Sermon Tone Analysis

Therefore-serves as two things here.

It is the conclusion of the previous section and the introduction to a new section.

Paul is essentially saying;

Because Jesus has become the desire of our hearts

Because Jesus is our Goal

Because we are straining to take hold of who we are in Christ.

Because we are seeking to follow godly examples

Because we are seeking to be godly examples ourselves

Because we have the joy set before us

Because we are seeking to know Christ more

Because we are known by Christ

STAND FIRM IN THE LORD!

Let nothing distract you

Even disagreements among yourselves

Do not let the culture draw you away nor let the world change your God

We need to be unified to stand firm.

How do we do that?

We Rejoice in Faith

4:4 Rejoice.

The joy that Paul calls for is not a happiness that depends on circumstances but a deep contentment that is in the Lord, based on trust in the sovereign, living God, and that therefore is available always, even in difficult times.

Paul’s formula for joy is apparent in this letter.

We can summarize it by saying we must have:

• THE CAUSE OF CHRIST as our priority.

That cause, of course, includes the fellowship, the furtherance and the faith of the gospel (1:5, 12, 27);

• THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST as our pattern.

This is the character of sacrificially giving one’s self up in the interest of others (2:5–8);

• THE COMPREHENSION OF CHRIST as our passion.

This means crying out with Paul ‘that I may know Him’ (3:10);

• THE CARE OF CHRIST as our peace, which the apostle is about to express (4:6–7).

Be Reasonable-The Lord is at Hand v. 5

(Epi, A case)

gentleness, graciousness, consideration, moderation, forebearance

88.63 ἐπιεικής, ές: pertaining to being gracious and forbearing—‘gentle, gracious, forbearing.’

μηδένα βλασφημεῖν, ἀμάχους εἶναι, ἐπιεικεῖς ‘not to speak evil of anyone, nor to be quarrelsome, but to be forbearing’ Tt 3:2.

Trust God and Pray vs. 6-7

Rather than fretting about the future, remember what God has done and promises to do.

Grocery money

Leaving Beverly

We have no guard as competent as the Lord!

Believers who carry their burdens to the Lord will find peace and rest in their spirits.

This peace will stand at the door and guard the hearts and minds of believers so that anxious care and worry cannot enter.

It is a glorious peace from the Lord that unbelievers cannot find and cannot explain, and it is a peace that believers themselves cannot fully understand.

Be thankful!

An attitude of thanksgiving contributes tremendously to inward peace.

All of this is contingent on knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior.

Do you know the Lord Jesus that way?