Philippians 2:14-16 (NASB)

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Theme: Our Testimony as Christians must be marked not by grumbling or disputing against one another, but by holding tightly to the Gospel together in this sinful world

Three Guides to help us give up our grumbling and disputing for the glory of God

1. Grumbling and disputing, under any circumstances, is unacceptable- 2:14
2. Refusing to grumble and dispute allows our Christian testimony to shine in this world – 2:15
3. Holding tightly to the Gospel compels us to stop grumbling and disputing – 2:16a

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Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB)

¹² So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Theme: God commands believers to work out what He has worked in them

Two Reminders and an Encouragement to working out what God has worked in you

  Reminders

     Reminder 1 – It is possible for Christians to be displeasing to God

     Reminder 2 – It is possible for Christians to be pleasing to God

  Encouragement – The Holy Spirit, Understanding His work

      – Holiness by Holy Spirit power
          – He infuses us with His power to battle sin

      – The Holy Spirit is Light
          – He is a lamp to illumine God’s Word
          – The Holy Spirit shines as a light into the darkness of our heart
          – The Holy Spirit helps to see the glory of Christ more clearly

      – Gospel centered effort
          – It reminds us how grateful we should be
          – It encourages us in sanctification by reminding us of the truth of who we are

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Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB)

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Theme: God commands believers to work out what He has worked in them.

3 Principles for believers to comprehend about sanctification to make us more like Christ:

1. People cannot work for salvation (v.12)
2. Believers must work out their salvation. (v.12)
3. Believers are enabled by God to be sanctified. (v13)

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Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Theme: Because Jesus humbled Himself to death on the cross, God has exalted Him above all,so that everyone will one day acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

4 Uplifting Realities to behold about Jesus’s supreme position which help believers to humble themselves under His Lordship:

1. The crucified,resurrected, and ascended Jesus is now at the place of supremacy over all creation (v.9)

2. Every single person will bow down before the exalted Lord Jesus (v.10)

3. Every single tongue will acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ (v.11a)

4. The exaltation of Jesus is unto the glory of God the Father (v.11b)

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Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Theme: Christ, in His Incarnation and death, is the inspiration & model for believers to grow in humility as people united in Him.

3 glorious truths about Christ’s Incarnation that believers must understand in order to grow in humility together:

1. Jesus left the glories of heaven & His divine privileges (v.6)
2. Jesus entered into humanity by becoming a man-servant (v.7)
3. Jesus died a humiliating death in obedience (v.8)

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 Philippians 1:27-2:5 (NASB)

Chapter 1
²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ in no way alarmed by your opponents – which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. ²⁹ For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰ experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Chapter 2
¹ Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Citizens of Heaven Living Worthily of the Gospel on Earth –  Series

The Importance of Unity and Humility in the Church, Part 2 – Philippians 2:3‑5

Theme: As Gospel-worthy citizens, the Church must strive to cultivate spiritual unity through the humility found in Christ.

The Mandate of Humility for Unity

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Philippians 1:27-2:5 (NASB)

Chapter 1
²⁷ Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ in no way alarmed by your opponents – which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. ²⁹ For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰ experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Chapter 2
¹ Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, ² make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; ⁴ do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Citizens of Heaven Living Worthily of the Gospel on Earth –  Series

The Importance of Unity and Humility in the Church, Part 1 – Philippians 2:1‑2

Theme: As Gospel-worthy citizens, the Church must strive to cultivate spiritual unity through the humility found in Christ

I. The Motivations to Desire Unity – v. 2:1

1. Encouragement in Christ
2. Comfort of Love,
3. Fellowship in the Spirit
4. Affection and Compassion

II. The Marks of Real Unity – v. 2:2

1. Being of the Same Mind
2. Maintaining the Same Love
3. United in Spirit
4. Intent on One Purpose

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Philippians 1:18-26 (NASB)

¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. ²³ But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; ²⁴ yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 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 your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

Theme: Jesus is the Meaning & Purpose of Life

1. Meaning of “to live is Christ”
2. Motivation(s) to “live Christ”
3. Warning about not “living Christ”
4. Applications on how to “live Christ”

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Philippians 1:27-30 (NASB)

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Theme: The Gospel is worth the church’s battle for unity within its walls & suffering from persecution outside its walls.

Two humbling qualities that should characterize the life of the church and the lives of citizens of Heaven:

1) Our suffering in solidarity for the Gospel (verse 27)
2) Our solidarity in suffering for Christ (Verses 28-30)

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Philippians 1:18-26 (NASB)

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 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 your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

Theme: The Christian’s greatest desires in life are to exalt Christ, to be with Christ, and to serve Christ’s people.

3 Heart-Stirring Reflections on why we as Christians should want to live.

1) Our Joyful Anticipation: Christ being magnified through your life (1:18b-20)

2) Our Win-Win Situation: Bearing fruit for Christ in life or Being with Christ in death (1:21-24)

3) Our Purposeful Predilection: Serving Christ for the spiritual growth & joy of others (1:25-26)

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