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Goal
That we all stand firm in Jesus Christ, putting these 5 ways into practice in our lives
Recap Parts 1–6
Today’s passage: Phil 4:1–9
Philippians 1
I thank my God every time I remember you.
I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you
For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart...
For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:6–11
Equality with God the Father
Humbled himself to be born a man
Obedient, even to death
The most shameful death—the cross
Exalted by the father
Every knee will bow to him
Acknowledging that he is fully God
Philippians 2:12–13 ESV
…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
With awe and wonder, keep working at achieving spiritual health within your community
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:1–9
Stand firm! —how?
Bring harmony to others (v.2–3)
Build joy (v.4)
Develop a special kind of “gentle reasonableness” (v.5)
Be secure in God’s peace (v.6–7)
Fill your mind with the right stuff (v.8)
Philippians 4:1–9
Who is the “True Companion” v.3?
Suzugus
Luke (Acts we->they)
Paul’s wife
Unkown to us, but they would know
The whole church united like a single person
“One of you, please show yourself as a true companion”
Philippians 4:1–9
Christianity Today
“Clinical trials indicate that the practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting positive effects in a person’s life. It can lower blood pressure, improve immune function, promote happiness and well-being, and spur acts of helpfulness, generosity, and cooperation.” Aug 8, 2017
Christianity Today cont’d
Emmons defines gratitude as such: “Feelings of gratitude are anchored in two essential pieces of information processed by an individual: (a) an affirming of goodness or ‘good things’ in one’s life and (b) the recognition that the sources of this goodness lie at least partially outside ourselves.” So gratitude is recognizing that our life is a gift, no matter our circumstances and realizing that this goodness does not come from our efforts alone.
Stand firm! —how?
Bring harmony to others (v.2–3)
Build joy (v.4)
Develop a special kind of “gentle reasonableness” (v.5)
Be secure in God’s peace (v.6–7)
Fill your mind with the right stuff (v.8)
Philippians 4:1–9
v.5 gentleness
“One of the truly great Greek words that is almost untranslatable” (H. A. Kent)
“not standing on your rights, but generously open to reason.” (Hawthorne)
“Such words as gentle, yielding, kind, forbearing and lenient are the best English attempts, but no single work is adequate. Involved is the willingness to yield one’s personal rights and to show consideration and gentleness to others.
It is easy to display this quality toward some persons, but Paul commands that it be shown toward all. That would seem to include Christian friends, unsaved persecutors, false teachers—anyone at all. Of course, truth is not to be sacrificed, but a gentle spirit will do much to disarm the adversary.” (H. A. Kent)
Philippians 4:1–9
Stand firm! —how?
Bring harmony to others (v.2–3)
Build joy (v.4)
Develop a special kind of “gentle reasonableness” (v.5)
Be secure in God’s peace (v.6–7)
Fill your mind with the right stuff (v.8)
Philippians 4:1–9
Think about things that are:
True has the sense of valid, reliable, and honest— the opposite of false. It characterizes God (Rom 3:4) and should also characterize believers.
Noble honest, honourable, worthy, denotes a quality that makes people worthy of respect.
Right refers to what is upright or just, conformable to God’s standards and thus worthy of his approval.
Pure emphasizes moral purity and includes in some contexts the more restricted sense of ‘chaste’
Lovely occurs only here in the New Testament and “relates to what is pleasing and leads to affection
Admirable denotes what is praiseworthy, attractive, and what rings true to the highest standards
Philippians 4:1–9
Summary
That we all stand firm in Jesus Christ, putting these 5 ways into practice in our lives, as we:
Bring harmony to others (v.2–3)
Build joy (v.4)
Develop a special kind of “gentle reasonableness” (v.5)