Homiletical Bridge Philippians 2:12-18

Homiletical Bridge

Phil 2:12-18

Prior Context:  encouragement and exhortation to grow into worthy citizens of the Gospel kingdom looking to the example of Christ.

Immediate Context: Christ provided Christians with the perfect example of sacrificial humility and obedience to the will of God.

12 Therefore my beloved,              {dearly loved, prized, valued; special relationship}

            as you have always obeyed, so now      {to follow instructions; to grant a request}

                        not only as in my presence but much more in my absence

     work out your own salvation  {achieve, accomplish, do; bring about; prepare                someone; overpower, subdue conquer} {deliverance, preservation; salvation}

                        with fear and trembling {fear, alarm, fright; reverence, respect} {trembling, quivering}

13 for it is God who works in you   {work, be active, operate, be effective; work, produce, effect}

            both

                        to will

                       and                   .

                        to work

     for His good pleasure    {good will; favor, good pleasure; wish, desire}

14 Do all things

            Without grumbling or questioning   {behind the scenes talk; complaining} {reasoning; opinion; argument, dispute; doubt}

15  that you may be children of God 

                                    blameless and innocent

                                    without blemish

                        in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation

                        among whom you shine    {produce light, shine; be visible, appear; be recognized, be apparent, be revealed; to make an impression on the mind}

                                    as lights in the world   {star; splendor, radiance}

16 holding fast to the word of life

            So that in the day of Christ

                        I may be proud

                        That I did not run or labor in vain

17 Even if I am poured out

            Like a drink offering

             Upon the sacrificial offering of your faith

     I am glad and rejoice   {be glad, cheerful; happy greeting} {experience joy in conjunction with someone else; congratulate}

            With you all

18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

M.O.T.: Christian Life

C.I.T.: Paul reminded them that the example of Christ should motivate them to pursue the Christian life through obedience in the midst of sacrifice.

 Thesis: The example of Christ and His willingness to sacrifice should motivate us to pursue obedience in our Christian lives.

Proposition: I want my hearers to consider the example of Christ and the seriousness of their common pursuit of the Christian life.

Probing Question: “How are Christians to model obedience in their pursuit of the Christian life?”

Unifying Word: directives

Title: “Obedience: It’s a Light in the Dark”

Outline:

I. Rely on the Power of God to Live Obediently in Your Relations with God (vss. 12-13)

II. Resist Complaining in Your Relations with Each Other (vs. 14)

III. Resolve to Show Integrity in Your Relations with the World (vss. 15-16)

IV. Rejoice When Offering Your Sacrifices in Your Relations with God (vss. 17-18)