our text.

So in light of these verses, this morning, I want to frame my message around some key questions that arise out of our text.

1.

How well do you know Christ?

1.

How well do you know Christ?

2. Are you making room in your life for growth in the knowledge of Christ?

2. Are you making room in your life for growth in the knowledge of Christ?

3. Are you willing to “press on” for Christ?