Joyful Completion II

Philippians 1:12-26

I once heard of a church who had youth ministry reaching many of the teenagers in town. (1 church = 300 teens < 10 churches = 1,000 teens)

Paul understood that he could find joy in the gospel Paul understood that he could find joy in the gospel advancing throughout the world even if people were preaching with motives.

Paul was resilient to the celebrity status people were trying to label him with.

Christ was mattered to him.

Paul was in prison waiting. He didn't know what the future held.

But he knew that his difficult were advancing the gospel. (The Phillippian church had asked about him.)

Blazing a trail for others.

Paul’s chains reminded him of the progress that had been made.

He did have people who didn’t support him.

Supporters - Received Paul’s authority to preach.

Opposition - Christians who envied his authority. Wanted a guilty verdict.

Neither bothered Paul. He simply rejoiced in the preaching of the gospel whether sincere of mixed.

Even though the Christian community had opposition, Paul found joy in the proclamation.

We have never lived in a time when the Christian church hasn’t been divided. What are the positives?

When the gospel of Jesus is proclaimed, Christ is exalted.

It mattered most to Paul. How much does it matter to the church today?

There will always be Christians that we agree and disagree with.

KEEP THE MAIN THING THE MAIN THING

What are we about? What is the main thing of FBC Jayton?

If we can’t answer this question, we can be assured that our community already has.

Paul then shares his heart to the church.

“To live is Christ” - Whatever life, time, and strength I have is Christs. He is the sole object for which I live.

If he lived, he would continue to reveal Christ and be fruitful.

“To die is gain” - After death. I will find great gain of being in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Paul was torn between these two.

Paul was confident in being released or dying. Either would carry out the work of Christ.

“In 1900, twice as many Christians lived in Europe than in the rest of the world combined. Today, both Latin America and Africa have more. By 2050, the number of Christians in Asia will pass the number in Europe. Currently, Christianity is barely growing in Europe (.04% rate) and only slightly better in North America (.56%). Oceania (.89%) and Latin America (1.18%) have marginally better rates, but faith is exploding in Asia (1.89%) and Africa (2.89%) - Lifeway Research

- As of 2018, there were 44 million Christians in communist China

- In Iran, Christianity is reportedly the fasted growing religion with an average annual rate of 5.2%.

Paul believed what the church must believe.

When the main thing os the church is preaching Christ and making disciples, nothing will stop the church from growing.

Takeaway:

Figure out your main thing.

Determine your willingness to be used by God.

Decide if you want to stay or go.