Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro

Overwhelmed - Arresting Anxiety -

7543 What Causes Anxiety?

Psychologists point out these contributory causes: (1) rush sickness—trying to cram thirty hours of activities into a twenty-four-hour day; (2) straining—those who aren’t getting ahead as fast as they think they should and strain harder for a promotion of more social approval; (3) mobility—in a recent five-year period, seventy-five million Americans changed homes, uprooting parents and children from family, church, and community relationships; (4) threat of nuclear destruction.

7544 What Worries Americans?

A Harris Survey asked a cross section of Americans to tell what worries them the most.

More than seventy percent said they worried about wasting too much time, especially watching television.

About the same number stated they worried about not reading enough, not attending church regularly enough, and not being active enough in community affairs.

The survey reports nothing about concern over personal sins and a future judgment.

7545 Physical Effects Of Worry

At a British clinic an examination of 500 patients confirmed that more than one-third of their visual problems were caused by emotional tension.

Dr. Leonard S. Fosdick of Northwestern University has proven conclusively that worry restricts the flow of saliva.

Then, because natural mouth acids are not properly neutralized, tooth decay occurs.

A survey of about 5,000 students in 21 different colleges confirms that worriers get the lowest grades.

BEC Commentary * great source !

Phil 4.4

6 Be anxious for nothing,

Key theme: The joy of the Lord

Key verse: Philippians 3:1

I. THE SINGLE MIND—chapter 1

A. The fellowship of the Gospel—1:1–11

B. The furtherance of the Gospel—1:12–26

C. The faith of the Gospel—1:27–30

II.

THE SUBMISSIVE MIND—chapter 2

A. The example of Christ—2:1–11

B. The example of Paul—2:12–18

C. The example of Timothy—2:19–24

D. The example of Epaphroditus—2:25–30

III.

THE SPIRITUAL MIND—chapter 3

A. Paul’s past—3:1–11

(the accountant—“I count”)

B. Paul’s present—3:12–16

(the athlete—“I press”)

C. Paul’s future—3:17–21

(the alien—“I look”)

IV.

THE SECURE MIND—chapter 4

A. God’s peace—4:1–9

IS THIS EVEN POSSIBLE?

Of all the letters Paul wrote to churches, this one to the Philippians stands out as being the most personal.

No sharp rebukes of the congregation mar its joyful spirit

GK = Anxious (careful) - “to be pulled in different directions”

Can you relate to that?

Hopes / Fear

Worry = “to strangle”

Let’s look to Paul then and see what he says to us.

Prayer

Strengthen me by the grace of your holy spirit, O God. Give me the power to be strengthened inwardly and to empty my heart of all vain care and anxiety, so that I may not be drawn away by many desires, whether for precious things or mean ones.

Let me look upon everything as passing, and upon myself as soon to pass away with them, because there is nothing lasting under the sun, where all is vanity and affliction of spirit.

How wise is he who thinks thus!

Give me, Lord, heavenly wisdom to learn above all else to seek and find You, to enjoy and love You more than anything, and to consider other things as they are, as Your wisdom has ordered them.

Grant me prudence to avoid the flatterer and to bear patiently with him who disagrees with me.

For it is great wisdom not to be moved by the sound of words, nor to give ear to the wicked, flattering siren.

Then, I shall walk safely in the way I have begun.

THOMAS À KEMPIS

Message

Recap

= In a world that gives us a myriad of reasons to be stressed out and anxious Jesus offers rest, if we want it.

= Often pride, and anxiety goes hand in hand, what might happen if we get rid of pride?

= Three practical principals to arrest our anxieties.

Before we do that some Context…

Paul’s Time in Philippi…

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey

Paul goes to Philippi = where he first meets the Philippians who he will later write to…

Of all the letters Paul wrote to churches, this one to the Philippians stands out as being the most personal.

No sharp rebukes of the congregation mar its joyful spirit

Act 16.16-24

This is his first time in jail for the gospel...

What would you think?

Would you be questioning God? Would you be questioning your call?

Maybe you know the story but lets see what happens…

Act 16.25-40

MIRACULES

Act

Thessalonica = Paul, Silas, Timothy >> Berea >> Athens >> Corinth

Biblical Event Navigator.

Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014.

Biblical Event Navigator.

Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2014.

Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla

Silas and Timothy join Paul in Corinth

Several people in Corinth convert

Paul has a vision in Corinth

The Philippian church supports Paul

Paul writes 1 Thessalonians

Paul appears before Gallio

Paul leaves Corinth

Paul returns to Antioch

Paul makes a brief stop in Ephesus

Paul ends his second missionary journey

Paul’s third missionary journey

Paul begins his third missionary journey

Apollos begins teaching

Apollos is instructed at Ephesus

Apollos goes to Achaia

Paul in Ephesus

Paul baptizes in Ephesus

Paul speaks in the hall of Tyrannus