Philippians 2:19-30 – 19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. 25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him – and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. (New Living Translation)

Five Values God Looks For in the Life of a Real Man

1. Compassion: Men who put ________________ before _________________

Philippians 2:20-21 – 20 He is the only one who shares my feelings and who really cares about you.21 All the others are concerned only with their own affairs, not with the cause of Jesus Christ. (Good News Translation)

Philippians 2:20-21 – 20 I have nobody here who shares my genuine concern for you. 21 They are all wrapped up in their own affairs and do not really care for the cause of Jesus Christ. (Phillips Translation)

2. Consistency: Men who put ________________ before _________________

Philippians 2:22 – But you know how Timothy has proved himself. . . . he has served with me in preaching the Good News. (New Living Translation)

Proverbs 10:9 – Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out. (New Revised Standard Version)

Proverbs 20:7 – It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father. (The Living Bible)

3. Cooperation: Men who put ________________ before _________________

Philippians 2:25 – . . . I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, a co-worker, and a fellow soldier. . . . (New Living Translation)

Judges 20:11 – So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one. (New Revised Standard Version)

4. Commitment: Men who put ________________ before _________________

Philippians 2:25-27 – 25 . . . I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. . . And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died.. . . (New Living Translation)

James 2:17 – . . . faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (New International Version)

5. Courage: Men who put ________________ before _________________

Philippians 2:29-30 – 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. (New Living Translation)

Romans 12:1-2 – 1 So then, my brothers and sisters, because of God’s great mercy to us I appeal to you: offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. . . . (Good News Translation)

Mark 8:35 – . . . Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. (The Living Bible)

82 Chronicles 16:9* – “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. . . .” (New American Standard Bible)