Sermon Tone Analysis

Good morning; Kyle; approaching the end of our series in the book of Philippians.

Today’s talk: Gospel Strategies for anxious times.

As you know, we live in anxious times.

Just a brief glance at the newspaper headlines indicate just how much we have to worry about: cabinet reshuffling; gang shootings; gender violence, domestic violence, rape—and the unending crisis in masculinity; university protests; junk status; water crisis; Eskom; massive data breach; terror attacks; global warming, and the list could go on.

There are a lot of things wrong with the world, and a lot of things to worry about.

We live in anxious times.

The Philippians also lived in anxious times: government persecution, internal relationship dysfunction, economic hardship, and false teaching.

Let’s not be sentimental about the Philippian church; yes, they were a great church but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t have trials and troubles.

They too lived in anxious times.

So God’s people have always had to deal with destabilizing forces; persecution, trials and troubles, relationship problems—in our friendships, marriages, and families.

Anxious times.

And it’s into this context of anxiety and difficulty that Paul gives us practical teaching about how to keep going under pressure; practical things we can do when we are struggling to cope.

And he roots these strategies in Gospel realities—these are things we can do because the Lord first did something for us.

He saved us; he gave us grace and redemption.

We can now do these things in the light of that.

So what are these strategies?

I have grouped the 7 commands under 4 key strategies: stand firm, repair relationships, practice spirituality, and develop wisdom.

Let’s take a look at each.

Stand firm (verse 1)

The first strategy is something Paul has already told them to do (in 1:27).

This is the second time he’s called them to stand firm; and, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, it’s a military term that means stand your ground.

Don’t crumble under persecution; don’t crumble under temptation; don’t crumble under pressure.

It’s an immediate application of the word of hope that Paul shared in 3:20-21, but it also leads into the appeals that will follow.

It’s about spiritual stability.

Throughout this letter, we have seen that there is a need for Gospel partners to be standing firm together.

Paul wants his friends to be stable and steadfast, and in this letter we’ve seen what that means: we stand firm as citizens of heaven; we stand firm in our commitment to Jesus; and we stand firm in our unity.

Paul wants us to be unwavering, resolute, single-minded, in our commitment to Christ.

He doesn't want us to lose our balance, crumble, or compromise.

In the commands that follow we’ll see more clearly what it means to stand firm but for now, it’s worth us asking ourselves: am I standing firm?

Or am I becoming sloppy and lazy in my Christian walk?

Are other things crowding in and gaining more and more of my attention?

Are any of my convictions becoming diluted?

Am I compromising in any area?

1) Stand firm (verse 1)

For now, it’s worth us asking ourselves: am I standing firm?

Or am I becoming sloppy and lazy in my Christian walk?

Are other things crowding in and gaining more and more of my attention?

Are any of my convictions becoming diluted?

Am I compromising in any area?

(Read) ; it’s possible to fall from a secure position.

The way to stay secure is to keep growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

The Christian life, it has been said, is like riding a bicycle.

Unless you keep moving, you fall off!

Paul modeled this in chapter 3, showing us how he aimed to do ‘one thing’ — press on.

You have to keep growing and moving and staying fresh and active.

So...how are you doing?

So Paul wants them to stand firm, but notice the warm relational language (read).

It almost seems like he’s trying too hard but I think his sincere love for them (which he already mentioned in 1:8) is just overflowing.

The Philippians were converted by the apostle Paul’s ministry, so they are his joy and crown.

They are his reward, his trophy.

He eagerly desires their stability in Christ, longing to one day spend all eternity with them in the presence of Jesus.

Side-bar: this is why pastoral ministry cannot be professional!

People in the church, friends in our Life Group, are not just names.

They are people to be loved and prayed for.

They are people to be longed for.

So, in spite of the fear and anxiety, despite the attacks from the outside and the relational troubles from the inside, we are to stand firm.

We are to be stable.

I think this is illustrated powerfully in the life and ministry of the English Reformer, Hugh Latimer.

During the period of the reformation, Latimer was an effective and popular preacher.

So, as expected, he soon encountered a storm of persecution that billowed against him for many years.

Eventually, Latimer was charged with heresy and condemned to death.

Along with another well-known protestant leader, Nicholas Ridley, Latimer was sentenced for execution on October 16, 1555.

The issue was whether they would stand firm to the teaching of the Bible, or whether they would recant their views.

And as the moment of execution approached, you can imagine many onlookers wondering whether they would compromise or stand firm.

Well, as Latimer and Ridley were tied to the stake back to back, Latimer famously said to Ridley, “Be of good comfort, Mr. Ridley, and play the man.

We shall this day light a candle by God’s grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out.”

Now, God may not call you to die at the stake, but he does call you to stand firm in whatever situations you find yourself in.

Last night, for example, at a braai, someone asked me about my view on a particular issue.

And when I told them I believe what the Bible says, they suggested that I update and modernise.

Now, they weren’t being disrespectful or rude, in fact the opposite.

If anything, I think they were just a bit disappointed.

But here’s the thing: whenever we disagree with the Bible, the Bible wins.

The Bible wins.

Now, of course we need to do our best to ensure we are carefully interpreting and applying the Bible, so there’s a need for scholarship and also a need for humility.

But whenever we find ourselves disagreeing with the Bible, or whenever we find our culture disagreeing with the Bible, the Bible always wins.

And we need to stand firm in what the Lord has done for us, and in what the Lord has said to us.

So the first strategy: stand firm; be spiritually stable.

Secondly, repair relationships.

Repair relationships (verses 2-3)

Paul appeals to these two women, asking them to be of the “same mind” (a phrase found in 2:2).

There was obviously some kind of conflict, and as you can imagine, there are all sorts of things various people suggest Euodia and Syntyche were fighting about.

The truth is, we don't know—although we do know some things.

We can deduce, for example, that this wasn’t a conflict over doctrine, because if it was, Paul would have corrected the person in error (which is what he usually does).

Rather, it seems as though their disagreement is more personal than theological in nature, because the solution is for them to be of the “same mind” (which means valuing others above ourselves, being tender and compassionate, etc).

The solution is relational humility.

And by naming them publicly, Paul indicates the seriousness of the conflict, and the potential it had to split the church.

Bible scholar Steven Runge pictures it this ways (refer to image).

(Image)

These conflicts amongst church leaders often begin as a disagreement of some kind, often over a judgement call on some issue.

It’s usually not the difference between right and wrong, but between better and best, between doing something this way versus that way.

These things are highly subjective, with what’s “right” often based on one’s personal preferences and values.

But like any conflict, if not resolved early on, it will fester.

People get entrenched in their positions.

They develop factions, they build support, they get into pastoral politics!

And eventually, the community splits and the church breaks.

It is tragic.

There comes a point in conflicts where everyone loses, regardless of how it all started.

The toll of backbiting, bitterness, and resentment leaves no one unscathed.

Now, churches are particularly susceptible to this in anxious times because there’s a link between stress and anger!

Perhaps the fallout occurred in the midst of a stressful time, and now they are left with the relational damage still months down the line.