Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro:

What’s up Campus Church!

How many of you are taking Summer classes?

I’m about to start a class here in a couple of weeks and I am not looking forward to it.

I think I have taken summer classes ever since I started college almost 6 years ago.

I don’t even remember what it is like to have a Summer Vacation.

But you got to do what you got to do right?

I don’t want to go too long today but if you have your Bibles why don’t you go ahead and grab those and turn them to Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians is closer to the back and it might take you a minute to find it because it’s a short book.

There is no shame in turning to the table of contents to see where it is.

If you’re using a Bible app you will have no problem finding it.

This is a great book.

There is so much here that we can apply to our lives.

If you remember last week when Pastor Barry preached 1:3-11 and when he introduced us to this book, you’ll remember that we are looking at how for the life of the Disciple… Christ is our life.

That is what we have entitled this study… Living is Christ.

Have you ever been to or seen one of those Comic Conventions on Facebook or something?

I’m a bit of a nerd so I won’t lie… I hope I can go to one of these one day.

I’ve seen some crazy costumes that some people have made.

My favorite one that I have seen is this one guy made Batman’s battle suit from the new movie.

I don’t know what it was made of but it looked like it was straight from the movie.

It was really cool.

The only difference is, well, this Batman was a lot more overweight than Ben Affleck.

For some of these people, comic books and superheroes is life.

For the guys that pick fights with the fans of rival sports teams, their team is life.

Nerdom and sports are not wrong.

In fact, I love things like Batman and Star Wars.

But our life is Jesus.

Probably the biggest theme of the book of Philippians is Joy.

In this four chapter book Paul uses the word “joy” five times (, ; , ; ), “rejoice” nine times ( (2); 2:17, 18, 28; 3:1; 4:4 (2), 10), and “rejoice with” two times (, ).

Do you see what’s crazy about that?

If you remember, Paul’s in jail.

And he’s telling all of these people at the church in Philippi that they need to be fighting for joy.

That they have so much to rejoice in.

Paul gives them things to celebrate because although he is in prison for the sake of the gospel, the gospel is still being preached and people are still coming to a saving faith in Jesus.

Paul is toward the end of his life and he is still experiencing joy.

Where does that Joy come from?

Paul makes it clear that his joy comes from Christ and his hope of being with Jesus after he dies.

So if you have your Bibles open to Philippians chapter 1 look down with me starting in verse 20.

Paul says this...

20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

LIVING IS CHRIST

21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose.

23 I am torn between the two.

I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

27 Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel, 28 not being frightened in any way by your opponents.

This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation—and this is from God. 29 For it has been granted to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Prayer

Listen to this short story that I found...

A noted brain surgeon, Dr. Bronson Ray, was taking a stroll when he saw a boy on a scooter smash headfirst into a tree.

Realizing that the boy was seriously injured, the doctor told a bystander to call an ambulance.

As he proceeded to administer first aid, a boy not much older than the injured one nudged through the crowd that had gathered and said to Dr. Ray, “I’d better take over now, sir.

I’m a Boy Scout and I know first aid,”

This Boy Scout had confidence.

He was confident because he was a boy scout and he probably had a badge for first aid or CPR or something that he would have no problem making sure that this injured kid was alright.

In the text that we just read together, the Apostle Paul is really modeling confidence.

As a believer in Jesus, as someone who has suffered greatly for the ministry, he has confidence.

This famous aphorism—“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (v.

21)—perhaps the most often quoted line from Philippians, stands at the spiritual center of the paragraph before us—a section in which Paul dynamically affirms his joyous confidence in God.

May our consideration of Paul’s words from prison both ground and spike our confidence in Christ as we live through the difficulties of life.

A mark of living a Spirit-filled life is that you live a life of confidence.

But what do we have confidence in?

Well we have confidence in the gospel.

We have confidence that Jesus has made us righteous before God.

We have confidence that God will provide all of our needs.

And as believers in Jesus, we have confidence that God will advance his gospel and continue to save lives regardless of how things may seem.

Let’s back up to verse 12.

You remember Paul is in Prison.

He says this...

18 What does it matter?

Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation,ae through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

18 What does it matter?

Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word,z fearlessly.

12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.

What we see here is...

The Gospel will advance through persecution

Paul’s in prison.

It is likely that he is under house arrest.

And because he is an imperial prisoner, he has the imperial guard with him 24/7.

The imperial guard, the praetorium, consisted of 9,000 handpicked soldiers who were honored with double pay, good pensions, and special duties.

Among their not-so-special duties was that of guarding imperial prisoners by an attached chain.

So Paul experienced a shuffle of soldiers manacled to him.

Certainly few of the 9,000 praetoriani were chained to Paul, but the gospel effect was exponential.

As soldier after soldier was chained to him in successive watches, they heard the gospel both directly and from Paul’s conversations with his visitors.

Paul knew that death could be right around the corner.

He could have easily despaired.

But instead he used these moments of imprisonment to share the gospel.

He knew he was getting new guards all the time and he wanted each and every one of them to have an opportunity to be changed by Jesus.

We learn later on in the book that some of them actually believed in Paul’s message.

Paul explains to them that they are in danger of condemnation and judgement but there is a way of salvation and his name is Jesus.

In chapter 4:21-22 when Paul is closing his letter to the Philippians he says,

22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.,j