3. Christ is Preached

Random Question

What’s one cool thing you did this summer?

Prayer

Lesson

Recap

Main lesson: God’s desire is that we would always be abounding in a love that is fuelled by knowledge. Since we know God, we learn how to love more. Lose isn’t a feeling, it is not passive, it is action. Love is not blind!

Vs. 12

Philippians 1:12 NKJV

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

At the onset of writing this letter, Paul knows the Philippians are worried about Paul…

Almost as worried as moms get when they can’t find their kid in Disney land.

Paul is in prison (House arrest), and the Philippians care about him, so he takes a minute to reassure them everything’s alright.

So he says, “Guys, you should know that me being in jail isn’t all bad, it actually turned out for the good.”

What is the good outcome of his imprisonment in vs. 12? (the furtherance of the Gospel)

Furtherance = Making a new path…

Ill: Making a new path by cutting branches in thick tropical forest..

This trial of Paul’s is the instrument God used for the Gospel to reach new people groups.

Ill: Roman guards

- Chained to Paul 24/7

- 6 hr shifts = 4 guards to witness to per day!

Paul’s life on its own was such a witness! (Sharing gospel to others, praying without ceasing, writing letters to churches, praise). All these things were done right with these Romans.

None of this would’ve been possible if Paul was a free man; these Roman guards were not easy to reach. If it weren’t for that imprisonment, these men would maybe never hear the Gospel.

What’s our usual prayer request when someone is in danger or in a trial? (That God would take them out of it)

Do you think there’s ever a time that God doesn’t want us out of the trial? Why would He want us in the trial? (The trial is exactly what He uses for the Gospel)

Sometimes, the better prayer request isn’t asking for deliverance, but for strength to be useful through this trial.

Vs. 13

Philippians 1:13 NKJV

13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;

What was obvious to the palace guard and to everyone else? (that his chains were in Christ)

What do you think that means?

Was Paul in prison because he was a criminal? Did he commit arson or murder someone?

Why was he in prison? (For the cause of Christ)

And that fact was obvious to everyone! I think there are a couple reasons why that was obvious.

He told everyone about the Gospel, and how God was using this imprisonment.

His character backed him up

Ill: Everyone claims their innocence…

- Convicted for robbery

- “I’m telling you, I’m an innocent man! Just look at my life!”

- Look at his track record: “Car theft… bank robbery…”

Paul’s character backed him up, everyone knew he was in jail for the Gospel, and he told them about that!

Vs. 14

What happened to the Christians who knew about Paul’s imprisonment (Vs. 14)? (They were emboldened to preach the gospel)

This might seem counter-productive at first… The fact that Paul was locked up in prison made the others bolder to preach the gospel.

Q: Who knows how to ride a bike here?

Q: Did any of you learn to ride without any help? (No)

- We need mom/dad by our side and training wheels to keep us from falling. We can do that for so long, but there comes a point that we’re more than ready to take those training wheels off.

Q: Were any of you scared to take them off? Is it because you weren’t able to ride on your own? (No, it’s because you thought you couldn’t ride)

- Dad takes the training wheels off, and now you’ve got no choice but to go without them. And we turn out fine!

In the same sense, Paul was kind of like training wheels for them. He was the main speaker, and the Christians in Rome watched him do his thing.

Now that he was under house arrest, who’s responsibility was it to preach the gospel in the city? (The others!)

So, this imprisonment forced them to take on that responsibility with boldness.

Two ways the imprisonment has been useful:

Paul is reaching unreached people

People are stepping up and preaching the Gospel

Vs. 15

Now Paul starts talking about those people preaching in the streets…

Philippians 1:15 NKJV

15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:

He says there are preachers with different kinds of attitudes, what are they?

Envy and strife:

Help me out here… What is envy? (A resentment toward the success or possessions of another)

So, it’s jealousy, but it’s specifically the resentful attitude I have because someone else has what I want.

Q: How do you feel when your sibling beats you on board game night? (WRATH)

Q: How would you feel if your friend won 500$?

- Outside: “Oh I’m so happy for you! Congrats man!”

- Inside thoughts: “NO FAIR! I deserve this way more than you do!”

So, there’s some people that are envious of something Paul had.

What could they have been envious of? (“Success” or the attention Paul had)

Paul’s ministry was way more widespread than anyone else’s at the time, and I think we can all agree that we’d be tempted to envy Paul too.

“Everything is going so well for them, but look at my life! Why do people talk to them and not me?”

Because of this envy, these preachers tried to cause more trouble to Paul.

What’s the other people group in vs. 15? (Goodwill)

They understand Paul isn’t competing with them, they are partners in the Gospel ministry.

Vs. 16

Based on vs. 16, What’s the motive of the first person? (Selfish ambition)

They used the Gospel ministry as a way to advance their own selfish agenda.

Do you see any ways we might use Gospel preaching in a selfish way? (Get attention, make people think we are pious, self approval “I’m such a good Christian”)

Is preaching the gospel a solo mission?

Q: What wins you a championship in hockey? Baseball? Soccer? (A well rounded team)

- Everybody’s got to work together for it to work.

Ill: This is the best way I can illustrate these selfish Christians…

Q: Who’s the GOAT of soccer?

- Paul = Ronaldo/Messi

- Selfish Christians = Lesser known player

- Lesser known player wants to become the next GOAT. How’s he going to do that? Score goals! So, he plays a super selfish game: He never passes the ball to anyone (especially not to Messi/Ronaldo), and wastes time trying to get the perfect shot opportunity.

- Why would he want Messi/Ronaldo to fail? (So that he can rise above them)

So he’s selfish… And he justifies his actions, “Messi/Ronaldo is so arrogant anyway, someone needs to keep them humble!”

Just a hint… NOBODY likes this kind of player! These believers had ulterior motives when they preached the gospel, they actually wanted the attention that comes from it, and they’ll do anything to grab that attention.

How far are they willing to go at the end of vs. 16? (Add affliction to Paul’s chains… They’ll intentionally harm Paul if it serves them)

Vs. 17

What’s the motive of the second person in vs. 17? (Love!)

Philippians 1:17 NKJV

17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

Ill: They’re the team player on Messi/Ronaldo’s team. They realize that it’s best to pass the ball to the best player, that’s good for the team!

So, they’re okay if someone else is successful!

What heart attitude do we need to realize this? (Humility! I don’t need to be the center of attention for everything, it’s okay for others to have success too)

You want to hear a secret? You’re not the only person on earth who God can use! You and I are expendable!

Vs. 18

Philippians 1:18 NKJV

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

What does Paul chose to rejoice in? (The fact that the Gospel was preached!)

Did everyone have the right motive in doing it? (No)

But what did lost souls hear while Paul was in jail? (The hope of the Gospel)

So, we can rejoice in that!!!

Ill: John Wesley seeing Whitefield in heaven…

Application

What can we learn from this passage?

God can use our greatest trials for the Gospel.

It’s okay when others succeed, let’s get over ourselves!

Rejoice when the Gospel is preached, no matter what!