Sermon Tone Analysis

\\ Scripture: Philippians 1

 

/Whoever is happy will make others happy, too./

/-- Anne Frank, Marriage Partnership, Vol. 12, no.

3./

 

The ability to maintain a proper outlook on “things in general” is essential to personal and spiritual vitality.

I am not certain that I know completely how to describe “vitality” but I know it when I see it and I know it when I don’t.

One of the greatest burdens that I feel for the church today is that we learn how to practice a contagious faith.

1.

Extreme Fellowship (1:1-11)

 

For the early Christians, koinonia was not the frilly "fellowship" of church-sponsored, biweekly bowling parties.

It was not tea, cookies, and sophisticated small talk in Fellowship Hall after the sermon.

It was an almost unconditional sharing of their lives with the other members of Christ's body.

- Ronald J. Sider 

 

Paul was intensely committed to people.

He was in love with the church that he once hated.

When he was knocked off his horse on the way to Damascus, he was changed and he never reverted to his old self or his former way of thinking.

What happens when God grants the gift of genuine Christian fellowship?

Deep, joyful sharing replaces the polite prattle typically exchanged by Christians on Sunday morning.

Sisters and brothers begin to discuss the things that really matter to them.

They disclose their inner fears, their areas of peculiar temptation, their deepest joys.

-- Ronald J. Sider

 

q      He was thankful for his friendships.

(v.3)/ “I thank my God every time I remember you.”/

Remember now these were people that he had deliberately impacted for the sake of the kingdom.

He made a spiritual investment in their lives and he was personally rewarded for that investment.

It brought him a sense of “thankfulness.

People who are willing to invest in the lives of others are ultimately rewarded.

There are disappointments as well because some of our labor with other people does not produce anything lasting.

I have found more joy and support in my life from the people that I have reached out to in order to minister to them in one way or another.

These relationships have become my most enduring relationships.

I believe beyond the shadow of a doubt that a person who will step out of his~/her comfort zone in an effort to bring something meaningful and beautiful to the life of another person, will never be a lonely, forgotten person.

The one however who waits to see who will be friendly to them, who will remember or forget their special occasions, the one who counts the days when no one calls, is merely collecting evidence to support a prejudgment that they are somehow wronged and regardless of what is done for that sort of person, it will never be enough and they will forever be teetering on the edge of disappointment with friends, church and life in general.

If you want to be miserable, become this kind of a “record keeper”.

On the other hand, if you want great joy in your life, strive to forget about you and become a blessing to the lives of others.

If you expect to reap the full benefits of faith then give yourself wholly to it.

In terms of your activities and your outlook on life, let the lens become the Word of God and it’s directives to each individual that we are to serve and care for others.

q      They brought joy to his prayer life (v.4)

/“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy”/  If there is a theme to the book of Philippians it is “joy” or “rejoicing”.

This is spiritual vitality at it’s finest.

And when it has it’s spill over into our own private times with God then this is wonderful.

Have you ever had that experience while talking with God.

You think of someone who has enriched your life and there is a wonderful joy that comes to you as you pray for them.

It is an exhilarating experience.

I trust that you have these spiritual stimulants in your life.

If you don’t then go get them.

They won’t come to you because they are products of God’s faithfulness and your labor for him.

q      They were “partners” (v.5) /“. . .

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now . .

.”/

When you take “extreme steps” to become involved in fellowship with others there are these sorts of rewards.

People recognize the calling in your own life that has touched their own and they are drawn to it.

They share the load – they often become our greatest partners.

The Philippian fellowship supported Paul in his further efforts to each others.

Do you remember the conflict that you ran into when you were children over the term “best friend”?

Every once in a while I remember the childhood friend who could not handle the fact that I had other friends.

They insisted that I prove the “best friend” status by making our own relationship exclusive.

If I was not willing to curtail my activities with other “friends” then they were offended.

Aren’t you glad that this sort of thing doesn’t happen when we “grow up”?

At any rate – thank the Lord for “partners”.

They help us to preserve our spiritual vitality because the load does not rest on our shoulders alone.

We have help.

Part of the great task that falls on our leadership in this church is to become “leader-makers” or disciplers if you will.

Whatever it is that you are doing in this church, find someone to do it alongside of you.

q      They were “consecrated” friendships (v.5) /“. . .

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

/Our relationships need to be “turned over” to God with confidence that He is the one that will keep people because he loves them every bit as much as He loves you.

I can’t imagine how many people fritter away their spiritual energies trying to determine the well being of others.

Ultimately if the God of heaven can redeem a man, he can keep them.

Our burdens for our friends and our loved ones are best left squarely at the feet of Christ.

If we cannot leave them there and concentrate our concerns to motivate us to pray and to keep on expressing love to them then we will become an obstacle to our own prayers.

Our relationships with people that we love can often become strained through our efforts to produce some spiritual response in their lives.

God is able to finish what he starts.

Even when it looks as though people are going in the opposite direction.

q      They were more than superficial relationships (v.7) /“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; . .

.”/

It natural for some of our relationships to be deeper and richer than others and yet fellowship is never superficial.

It is a connection that we have with people based on what we share in common.

That was the hallmark of the early church.

There is camaraderie that develops among people who share common goals, outlooks and priorities.

It unites them to a greater degree than those who do not share these things.

The closest fellowship there is to be found in the Christian life is the fellowship that exists among those who are shoulder pursuing the mission of the Master.

q      He looked forward to being together with them (v.8)

That’s what I want!

I want to look forward to being with the family.

For the most part I do.

There are some that I have to honestly confess, represent struggles for me.

There are people who pride themselves on being frank and really they are just unkind.

There are people who wants so badly to be “holy” and become judgmental of others in the process.

There are people who forget how to have an ordinary conversation with people in everyday language.

I want to be the kind of person that I look forward to spending time with.

I want to be able to set people at ease and help them to lower their defenses.

I want to be able to relax in my spirit with them and prayerfully expect God to work wonderfully in their lives.

I want to have respect for them and the sense to know that if someone wants my input they will feel free to ask because they know that it will come from love and appreciation.

17th Century Nun’s Prayer

 

Lord, thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will some day be old.

Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.

Make me thoughtful but not moody; helpful but not bossy.

With my vast store of widsom it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains.

They are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming  sweeter as the years go by.

I dare not ask for grace enought to enjoy the tales of other's pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others.