Untitled Sermon

Have you ever loved someone so much that you would do anything…even the hard things, the uncomfortable thing? What if it requires showing them tough love?

Paul undoubtedly loved the fellowship of believers in Philippi this way…requiring him to call out Euodia and Syntyche for their behaviour. It seems as though they were having a dispute (maybe who had the hardest name to spell). Clearly it was negatively affecting their fellowship.

When this type of thing happens, there is always the possibility that some negative comes out.

The one calling sin out can look like the bad guy

The ones on different sides of the issue can rally support and attempt to defend their side to those wondering what is going on (and even to those that try to keep out of the chaos)

It often creates more divide initially

Even with the potential for the negativity, Paul saw it important enough to deal with the matter for the sake of the gospel and the edification/building up of the fellowship

*A few weeks ago I was setting up a fishing pole for my kids. I grabbed the fishing knife and was cutting the zip tie off. However, while saying, “don’t cut towards your body...” YEP. You guessed it. It was messy, it hurt, and could have even been much worse than it was. My left hand has had a rough year.

**In a week from tomorrow, i will have another knife cut my left hand. A different finger. A different person in control of it. More importantly, it is for the purpose to build up my injured hand.

***Both incisions look similar, can bring bloodshed, cause some pain, but the purpose is entirely different. May we not get the two purposes confused.

When intervention is done for the sake of the gospel and for the edification of the body, healing can take place!!!

INTERVENTION with EDIFICATION brings RESTORATION

There has been some themes in this letter up to this point.

Pastor Caleb has done a phenomenal job laying these out:

There is a partnership in ministry and the gospel

Keys to unity (