Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

We began this morning by talking about the command to stand firm in .

We won’t stand firm until the Lord’s return unless we stand firm together.

The church does that in part by being a people agreeing (not prone to prolonged petty disagreements); by being a people rejoicing (letting others see our joy); and by being a people forbearing (graciously looking to the interests others).

Those were the firs three CHARACTERISTICS in this passage; the first three CHARACTERISTICS of a church that will be happy and healthy as they look forward to Christ’s return.

Remember that’s the truth that motivates all the others in this passage.

The Lord is at hand.

He is going to return and we are going to stand before him.

Are you agreeing in the Lord?

Are you rejoicing in the Lord?

Are you graciously forbearing with others just as our Lord graciously forbears with us?

Now, we’ll look at three more CHARACTERISTICS through v. 9...

MAJOR IDEAS

CHARACTERISTIC #4: The church should be a people praying (v.

6-7).

​ ESVdo not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

[Illus] The famous author of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson, said that when he was a boy he remarked to his mother, “Momma, you can’t be good without praying.”

His mother asked, “How do you know, Robert?”

He replied, “Because I’ve tried!”

[Illus] There was a similar story from one of the devotions in Our Daily Bread.

A little boy had been sent to his room for his misbehavior.

He came to his mother later and said, “I’ve been thinking about what I did and I said a prayer.”

His mother said, “That’s good.

If you ask God to make you good, he will make you good.”

The little boy said, “Oh, I didn’t ask him to make me good.

I asked him to help you put up with me.”

Even children know that we have no hope of behaving well or having patience without prayer.

Likewise, as adults we should know that we have no hope of peace without prayer.

Robert Louis Stevenson

When Robert Louis Stevenson was a boy he once remarked to his mother, “Momma, you can’t be good without praying.”

“How do you know, Robert?” she asked.

“Because I’ve tried!” he answered.

This brings to mind a story about another little fellow—one who had been sent to his room because he had been bad.

A short time later he came out and said to his mother, “I’ve been thinking about what I did and I said a prayer.”

“That’s fine,” she said, “if you ask God to make you good, He will help you.”

“Oh, I didn’t ask Him to help me be good,” replied the boy.

“I asked Him to help you put up with me.”

Our Daily Bread, June 15

[Illus]

[Exp]

[Exp] Paul told the Philippians that if they wanted to protect their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus; if they want to have the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding the they must pray.

​10,000 Sermon Illustrations Prayer a PrivilegePrayer a Privilege

A comment by Robert A. Cook, president of The King’s College in New York, renewed my appreciation for the privilege of prayer.

Speaking at the Moody Bible Institute, Cook said that the day before, he had been at a gathering in Washington and had talked with Vice President George Bush.

Two hours later he spoke briefly with President Ronald Reagan.

Then smiling broadly, Cook told us, “But that’s nothing!

Today I talked with God!”

Our Daily Bread

I like how one commentator defined this peace as “the secure confidence that God is sovereign and loving,” (NIV Zondervan Study Bible).

It’s the opposite of anxiety and prayer is the God-ordained means by which we can have it.

“peace surpasses knowledge, calming a troubling situation when explanations fail.”

HCSB

The opposite Two aspects of prayer are specific antidotes to worry: supplication and thanksgiving.

“Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (see ) that believers are not to be anxious but are to entrust themselves into the hands of their loving heavenly Father, whose peace will guard them in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s use of “guard” may reflect his own imprisonment or the status of Philippi as a Roman colony with a military garrison.

In either case, it is not Roman soldiers who guard believers—it is the peace of God Almighty.

Crossway Bibles.

(2008).

The ESV Study Bible (p.

2287).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Peace is “the secure confidence that God is sovereign and loving,” (NIV Zondervan Study Bible).

“peace surpasses knowledge, calming a troubling situation when explanations fail.”

HCSB

[Illus]

There are two aspects of prayer that are specific antidotes to anxiety according to Paul: supplication and thanksgiving.

​10,000 Sermon Illustrations Children’s PrayersDear God: Please help me is school.

I need help in spelling, adding, history, geography and writing.

I don’t need help in anything else.

- Lois, 9

kTw aspects of prayer are specific antidotes to worry: supplication and thanksgiving.

“Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (see ) that believers are not to be anxious but are to entrust themselves into the hands of their loving heavenly Father, whose peace will guard them in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s use of “guard” may reflect his own imprisonment or the status of Philippi as a Roman colony with a military garrison.

In either case, it is not Roman soldiers who guard believers—it is the peace of God Almighty.

Crossway Bibles.

(2008).

The ESV Study Bible (p.

2287).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Peace is “the secure confidence that God is sovereign and loving,” (NIV Zondervan Study Bible).

“peace surpasses knowledge, calming a troubling situation when explanations fail.”

HCSB

[Illus]

“Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (see ) that believers are not to be anxious but are to entrust themselves into the hands of their loving heavenly Father, whose peace will guard them in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s use of “guard” may reflect his own imprisonment or the status of Philippi as a Roman colony with a military garrison.

In either case, it is not Roman soldiers who guard believers—it is the peace of God Almighty.

Crossway Bibles.

(2008).

The ESV Study Bible (p.

2287).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[Illus]

Supplication is requesting a need; it’s admitting neediness before God and, therefore, admitting need for God.

If the Philippians were going to have peace, they had to continually admit their need for him.

[Exp] The opposite ofTwo aspects of prayer are specific antidotes to worry: supplication and thanksgiving.

“Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (see ) that believers are not to be anxious but are to entrust themselves into the hands of their loving heavenly Father, whose peace will guard them in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s use of “guard” may reflect his own imprisonment or the status of Philippi as a Roman colony with a military garrison.

In either case, it is not Roman soldiers who guard believers—it is the peace of God Almighty.

Crossway Bibles.

(2008).

The ESV Study Bible (p.

2287).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.Peace is “the secure confidence that God is sovereign and loving,” (NIV Zondervan Study Bible).

“peace surpasses knowledge, calming a troubling situation when explanations fail.”

HCSB

[Illus]

Thanksgiving is being and expressing gratefulness for what God has and will provide.

If the Philippians were going to have peace, they had to continually thank God for what he had done and preemptively thank him for what he would do.

If they did these things in prayer, they would have peace that transcends understanding no matter their circumstances.

Their hearts and minds would be protected in Christ Jesus.