What Do Christians Do?

Philippians 1:27–28 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

The text is pretty straightforward.

Philippians 1:27–28 ESV

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.” —

I think this text provides a behavioral definition of gospel worthy life. I think Paul is saying that a life lived worthy of the gospel means “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.”

The text is pretty straightforward.

But there’s another way to take it. It could be that Paul isn’t providing a definition of what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel, he’s assuming they know generally what that looks like. And that this deep missional unity is the result of a group of people living lives worthy of the gospel.

If you want to know what it means to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ, Paul gives a very simple definition.

So he’s either saying that living a life worthy of the gospel produces community or he’s saying that a deep commitment to biblical community produces is a gospel worthy way to live.

Does gospel community empower godly lives. Or do godly lives empower gospel community?

“I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”

The definition of Christian success is bound up in Christian community. A life lived alone is not a manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ.

I can see it both ways.

Part of my job as a pastor is to help Christians who have spiritually broken down on the side of the road. I’ve help change a few soul tires over the years. Rodney has too. I think we’d both say that there’s no way to be firm in the faith without fellowship. See .

It is exceedingly difficult to live like God wants you to live without the help of other believers.

A life lived alone is not an appropriate adornment of the gospel.

It is exceedingly difficult to stick in a biblical community if you haven’t made the decision to live for Christ.

The main point of v. 27 is missional unity. Brothers linking arms and striving together side by side for faith in the gospel. But how exactly do we live a life linked arm and arm?

I’ve seen it play out both ways many times:

Like the good leader he is, Paul is modeling that very thing in his letter. In the previous 26 verses, Paul does at least three things that make it possible to live life linked arm and arm.

God uses Christian community to kill sin.

Satan uses sin to Christian community.

1. Confidence in sanctification = patience with incomplete Christians (v. 3-11)

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Important things just aren’t as simple as people make them out to be. I wanted to show you that conflict because we get quite tricky with ourselves.

See the unfinished verbiage (6, 9, 10, 11)

Two different cases:

There’s the Christian utterly defeated and saddened by his sin. To him I would say, press into Christian community and you will see a difference.

He isn’t highlighting it here, but those unfinished parts of their soul are rough edges that cause pain. We can be partners and still cause one another pain. (5) We will hurt one another because that’s what sinners do.

But there’s another who is utterly disenchanted and unsatisfied with Christian community. They mostly see how it has failed them. And maybe it has. But often, the real root is this — christian community is for people desperate to follow Christ. They are not so much unsatisfied with the church as they are unsatisfied with Christ.

But there’s hope and delight anyway. Jesus isn’t done with them. They are unfinished.

We shouldn’t be afraid of our unfinished brother. We should be confident for him.

However we read it, one thing we can say for sure.

2. Form community on anti-fragile mission (v. 12-21)

The definition of Christian success is inextricably bound up in the local church. A life lived alone is not lived in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

The main point of v. 27 is missional unity. Brothers linking arms and striving together side by side for faith in the gospel. But how exactly do we live a life linked arm and arm?

Community is only as strong as its common mission. If the common mission is weak, the community will be weak as well. But what if the mission is not only strong, but anti-fragile.

Like the good leader that he is, Paul is modeling this very thing in his letter. In the previous 26 verses, Paul does at least three things that make it possible to live life linked arm and arm.

Nassim Taleb — Antifragile

Be grateful for your church —

There are weak things. Strong things. And then there are things that actually thrive when they’re threatened.

“Some things benefit from shocks; they thrive and grow when exposed to volatility, randomness, disorder, and stressors and love adventure, risk, and uncertainty.”

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Our common mission is the Great Commission and it will not fail“what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (12-13)“most of the brothers are more confident” (14)“some preach Christ out of envy, rivalry, selfish ambition, seeking to afflict” (15-17)

He’s remembering them often — “all my remembrance”

My glory is fragile. Christ’s glory is anti-fragile. It will not fail.

He’s praying for them often — “always in every prayer of mine”

He’s moved in his affections for them — “making my prayer with joy”

Church growth is fragile. Buildings are fragile. Programs are fragile. Politics are fragile. Personalities are fragile. And if we partner together for these things, then its only a matter of time until the partnership implodes on itself.

3. Endure hardship with one another, for one another (v. 22-26)

He’s being grateful for loyalty — “because of your partnership in the gospel”

Let’s go through these with a little more detail.

Paul was faced with the choice to die and go to heaven or to stay. He decided to stay for their sake.

He’s remembering them — v. 3

“I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

Paul has a lot going on. His mind in particular is a busy place. But he makes it a point to think of his brothers and sisters in all the churches. I think one of the most basic pivots in church culture happens when critical mass of individuals begin obeying and ,

He honestly viewed himself as “necessary.” Guys, you’re more “necessary” than you think you are. (maybe talk here about strengths and weaknesses + false humility)

“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works”

Not because he didn’t know where he would end up

And not because he didn’t love heaven and Christ

He’s praying for them — v. 4

He stuck in the pain of hardship and suffering because he loved these men

A few weeks ago, I discussed the contribution mic. Making a time and a place for members to share God’s word with one another.

In one sense, we’re really talking about bringing your quiet time to church. Something you will read this week in God’s word, a thought the Lord has given you, in your own time with the Lord — may well be intended for the edification of the church. So bring your quiet time to church.

Don’t hide your hardshipsSufferingSelf-inflicted suffering (sin)Don’t leave when it gets hard

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

But in v. 3, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all…” Is the opposite action. Bring your quiet time to church and by praying for one another, bring the church into your quiet time.

