Sermon Tone Analysis

These struggles include disputes, joylessness, lack of graciousness, anxiety, and impure thoughts.

Merida, Tony.

Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.

165).

B&H Publishing Group.

Kindle Edition.

Text: Philippians 4.1-9

1. Live in Love

Notice the incredibly affectionate tone here from Paul.

He’s not about to drop a bomb…though he is about to remind the Philippians of much of what he’s already said:

Remember one of our earliest messages in this series:

It is a normative experience for a church family to have a deep, familial, abiding, Christ-authored LOVE and PASSION for one another.

Your Grace Covenant Family will be the ones with you at the height of your usefulness and successes…and they’ll be with you at the bottom of your lowest point.

Paul is not describing “event attenders” or “inactive church members” (that’s an oxymoron btw).

Membership = active partnership, active discipleship, and active LOVE!

This is why we need to linger after the Sunday morning gatherings.

This is one of the benefits of Sunday School, in addition to the instruction.

This is a good reason to plug in to the Men’s ministry group and Women’s ministry group when they resume in later months.

Regardless of temperament or spectrum, we recognize that we have a responsibility and the PRIVILEGE of being together…headed the same direction - not for a cause…but for OUR KING!

which leads directly into our next observation from the text

2. Live in Harmony

Paul loves the Philippians, but he loves the Gospel more…he loves Jesus’ testimony more.

He interrupts this flow of thought with a personal plea to the women, and the community surrounding the women - fix this!

Nothing will undermine momentum quicker than disunity.

Who is on team Euodia?

Who is on team Syntyche?

We have no idea what the disagreement is concerning.

We do know that news of it had reached Paul in Rome, no doubt when Epaphroditus brought a report.

Maybe he just responded to Paul’s inquiring about their welfare?

We do know that it likely WAS NOT ABOUT doctrine or practice.

Which practically begs the question…So what then?

If it’s not about orthodoxy or orthopraxy…why address the problem at all?

Why not just allow them to agree to disagree with one another?

Because disagreement falls short of like-mindedness and putting others’ interests before your own.

How can you esteem someone as more important than yourself and simultaneously hold a grudge against them?

You can’t do both, which means we must be proactive about truly resolving conflict rather than allowing it to fester below the surface.

A broken relationship is still broken even if there is civility on the surface.

So here we have three core themes that run through the book: like-mindedness, humbly serving others, and rejoicing.

All three will surface again in this section.

They need help from the body.

They are workers in the Gospel…not lazy bums.

They deserve help; Christ demands unity.

3. Live in Confidence by Prayer

I love how the Holy Spirit uses these circumstances, Paul’s train of thought - including his sidetracks - to give us the Word of God!

1. REJOICE

In this context we learn that Rejoicing doesn’t just guard our hearts against discouragement, but also against division.

What is even more striking is the addition of “always.”

The command is always in season.

It is always the right time to rejoice.

This focus on always means the Philippians can have joy in something that is always true and does not depend upon pleasant circumstances (Paul is an obvious example: he is writing about joy while in prison facing possible death).

The Philippians can always rejoice “in the Lord” because what they have in Christ cannot fade, spoil, or expire.

No one can steal their joy, for no one can take away their victory in Christ.

A MODERN-DAY SONG REMINDS US

“This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it and the world can’t take it away!”

2. BE GENTLE

As you prefer one another…not given to selfish conceit / ambition.

“Let your graciousness be known to everyone.

The Lord is near” (HCSB).

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.

The Lord is at hand” (ESV).

“Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.

Remember, the Lord is coming soon” (NLT).

“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.

The Lord is near”

(NASB).

“Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near” (NIV).

Scholars tell us that this Greek word for “reasonableness” (ESV), “graciousness” (HCSB), or “gentleness” (NIV) isn’t easy to translate.

Having a “gentle forbearance with others” gets at the idea (Fee, Pauline Christology, 406).

It’s the opposite of being contentious and self-seeking (Carson, Basics, 106).

NOTE: THE LORD IS AT HAND

2 ways to read this:

He is “near” the Philippians - easily named among them since they seem to be doing well in so many areas of walking in the Spirit

this nearness enables them walk with him on His terms.

His return is “near”.

Let them inspire you to work while there is still daylight

BOTH WORK!

We can’t do it without HIM!

We want to do all we can while we can to bring him glory!

3. Don’t worry about anything!

Easy enough right?

What is worry/anxiety?

We worry when we imagine the future in a terrible way.

John Piper says, “Anxiety seems to be an intense desire for something, accompanied by a fear of the consequences of not receiving it” (“Is There Good Anxiety?”).

Crushing anxiety happens when I believe lies.

You might think of your worries as false prophets.

They’re telling you that God isn’t good, sovereign, and wise.

You need to listen to another sermon.

Jesus tells us Matthew 6 that Every day the birds are preaching another one, and we should watch and listen to them.

Tony Merida points out that in Jesus’ sermon on worry here, he shows us...

1. God provides for birds and flowers; He will surely provide for us (Matt 6:26,28-30).

2. worrying is pointless (Matt 6:27,34).

3. worrying is a pagan practice, not a disciple’s practice (Matt 6:31-32).

Stop freaking out like you don’t know God.

4. God knows our needs more than we do (Matt 6:32).

5. God will provide everything we need when we seek His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt 6:33).

Merida, Tony.

Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p.

178).

B&H Publishing Group.

Kindle Edition.

4. Pray about everything!