Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

I don’t want to get addicted to the Gospel.

I just want enough to get to heaven, and be happy.

I don’t want too much that I hate sin.

Domisticated Gospel.

I have had a big week.

Read Charansi

1. Paul’s First Love

squezed into the perifiery of life.

Marginal and privitized gospel, (penny Wong).

In the past Australians did not talk about politics, sex and religion because it was not polite.

There might have been a disagreenment.

Now in the secular era we talk about sex and politics but don’t talk about religion.

Jesus’ point of view is never mentioned.

The Gospel was seen as unbelieveable, irrelevant and old fashioned, now it is increasingly view suspiciously as uggly and dangerous.

Over decades then Christians have learned to keep quiet about the Gospel, partly from a motive not to upset people, partly from politeness.

Do Carson argues that We have developed an unspoken theory that we can best protect the Gospel by keeping it private only sharing it with someone after we have developed a deep friendship with them and then only when they ask us.

1:18b Paul moves from his present joy, concerning the preaching of Christ by any and every means, to his future joy regarding his own salvation and the honouring of Christ in all circumstances.

It becomes uncivilized to talk about religion in polite company because we don’t want to hurt people’s feelings.

For Paul joy is no transient thing, for it will still be his ‘tomorrow when he presents himself before his earthly judges and the day after tomorrow when he appears before the heavenly judge’.

Paul now returns to the matter of his future as a prisoner.

Paul thus asserts immediately, ‘Yes, and I shall rejoice’,6 as he turns his attention sharply to what lies ahead.

1:18b The apostle’s thoughts move from his present joy, concerning the preaching of Christ by any and every means, to his future joy regarding his own salvation and the honouring of Christ in all circumstances.

The sapping influences of self-indulgence throughout the western church weild their power.

The Gospel is in his blood and the Philipians are in his heart.

He will do everything he can to help them make it to heaven.

it is a reinforcement of the idea of joy.

For Paul it is no transient thing, for it will still be his ‘tomorrow when he presents himself before his earthly judges and the day after tomorrow when he appears before the heavenly judge’.2

Paul thus asserts immediately, ‘Yes, and I shall rejoice’,6 as he turns his attention sharply to what lies ahead.

Not comfortable and secure and having fun rather than self-sacrificing and bold.

Carson

The sapping influences of self-indulgence throughout the western church weild their power.

2. In CH1 Paul puts the Gospel at the center of his relationships with believers v3-8

there is no absolute truth is changing now there is a truth.

2. Already we have seen that Paul puts the Gospel at the center of his relationships with believers v3-8

See the Gospel Relationships in 3 ways

a. their faithful memory of him v3

b. they were prepared to partner with Paul v4-5 were consistant, from the first day.

fellowship was deeper, just just attend a youth group or a cup of tea.

It was partnership in a cause.

comercial term, to share commitment to a common goal.

self sacrificing shared commitment to a common goal.

They continued their witness in Philippi.

They persevered in their prayers for Paul.

They sent money to support him in his ministry, all testifying to their shared vision of the importance and priority of the gospel.

That’s more than enough reason to thank God, don’t you think?

c.

God continues to work in their lives.

v1 I thank God and in v 6

Genuine Christians stay Christians and Don’t fall away because God is at work in their life, not because they try hard to stay Christan.

Paul is convinced the Philipians will perserver because he sees God at work amongst them.

They do not have cheep grace in b but fellowship.

v4 This all gives Paul great Joy!

This is Paul’s greatest Joy.

What gives you the most Joy in your life....

v7 he has them in his heart.

What have you in your heart....

v8 Paul is putting himself under oath to them.

God can testify.

Paul is saying hear that he is telling the truth.

Chapter 4

“Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!”

D. A. Carson, “Put the Gospel First,” in D. A. Carson Sermon Library (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife, 2016), .

The fellowship of the gospel, the partnership of the gospel must be put at the center of our relationships with other believers.

That is the point.

That is the burden of these opening verses.

Paul does not commend them for the fine times they had shared watching games in the arena.

He doesn’t mention their literature discussion groups or the excellent meals they had.

What lies at the center of all his ties with them, doubtless including meals and discussion, is this passion for gospel, this partnership in the gospel.

Now what ties us together?

What do we talk about when we meet, even after a church service?

Mere civilities?

The weather?

The Cup results?

Our careers?

Our children?

Our aches and pains?

None of these topics should be excluded, of course.

In sharing all of life, these things inevitably come up.

That’s right.

It is good.

But what must tie us together as Christians is this passion for the gospel, this fellowship in the gospel.

On the face of it, nothing else is strong enough to hold together the extraordinary diversity of people in many of our churches: men and women, young and old, blue-collars and white-collars, educated, uneducated, the healthy and the ill, the fit and the flabby, people from different races, with different incomes, different levels of education, different personalities.

What holds us together?

The gospel.

If we are sold out to the gospel and to the Christ of the gospel, we will be committed to each other.

If we are not, we’re far more likely to split.

It is the gospel, the good news, that in Jesus Christ himself God has reconciled us to himself.

This brings about a precious God-centeredness we share with other believers.

This means in our conversations we ought regularly to be sharing in the gospel, delighting in God, sharing with one another what we’ve learned that week in our devotions, in our prayer times, in our family, joining in prayer for the advance of the gospel, bearing one another’s burdens, encouraging one another in obedience and maturing discipleship, bearing one another’s burdens and growing in self-sacrificial love for those who are hurting in the fellowship.

In short, we must put the gospel first, and that means we must put the fellowship of the gospel at the center of our relationships with other believers.

3. Put the priority of the Gospel at the Center of our Prayer Life v9-11

1:19 The ground (γάρ) for the apostle’s rejoicing is that he knows (οἶδα) that he will be vindicated by God in the heavenly court.

a. pray for growing love 9

b.

not just a feeling but growing isght and wisdom

c. know what is good and what is not, to be discerning

In words that correspond exactly to the LXX of Jb. 13:16 the apostle spells out the content (ὅτι) of his firm conviction: ‘this will turn out for my salvation’.

He has applied these words of Job to his own situation, not because they were vaguely or marginally parallel,7 but because he, like Job, is certain of his vindication.

In the original context of this OT book 13:16 is part of Job’s response (12:1–14:22) to his three friends, and this reply concludes the first round of speeches (4:1–14:22).