Sermon Tone Analysis

! Introduction

!!! A.    MARK #1:CHRISTIAN CONDUCT—HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP

 

!!! B.     MARK #2: HONERING THE GOSPEL

 

!!! C.    MARK #3: STANDING FAST

1.      Must stand fast in one spirit & with one mind

2.      Must stand fast in striving together for the faith of the gospel

 

!!! D.    MARK #4: COURAGE & FEARLESSNESS

1.      Persecution is a sign of destruction

2.      Persecution is a sign of salvation

3.      Persecution is a privilege

4.      Paul left a dynamic example in bearing persecution

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I.

THE MARKS OF THE GREAT CHRISTIAN CHURCH, 1:27-30

(1:27-30) Introduction: The Christian life is not a playground it is a battleground.

1.

Paul faced a capitol crime and there was a strong chance he might be executed.

He did not think so, but there was a strong possibility.

2.

What would you say if your were writing to a group of God’s people for the last time?

3.      The Philippian church was a great church and he wanted it to remain that way, so Paul reviewed with them THE MARKS OF A GREAT CHRISTIAN CHURCH! 

 

!!! A.    (Verse 27a) MARK #1:CHRISTIAN CONDUCT—HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP

1.

The word /“conduct” /is very significant.

a.

Used only twice in the New Testament (Acts 23:1; Phil.

1:27).

b.

/Conduct /means—/the conduct and behavior of citizenship-/the Philippians knew what Paul meant.

/ /

1)      The Greek word is /politeuo, /from which we get “polite” and “political.”

A /polis /was the basic unit of Greek society—an independent city-state.

In imperial times, citizens of a Roman colony like Philippi regarded the whole Empire & their city as their basic unit of Greek society.

The Philippians took their privileges and duties as citizens of Rome and Philippi extremely seriously, with great patriotism and pride.

2)      The distinctive thing about these colonies was /their fanatic loyalty to Rome.  /

3)      The citizens kept all their Roman ties:

a)      The Roman language, titles, customs, affairs, and the way they dressed was very important.

b)      They totally rejected the influence of the world around them.

c)      They were Roman Colonists with and alien environment.

APPLICATION:

c.

In other words, Paul is saying,

1)      /behave the way citizens are supposed to behave/

     -so “let your fulfillment of duties as citizens of God’s kingdom and members of Christ’s partnership~/community be worthy of that citizenship.”

-and while we are on earth we ought to behave like Heaven’s citizens, WHY? /“For our citizenship is in heaven”…/(Phil.

3:20), 

     -and because our names are already written in heaven, “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20)

 

—    Let /no one/ despise /your youth/, but /be an example to the believers/ in /word/, in /conduct/, in /love/, in /spirit/, in /faith/, in /purity/.

(1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV)

 

—    And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may /be sincere/ and /without offense/ till the day of Christ, (Philippians 1:9-10 NKJV)

 

—    But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, /what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness/, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

(2 Peter 3:10-13 NKJV)

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!!! B.     (Verse 27b) MARK #2: HONERING THE GOSPEL

1.

The word /“worthy” /is also very significant.

a.

It means, /to fit, correspond, be suitable, and be worthy./

b.

The believer’s behavior is to…

1)      /fit the gospel he professes/

2)      /correspond to the gospel he professes/

3)      /be suitable to the gospel he professes/

4)      /be worthy of the gospel he professes/

/ /

2.      How do you behave?

Is it worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? 

a.

Quote, “you are writing a gospel, a chapter each day”…

b.

The greatest weapon against the Devil is a Godly life, the way in which you live (2 Cor.

3:2).

1)      This is why it is so important to understand Sound Christian Doctrine (teaching).

2)      What you believe is going to effect the way in which you live 

3)      Because whatever teacher you are listening to that is the sort of Christian and disciple you are going to become.

4)      Hopefully I am teaching you accurately from the Word of God, I am going to labor to do that, to study, to rightly divide the Word of truth and so as your hearing these truth’s your life is actually forming around the things that I have been teaching you.

And so that puts a lot of responsibility on me to teach you accurately, properly and be able to hear what the Lord’s trying to do.

3.

This is also a picture of clothing, which is so often stressed in Scripture.

a.       Sometimes we say to a person, /those clothes you are wearing matches and enhances your looks and personality.

/

b.

The same with the Gospel.

If we *put on the gospel *or *say we are Christians*, we are to *wear the Gospel* or *to act like Christians!*

 

—    Adorn (put on or wear) the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

(Titus 2:10 NKJV)

 

—    But put on the Lord Jesus Christ…(Romans 13:14) W.W.J.D.?

 

—    Therefore, as /the/ elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also /must do/.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

(Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV)

 

c.

As we grow up, we need new clothes because…

1)      our old one’s don’t fit anymore

2)      our desires change for new kinds of clothing or styles

3)      they just don’t seem to match our personality anymore.

So, if this is true then there must be some things in which we must stop doing or to put off.

 

—    But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,  and have put on the new /man/ who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, (Colossians 3:8-10 NKJV)

 

Let’s turn to Ephesians Chapter 4 and read verses 17-32 and see what God says about the way in which we should live.

4.

*What is the Gospel?*

a.       “The Gospel” is the Good News the Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day  (1 Cor.

15:1-8).

b.

There is only one “Good News” of salvation; any other gospel is false (Galatians 1:6-10).

c.

The message of the Gospel is…

1)      The Good News that sinners can become the children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, God’s Son (John 3:16).

2)      “Christ lives in me . .

.loves me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal.

2:20).

d.

The emphasis of the Gospel is…

1)      Saved by God’s Grace /alone, /through faith /alone, /in Christ /alone, nothing added or taken away.