One Team Conduct (1:27-30)

One Team Conduct: Live Worthy of the Gospel Pray & Intro: Review where we’ve been – One Purpose: To Live is Christ; vv. 1-11 One People, One Partnership, One Prayer; vv. 12-18 One Ambition: Christ Proclaimed; [Easter Sunday intermission – One Gospel: God, Man, Christ, Respond]; last week vv.18b-26 One Life to Live Read poem by C.T. Studd to introduce our passage for today. Paul now applies to them what he has been explaining about his single-minded purpose (past, present, and future) for living and dying. My prayer is that this poem gets you geared up to hear Paul’s exhortation and be inspired by it to take action for the glory of God. Read Passage, then Explain & Apply: I. Military and athletic metaphors. A. The Christian life is not a playground but a battleground. B. The Christian life is not lived in isolation but in cooperation. 1. A military unit 2. An athletic team II. One comprehensive exhortation (“only one thing”) to a Christian community A. Only behave as citizens worthy of the gospel of Christ. Only lead lives worthy of the gospel. 1. Paul says something similar in Eph. 4:1, Col. 1:10 (prayer), or contains a parallel concept of pleasing God and adorning the gospel in 1 Thess. 2:11-12 & 4:1, Titus 2:10 2. Instead of his usual περιπατέω (‘live, conduct oneself, walk’), Paul here uses πολιτεύομαι (‘to live as a citizen, discharge one’s obligations as a citizen’) – similar meaning but with a different nuance that perhaps Paul employs deliberately in this case with the Philippians (Philippi prided itself on being a Roman colony, offering the privilege of Roman citizenship.)  Our first allegiance is in heaven (3:20) 3. Connotes mutual and corporate responsibility (individuals are parts of a team, so mutual responsibility) – conduct unbecoming of an officer; unsportsmanlike conduct (not simply a matter of what you do wrong but also what you DON’T do!) 4. Unworthy living vs. worthy living (worthy citizens) of the GOSPEL – might even say, “living out the gospel” a. Not that you should earn merit/worth (to be worthy of God) b. But since you already have worth to God AND have been made citizens of His kingdom, it means to live worthy of a position you already have (conduct becoming of an officer) 5. [broken down into parts] Standing firm, Striving for the faith, Suffering for the sake of Christ – and ADD “together” on each of those B. Standing Firm Together 1. Stand firm – hold your ground, maintain a position, be steadfast and upright – like a tree powerfully rooted, weathering the storm (imagine improved steadfastness against wind when working together, or having an interlocking root system)  UNITED WE STAND a. A single spirit (with one common purpose) or one and the same Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God who confirms our standing and empowers us to stand and strive) – both fit context (first with the overall concept of unity of mind and spirit here and in early vv. of ch. 2; the second specifically with 2:1)  “Such a unity of purpose is effected only in and through the Holy Spirit. To this extent the two interpretations are closely linked.” (P.T. O’Brien) b. Danger of being shaken b/c of opposition, suffering, and struggles – not to mention selfish ambition and pride, etc.  There does not necessarily need to be a hideous monstrosity of divisiveness before a team (in this case a local church) needs a rallying cry of true unity. C. Striving Side by Side 1. One mind (one soul, life – same attitude, same orientation of will) – External behavior impacted by our internal mindset. Unity of conduct influenced by unity of mind, spirit, attitude. (Next week)  For now, team mindset of a call to action: 1 Peter 1:13 2. Strive – competitive struggle (along with someone) – with Paul, with each other a. For the faith of the gospel (progress, advancement) – its spread and growth [OFF] 3. Not frightened, intimidated – emphatic: not frightened in no way (see also 14b) – physical intimidation, emotional intimidation – shame  don’t be startled, don’t scatter a. Fearlessly standing firm and striving side by side is clear proof, a public declaration of their destruction but of your deliverance! (unless they join the Jesus team, they remain His enemies, His opponents) b. Opponents are not ultimately your adversaries, but opponents of the gospel, enemies of God himself. D. Suffering For the Sake of Christ 1. Suffer – enduring physical & emotional pain/anguish (and mental, spiritual) a. Struggle (fight/foot race, contest, conflict) – when living is a struggle, cling to Jesus 2. FOR the sake of Christ (not b/c you’re an idiot – Peter) a. You have been graced with suffering. (a gift of grace freely given) – Mt. 5:10-12 b. Suffer the struggle with team unity in joy & confidence & conviction – Acts 5:40-41 3. So Paul wants to hear of them what they have seen and heard of him. (Acts 16 and now  better still – of Christ in him, in them) III. Our United Conduct A. How would we summarize “behaving as citizens worthy,” as opposed to unworthy living? 1. Living worthy of the gospel means making Jesus the supreme treasure of your life and helping others to do the same. 2. It means that your primary purpose is the plan of God. 3. It means you see yourself alongside God’s Son and His people as a partner and a participant in the gospel. 4. It means that your prayer priority is for you and others to know and grow in Jesus. 5. It means that your one true ambition in life is to work with your team to know Christ and make him known. 6. It means that your living and dying have one and the same aim – honoring Christ. 7. It means that we work as a team to stand firm in the faith, to strive side by side for the gospel, and to suffer joyfully, courageously for the sake of our Savior. 8. It means that we aim to serve, to put others first, because the pulse in our veins is humility. 9. It means that since our allegiance lies with God, so does our obedience. 10. Finally, it means that we contend together for holiness and godliness in our hearts and actions to “shine as lights in the world,” (not in order to make us look good, but) that the name of Jesus Christ may be exalted, to the glory of God the Father. B. Friends, brothers and sisters, family – This is what I mean when I say that God is renewing our first love in Christ Jesus. We must embrace this kind of mindset, this kind of cooperation, this kind of driving passion, to allow the Holy Spirit to bring revival.