Living out the Gospel

HOOK

Each day you wake up, what are you living for? What is the one thing that gets you out of bed in the morning? Is it the job that you have, the clothes that you have, the friends, the popularity, what is it?

For most people, the last thing on their mind when they wake up in the morning is living out the gospel. Why is that? There are many reasons, but I think the main reason is, they are unsure what the phrase “live out the gospel” means.

BOOK

This morning we will be in Philippians 1, and our topic or the title is “Living out the Gospel.”

As you turn to Philippians 1, allow me to give you some background on the book.

Paul is writing this letter to the church at Philippi around A.D. 62 under house arrest in Rome.

Paul is writing this letter to inform the church of his circumstances and to thank them for a gift that they had sent him.

Paul begins this letter with thanksgiving and prayer.

Scripture - Philippians 1

Philippians 1 (ESV)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Text Idea

Paul described for the Philippians what living the gospel was.

Sermon Idea

Christ-followers are to live out the gospel every day.

Question

How does a Christ-follower live out the gospel every day?

Answer

Christ-followers are to live out the gospel every day in three ways.

#1 - Live out the gospel every day by standing firm for Christ with other believers. (Philippians 1:27)

Philippians 1:27 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Explanation

Notice that Paul says to them, “one spirit, with one mind striving side by side…” This is because, to live out the gospel every day you need people who are there with you to help you. Living out the gospel is not something that is done in isolation, instead it is something that is done in community.

Illustration

Think of a team sport, each person has a job to do. The success of the team depends on each person doing their job. The same is true for the Christ-followers and their community.

Argumentation

The Christ-follower was not designed to be in isolation? When someone is in isolation, the likely hood that they will quite when things get tough is extremely high. However, when they have others that are there for them and that are helping them, success is much more likely.

Application

Who are you doing life with? Are you a socially distant Christ-follower? Have you quarantined from other Christ-followers?

Transition

Christ-followers are to live out the gospel every day in three ways.

#2 - Live out the gospel every day by not being frighten by the opponents of the gospel. (Philippians 1:28)

Philippians 1:28 ESV

28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Explanation

Paul encouraged the Philippians to not be afraid of those that may oppose them. Paul encouraged them to look to Christ and to stay focused on him.

Illustration

The driver of a car can cause great damage to himself and others when he takes his eyes off the road.

Argumentation

To focus on those that are opposed to the gospel, forces us to take our eyes off Christ. When we focus on Christ and not our opponents, God takes care of our opponents.

Application

Have you focused more on the opponents of the gospel? Have you become unfocused?

Transition

Christ-followers are to live out the gospel every day in three ways.

#3 - Live out the gospel every day by standing for Christ regardless of the cost. Philippians 1: 29-30

Philippians 1:29–30 ESV

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Explanation

Paul closes this chapter by encouraging the Philippians to believe in and follow Christ regardless of the cost. Paul uses himself as an example for them to follow.

Illustration

The person that wants to lose weight is not concerned with the pain that will be caused by the lifestyle change. Instead, they are focused on the results that their lifestyle change will allow them to achieve.

Argumentation

In order to live out the gospel every day, the Christ-follower has to be willing to pay the price that it cost to follow Christ. If you are not willing to be left out of certain things, then you are not willing to live out the gospel.

Application

What are you willing to do to live out the gospel every day?

Transition (Div. 3 to Conclusion)

Conclusion

Visualization

What Paul is asking the Philippian church to do, is not something he is unwilling to do himself. In fact, while writing this letter he is under house arrest for preaching the gospel.

Reiteration

Text Idea: Paul described for the Philippians what living the gospel was.

Sermon Idea: Christ-followers are to live out the gospel every day

Interrogative: How does a Christ-follower live out the gospel every day?

Transition: Christ-followers are to live out the gospel every day in three ways.

Live out the gospel every day by standing firm for Christ with other believers. Philippians 1:27

Live out the gospel every day by not being frighten by the opponents of the gospel. Philippians 1:28

Live out the gospel every day by standing for Christ regardless of the cost. Philippians 1:29-30

Action

Which of the three items do you struggle with?

Appeal

Pray and asked God to strengthen you, so that you can live out the gospel every day.

AMEN