Sermon Tone Analysis

Announcements:

Veritas is one church in three different locations and one of our congregations is celebrating a new home today… Tri-City in Hilliard is meeting in their new space for the first time today.

So we celebrate with them!

If you want to know more about Veritas, look through the bulletin, you can see some of the things coming up… and I know myself and a couple of the others will be around up front at the end of the gathering to chat.

Welcome

Welcome

If you’re a visitor, we’re glad you’ve joined us today.

We’re gathered today to celebrate what God has accomplished through Jesus.

God is good and he has made a way for us to know him and that is the greatest thing we could possibly hope for...

Additionally, we’re celebrating transformed lives through the work and ministry of the Refuge — where 5 men have accomplished 13 months of training and have gone from the grips of addiction to a life of purpose and hope!

It’s exciting and an honor to partner with the Refuge and other non profits and businesses from our community that are doing good work and helping people!

Third Way Cafe

Safe Families

Citizens for Community Values

Pregnancy Resource Center

Clean Turn

Franklinton Farms

Project 614

REFUGE

others...

Because, our role as a church is to proclaim the Gospel , that is our orimary purpose & then we encourage our community and members to herald God’s truth and grace throughout the city!

and it’s exciting because it is happening.

As Veritas, we get to be a gathering place to rejoice and to remember!

Rejoice in the grace of God!

Remember the reason for our rejoicing, which is God’s gospel.

But first, today we’re going to continue along in the New Testament book of .

We believe God has communicated to us through the Bible.

And that the Bible reveals how we can know God and live a life that leads to flourishing and joy!

So if you’re able, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.

So what is happening here?

Paul is sharing a bit of his testimony with the hope that the Philippian church would be encouraged to rejoice.

And Paul’s testimony includes going through trials for the sake of the good news of God!

The big idea today: Gospel persecution will lead to a bless-ed end.

“Gospel persecution will lead to a bless-ed end.”

With that in mind, today we’re going to reflect on three things:

What we are called to do: Proclaim the Gospel

Why it’s difficult: Suffering, persecution, and sin

How we can do it: Paul’s example

What we are called to do

phil 1:14-

What we know about what was happening here: Paul is imprisoned in Rome…

as he’s imprisoned he hears of the Philippian church and their faithful Gospel ministry and that leads Paul to joy and to encourage the church!

Instead of speaking theoretically, Paul gives the example of his own situation.

Instead of whining and complaining, Paul uses his situation as an opportunity to encourage the Philippian church.

Paul recognizes how his present suffering is actually leading to the advancement of the gospel.

Our first point today: So what are we called to?

We are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus!

We are desperately in need of good news!

Our world is filled with bad news.

We are surrounded with negativity… [Turn on the TV, negativity.

Watch a show, it’s filled with turmoil…

we are inundated with the destructive nature of sin and our world wrestles with the reality of pain and suffering on a daily basis.]

Paul recognizes the reality that the church is to PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD, first and foremost...

and remember, the church is not a PLACE.

The church is a PEOPLE.

When we think of the church, it’s easy to think of the church as an institution… The building, the programs, the formal ministries, the pastors, the staff, and so on...

But the reality is: the Bible has called every Christian to this calling of proclaiming the hope of Jesus to the world!

Don’t get me wrong, gathering together as a local church, like we are now, is vitally important.

We must take ownership… Biblically, the church is US… if you bear the name of Christian, if you call yourself a Christ-follower, you are the church… you have this sacred calling from God to proclaim the Gospel of God: (1) in your words, (2) in your actions, and (3) in your identity, it is who you are!

Too many of us become crippled by waiting on God to speak, when he has already spoken… Proclaim the Gospel — How did Jesus live?

We aim to live like Christ in our words and in our deeds… in what we say and in what we do!

Too many of us leave the work to the “professionals” (theologians, pastors, staff, ministry leaders)… This isn’t biblical.

We have different roles and responsibilities, sure.

But we all have the same calling!

What does it look like to PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL?

Treat neighbors?

Coworkers?

Family?

Do our choices and does our demeanor resemble that of Jesus?

Are we confident that the way we live gives honor, glory, and is representative of Jesus?

All of us are putting faith in something… in what ways are you proclaiming Jesus in your WORDS + DEEDS…???

A popular quote that’s often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi [which no one actually thinks said it]:

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”

The point being made in this quote… is quit talking and live it!

And although that sounds nice… it’s only half-true!

The model in the new testament is that we proclaim the gospel with our actions + our WORDS!

So we first recognize what we are called to do: Proclaim the Gospel.

Now, we must reflect on our second point for today, which really gets at the heart of Paul’s message here:

Why it’s difficult

phil

Why is it difficult to proclaim the Gospel?

SIN.

If you’re new to church, that may sound old-fashioned and weird.

Sin is simply human rebellion against Godly obedience.

sin: Any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.

We sin when we rebel against God and do what we want.

The Bible recognizes that God is creator.

And as creator, God determines the way to life.

As creator, God defines what is good and what is right.

We honor God when we live according to his way of living.

We sin when we rebel against God’s way of life.

If you’ve been around the church, sin may seem like such a common cause of hardship that we fail to recognize its severity.

Sin has become so normative and familiar, that it doesn’t sound as harsh and offensive as it should.

But this is reality!

Our rebellion against God has altered the world in devastating ways.

As a matter of fact, all of our pain and suffering can be pinpointed back to the origin of sin.

And the Bible makes it plain, that those who are in love with themselves will be haters of God.

And if you’re a Christian, these lovers of self will not only be haters of God, but they will be haters of you!

I’ve brought it up a lot in the past, but my favorite verse highlighting this is

This is important to remember