Sermon 042196

Phi. 1:1                                 The Formation of a Church                               4/21/96

ABCC

I.   Introduction                                                                                                                     #517

     A.  A profile of the city of Philippi

           In Macedonia 10 miles inland from Aegean sea, surrounded by mountains, a

           strategic city militarily & commercially

     B.  A profile of the people of Philippi

          Domineering Romans, Jews (mostly women), God-fearers

     C.  A survey of the Epistle to the Philippians

           How to pray for other saints, Participation in the gospel ministry, Reasons for joy in

           a believer’s life, The meaning of Life & Death, True humility, Human responsibility

           in sanctification, Genuine concern for others, Reasons to contend & reconcile, The

           value of knowing Christ, Remedy for worry & true Christian contentment

II.  God forming the church in Philippi (Ac. 16:6-40)

     A.  God preparing the messenger of the gospel (everything prior to Ac. 16)

           1. Paul’s conversion, preaching & rejection (ch. 9)

           2. Ministry with Barnabas & multi-racial leadership at Antioch (ch. 11:19-30; 13:1)

           3. First missionary journey (ch. 13-14)

              - call of the Holy Spirit, encounter with a false prophet, resolve to include

                gentiles in preaching the gospel, stoned by Jews, acceptance by gentiles

The Formation of a Church, pg. 2

           4. Doctrinal conflict & contention (15:1-35) = Judaizers & Judaism

           5. Second missionary journey involves personal conflict & contention (15:36-41)

           6. Different co-laborers in ministry - Silas & Timothy (15:40-16:3)

           7. Forbidden by Holy Spirit to enter or preach in Asia (16:6-8)

               - through a troubled conscience, counsel from others, circumstances, etc.

           8. Convinced of God’s call to preach in Europe (16:9-10)

               - discerning God’s will involves conscience, circumstances, counsel & time

           9. Went to the place of prayer on the day of worship (16:13)

     B.  God preparing the recipients of the gospel

           1. Lydia & her household (16:14-15)

·        business woman, God-fearer, at the place of prayer

·        Paul preached, she listened, the Lord opened her heart, she responded

           2. A slave girl (16:16-18)

·        demon-possessed, employed in fortunetelling, annoyance to Paul

·        delivered by the power of the Holy Spirit

           2. The jailer & his household (16:19-34)

·        loyal employee of the Roman government, gentile

·        Paul prevented him from committing suicide, preached, the Lord saved him

This was the beginnings and the makeup of the church at Philippi - a business woman & her household, a slave girl, and a Roman jailer & his household.  God used the preaching of the gospel to bring this little diverse group of people together & form this church.  The church is sovereignly formed by God, yet involves human responsibility!  God initiates, yet you must respond; the Lord opens hearts & gives faith, yet you must listen & act on that faith; the Lord allows & brings opposition, rejection, persecution; He troubles your conscience, closes some doors & opens others; provides wise counsel, yet you must discern HIS WILL!  All of this for the progress of the gospel & the building of Christ’s church.