What makes Philippians so unusual

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Speaker: 
Andrew Fountain
Date: 
Sun, 2018-02-11

Sermon Outline - What makes Philippians so unusual

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  • New series on Philippians

Goal

  • To have both an overview and an “inner view”
  • A “bird’s eye” view and a “heart’s eye” view” of the letter to the PHilippians

The remarkable background story

Philippians 1

  1. From Paul and Timothy,
        bondservants of Christ Jesus,
    to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,
        with the overseers and deacons.
  2. Grace and peace to you
        from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Philippians 1

  1. I thank my God every time I remember you.
  2. I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you
  3. because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
  4. For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1

  1. For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God’s grace together with me.
  2. For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
  • Highly unusual because it is so personal
    • Philemon is the only letter in any way similar, and that is extremely short
    • Not a highly organized theological structure (but does contain some)
    • Very emotional
    • You get an insight into Paul’s heart
    • His is willing to expose it

Philippians 1

  1. And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight
  2. so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ,
  3. filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
  • His passion for Christ. 62 times (Father 26, Spirit 3)

Expressions of love – Phil 2&3

  1. Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.
  2. I am all the more eager to send him (Epaphroditus), so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.
  3. Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Expressions of love – Phil 4

  1. So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!
  2. I have great joy in the Lord because now at length you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

Philippians 1

  1. I thank my God every time I remember you.
  2. I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you
  3. For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
  4. For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart...
  5. For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Updated on 2018-02-04 by Andrew Fountain