26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

He’s moved in his affections for them — v. 4

Making my prayer with joy. He feels joy when he thinks of them. His heart is warmed.

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

When a pack gets threatened — they scatter. Strike the shepherd and sheep will scatter.A single Christian is virtually invisible. Now I want you think about that.

But what if I don’t feel joy for so and so…

Sometimes we act out of our affections but sometimes we act on our affections.

2)

He is living it out himself. He is asking them to stand firm in one spirit, one mind, striving (greek) side by side for the faith fo the gospel.

Little children play house because they are practicing. It is pretend — but it is the kind of pretend that is done in absolute confidence that one day they will become the thing they are rehearsing.

committed to them.

Later Paul clarifies the source of his affection. Look at

Philippians 1:8 ESV

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

He’s grateful for their loyalty — v. 5

want you to see that when Paul calls them

—————

We can take our family’s commitment to us for granted. We can assume it and then begin to nit pick things that they did or didn’t do — we pharisaically inspect a record that only exists because they have stuck with us for a very long time.

How do

So that’s point one. It is essential both for you and your church that you stoke grateful affections toward your church and take grateful actions for your church.

2. Be hopeful for your church —

——-

Hope for individuals — 6-11

:?

Anybody here see Falling Man

I’m not talking about hope as a sentiment. I’m talking about hope in a way that is synonymous with confidence and assurance.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

“Falling Man” — documentary. Don’t watch if you’re prone to depression. Don’t watch when it is even overcast outside.

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

See the unfinished verbiage (6, 9, 10, 11)

Its about the 911 image of a man jumping from the towers. I was living in Columbia when that happened. I attended a prayer service and I still remember some of your pastor Darryl’s prayer.

Anyway — he jumps.

He isn’t highlighting it here, but those unfinished parts of their soul are rough edges that cause pain. We can be partners and still cause one another pain. (5) We will hurt one another because that’s what sinners do.

Plenty of people who don’t believe in heaven — or who only have faint ideas about it — choose to die when life gets too hard.

But there’s hope and delight anyway. Jesus isn’t done with them. They are unfinished.

We shouldn’t be afraid of our unfinished brother. We should be confident for him.

Paul saw heaven. It was so glorious that God had to keep him humble with a permanent physical or emotional disability.

B. Hope for the mission — 12-21

I tell you all of this to say, in v. ?? Paul says that he was close enough to death (probably from a beating in prison, or exposure, starvation, etc…) that he literally had the choice — to give up the ghost and go to this glorious heaven or to stay there, in his hurting cold body, in prison.

Community is only as strong as its common mission. If the common mission is weak, the community will be weak as well. But what if the mission is not only strong, but anti-fragile.

And he chose to remain in the pain. Why?

There are weak things. Strong things. And then there are things that actually thrive when they’re threatened.

“I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

That’s all foundational — I’ve been assigned

“Some things benefit from shocks; they thrive and grow when exposed to volatility, randomness, disorder, and stressors and love adventure, risk, and uncertainty.”

But I want you to see that when Paul says…

Nassim Taleb — Antifragile

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Our common mission is the Great Commission and it will not fail

“what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (12-13)

“most of the brothers are more confident” (14)

“some preach Christ out of envy, rivalry, selfish ambition, seeking to afflict” (15-17)

My glory is fragile. Christ’s glory is anti-fragile. It will not fail.

Church growth is fragile. Buildings are fragile. Programs are fragile. Politics are fragile. Personalities are fragile. And if we partner together for these things, then it's only a matter of time until the partnership implodes on itself.

So what our church is about becomes fundamental. In easier days, the strength of our mission didn’t matter so much. Now it does.

3. Be faithful to your church —

Paul was faced with the choice to die and go to heaven or to stay. He decided to stay for their sake.

Philippians 1:23 ESV

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Look at v. 23, “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

He honestly viewed himself as “necessary.” Guys, you’re more “necessary” than you think you are. (maybe talk here about strengths and weaknesses + false humility)

Philippians 1:25 ESV

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,

Now look at v. 25, “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

Not because he didn’t know where he would end up

And not because he didn’t love heaven and Christ

He stuck in the pain of hardship and suffering because he loved these people.

Don’t hide your hardships

Suffering as limitations

Self-inflicted suffering (sin)

Don’t leave when it gets hard

The ones going through hardship get to call the rest of us to hard things with total credibility. That’s what Paul is doing from his prison cell.

“Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

We need you to be committed so that you can call us to commitment.

We need you to be grateful so that you can call us to gratitude.

We need you to be hopeful so that you can tell us to be hopeful.

Now look at v. 28, it is the continuation of the sentence in v. 27,

“and not frightened in anything by your opponents…”

I want you to think about the nature of persecution for a moment. In some respects, persecution is the devil unmasked. Persecution is Satan in his starkest, least costumed state. And what does the devil do when he puts away all of the disguises and pretenses and just rages like the dragon he is?

He seeks to separate Christians from one another.

Maybe that’s what he’s always doing.

Paul certainly seemed to think so.

And when we can’t be broken up. Not by our own sin or by suffering…well, that’s what we see in v. 28. This failure to scatter the sheep — because their arms are locked together,

“This is a clear sign to them (the opponents) of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” —

Application:

There is a way to give without loving. There is no way to love without giving.

Communion:

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Prayer:

Jesus, you stuck with us. You joined us here as a man to walk amongst us. Taking the form of a servant. And nobody is more grateful for the church than you. And nobody is more hopeful for the church than you. And nobody is more faithful to the church than you.