Sermon Tone Analysis

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

We are going to journey together the rest of the year studying through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the saints in Philippi.

I want to challenge you all to read through this book many times from now until the years end.

Read all 4 chapters at once, then read one chapter at a time, read one section at a time, until you digest it well and it becomes who you are.

Do an inductive study.

Let me give you 3 questions to ask as you read to help it sink in better.

What, Now what, So What? or:

What does the scripture say?

What does the scripture mean?

(not to you; what God intended it to mean)

What is God telling me to do after reading the scripture?

(confess and repent; trust him more; go encourage someone; change my thinking or change my actions; etc.)

READ THE TEXT

Philippians

;

PRAYER

Together

How many of you love ice cream cones?

Without the ice cream?

Just ain’t the same is it!

Peanut Butter and Jelly, Mac and Cheese, Mike and Joanna, BBQ and My stomach.

Things are just better together.

Remember the Turtles?

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you

For all my life

When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue

For all my life Me and you and you and me

No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be

The only one for me is you, and you for me

So happy together

So happy together

How is the weather

So happy together

We're happy together

So happy together

Now If you ask most Christians to tell you the theme of this NT book 90-95% of them will tell you “joy,” which is probably thinking as well.

I want to suggest to you that Paul’s theme is TOGETHER.

You can pick up on this right from the beginning in Paul’s introduction.

You can see it throughout the letter - the word or some kind of inference of together - 30x.

I want to challenge you all to read through this book many times from now until the years end.

Read all 4 chapters at once, then read one chapter at a time, read one section at a time, until you digest it well and it becomes who you are.

Do an inductive study.

Let me give you 3 questions to ask as you read to help it sink in better.

What, Now what, So What? or:

v.1 - He builds his foundation of togetherness by inform them that Timothy is with him together as fellow bondservants - doulos meaning “slave” This word in the Greek comes from another Greek word meaning “to bind together” They are bound together in Christ in subjection to Him.

Serving him together.

What does the scripture say?

What does the scripture mean?

(not to you; what God intended it to mean)

What is God telling me to do after reading the scripture?

(confess and repent; trust him more; go encourage someone; change my thinking or change my actions; etc.)

Now If you ask most Christians to tell you the theme of this NT book 90-95% of them will tell you “joy,” which is probably thinking as well.

I want to suggest to you that Paul’s theme is TOGETHER.

You can pick up on this right from the beginning.

That is the picture of atonement and being a Christ follower

This is also seen as an allusion to his authority under God’s calling and appointment and God’s choice to work through Him in advancing the gospel.

We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.

- MLK

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

- Helen Keller

Growth is never by mere chance.

It is the result of forces working together - James Cash Penny

We’re all working together, that’s the secret.

- Sam Walton

Togetherness is what Paul seeks to emphasize as the key element for success in any church.

That’s why I titled this first sermon:

Togetherness is what he seeks to emphasize as the key element for success in any church.

That’s why I titled this first sermon:

Saints Together in Christ

v.1b - Paul’s statement is truthfully the Christian defined and Christianity defined.

He is writing to believers/followers of Christ who gather in a local church in a particular area where the church had been planted a decade or so prior.

We find the story of this church plant in .

Turn with me there.

- Holy Spirit prevents Paul from going where he wants.

Paul’s vision is the Holy Spirit leading him to where these current saints were then sinners in need of a savior.

Philippi -

In 42 B.C. - The city became Roman province and took on everything Rome, the language, the customs, the form of government, and many structures similar.

The people prided themselves on being literal Roman citizens.

Many of the war veterans settled there.

The city took on everything Rome, the language, the customs, the form of government, and many structures similar.

The people prided themselves on being literal Roman citizens.

Many of the war veterans settled there.

Paul visited the city on his second missionary journey, and passes through on the third journey to pick up Luke, who had stayed behind.

Paul visited the city on his second missionary journey, and passes through on the third journey to pick up Luke, who had stayed behind.

Let’s take a look at these saints:

The church plant began in a small group Bible study held by several prominent women (not 10 Jewish men to have Synagogue).

- the prominent woman here is Lydia from the city of Thyatira, meaning she is ethnically Asian.

She is a home owner in Philippi.

If you described her class status - high society business woman.

Economically she is very wealthy, being in the fashion industry as the “CEO” of her own clothing line.

She has done very well for herself.

She was prada before prada.

She was a Real Housewife of Philippi.

If you described her class status - high society business woman.

She was a Real Housewife of Philippi.

She is also “a God-fearer” meaning she believed in God, that he was One God, and that knowing His laws was a good thing.

She needed the gospel and God brought Paul to her.

He engages her intellectually.

She is saved and baptized along with her whole household.

Notice the scope of the gospel.

Notice it reaches across class and race.