Introduction:

Do not be Led Astray by False Teachers

• Do not be deceived when people try to trick you with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

A lesson about Heaven and Hell.

For or against:

Matthew 12:30 NLT
³⁰ “Anyone who isn’t with me (Jesus) opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

 

Philippians 3:17-21 NLT
¹⁷ Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. ¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. ²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. ²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

Examine the Scriptures:

Pressing Toward the Goal (continued)

Philippians 3:17-21 NLT
¹⁷ Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine,

1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT
 ¹ And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

We know that Paul desired to live a Christlike life.

Pattern your lives after believers who are less imperfect than you and know how to deal with imperfection and who can model the process of pursuing the goal of Christlikeness.

• Pursue Christlikeness.

Christlikeness refers to the process by which believers are conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. It involves obedience to and trust in God, and through the Holy Spirit, God refashions believers in the image of his Son. 

and learn from those who follow our example. 

Imitate other mature Christians.

Hebrews 13:7 NLT
⁷ Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.

This would certainly include Timothy and Epaphroditus. 

Philippians 2:19-20 NLT
¹⁹ If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. ²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 

Philippians 2:25 NLT
²⁵ Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need.

• Pattern your lives after believers who model the process of pursuing the goal of Christlikeness.

Is your life a good model for your students?  Many will be imitating you. 

¹⁸ For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 

• Many of the people around us are enemies of the cross.

Here these could be Jews or Gentiles.  They might be in the church or outside the church.

Acts 20:28-30 NLT (Paul speaking to the Ephesian Elders.)
²⁸ “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. ²⁹ I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 

Ephesians 4:14 NLT
¹⁴ Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

• Be careful who you imitate.

Do not be deceived when people try to trick you with lies so clever they sound like the truth.

Acts 17:11 NLT
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

¹⁹ They are headed for destruction.

• Eternal destruction (Hell) is the ultimate judgment of God for those who reject Christ and live self-centered lives.

John 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 NLT
⁷ And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. ⁹ They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 

Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 

Enemies of the cross of Christ described:

Their god is their appetite, (serving their own personal interests)

they brag about shameful things, (living immoral lives)

and they think only about this life here on earth.

Romans 16:18 NLT
¹⁸ Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.

2 Peter 2 (selected verses)
¹² These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. ¹³ Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals. ¹⁴ They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse. ¹⁵ They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. ¹⁶ …
¹⁷ These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. ¹⁸ They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception. ¹⁹ They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.  

Jude (selected verses)
⁸ In the same way, these people—…—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. ⁹ … ¹⁰ … these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction. ¹¹ What sorrow awaits them! …
¹² When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. ¹³ They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

Remember who you are.

²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.

Philippi prided itself on being a Roman colony.

Roman citizenship was considered a significant honor and privilege in ancient Rome.

Colossians 1:13 NLT
¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

1 Peter 1:1-5 NLT
1 This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I am writing to God’s chosen people …
³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. ⁵ And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

John 14:1-3 NLT
¹ “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

• We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. 

And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.  

• We are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Romans 8:23 NLT
²³ … We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 

1 Corinthians 1:7 NLT
⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

²¹ He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

1 John 3:2 NLT
² Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 

2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT
⁸ Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

1 Corinthians 15:53 NLT
⁵³ For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT
⁴³ Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. ⁴⁴ They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.

• The best is yet to come.

 

The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ

Introduction:

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 

A warning against confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:1-9 NLT
The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ
^3:1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.
² Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. ³ For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, ⁴ though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!
⁵ I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. ⁶ I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
⁷ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ ⁹ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Examine the Scriptures:

Philippians 3:1-9 NLT
The Priceless Value of Knowing Christ 

^3:1 Whatever happens,

Paul’s circumstances.

^2:23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.  

• Paul was uncertain of his future. (As we all are.) 

my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.

Philippians 4: NLT
⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

James 1:2-4 NLT
² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

• Always be joyful. 

I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

• Repetition of Biblical truths is a good thing.

We need reminders.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NLT
⁶ And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. ⁷ Repeat them again and again to your children.  

² Watch out for those dogs,

Here Paul is describing Judaizers, not Gentiles.

those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 

Warning.

Judaizers.

In the early church, those who taught a combination of God’s grace and human effort were called “Judaizers.” The word Judaizer comes from a Greek verb meaning “to live according to Jewish customs.”
A Judaizer taught that, in order for a Christian to truly be right with God, he must conform to the Mosaic Law. Circumcision, especially, was promoted as necessary for salvation. Gentiles had to become Jewish proselytes first, and then they could come to Christ. The doctrine of the Judaizers was a mixture of grace (through Christ) and works (through the keeping of the Law). (Got Questions)

Think about:

• • • Judaizers were teaching what they had been taught when they were growing up.

2 Peter 2:1 NLT
^2:1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them.

2 Timothy 4:3 NLT
³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

• Beware of false teachers. 

³ For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised.

• True circumcision is an inner transformation, a cutting away of sin and selfishness from our hearts, allowing us to fully love and obey God.

Colossians 2:11 NLT<¹¹ When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

Not performed by human hands, but by the Holy Spirit.

not “outward and physical.”

Deuteronomy 10:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ Yet the Lord chose your ancestors as the objects of his love. And he chose you, their descendants, above all other nations, as is evident today. ¹⁶ Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn.

Truly circumcised – a changed heart. 

We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

• Those who put their trust in Jesus Christ are the ones who are truly circumcised.

Romans 2:28-29 NLT
²⁸ For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. ²⁹ No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. 

Warning against confidence in the flesh.

• Do not put your confidence in human effort. 

 ⁴ though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

Paul had a strong Jewish background.

⁵ I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. ⁶ I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

• Paul had practiced the strictest obedience to the Jewish law and was extremely zealous for the Jewish religion.

Galatians 1:14 NLT
¹⁴ I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.

⁷ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

Salvation does not come through power, position, or performance.

 ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 

• When it comes to salvation, power, position, and performance are worthless. 

⁹ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

• God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

John 6:28-29 NLT
²⁸ They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?”
²⁹ Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  

Romans 10:9 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus tells us to abide in Him. 

John 15:4-5 NLT⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

1 John 5:11-13 NLT
¹¹ And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
¹³ I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

1 John 5:20 NLT
²⁰ And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 

• Apart from Christ you can do nothing.

 

Note: 

After we are made right with God, we do have work to do. 

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Galatians 6:9 NLT
⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul “Practiced What He Preached”

Paul’s plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus.  Two men who were very important to Paul.

Introduction:

• Paul “practiced what he preached”.

Do the things that you advise other people to do.

Paul taught:

Philippians 2:3 NLT
³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Romans 12:10 NLT
¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT
²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Peter 5:5 NLT
⁵ … . And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

• Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

Philippians 2:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

• Paul had a genuine concern for the Philippians.

Note how Paul treats these two men in this passage.

Paul was not certain of his own future.

How did Paul die?

The Bible does not say how the apostle Paul died.

It is universally accepted that he died a martyr. Based on historical events, the Romans beheaded him. (Christian.net)

The accuracy of this tradition is impossible to gauge. Again, the Bible does not record how Paul died, so there is no way to be certain regarding the circumstances of his death. (gotquestions.org)

Paul knew that his release or death could come at any time.

Notice how Paul put others before himself.

Philippians 2:19-30 NLT
Paul Commends Timothy
¹⁹ If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. ²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. ²¹ All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. ²² But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. ²³ I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. ²⁴ And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Paul Commends Epaphroditus
²⁵ Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. ²⁶ I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. ²⁷ And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
²⁸ So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. ²⁹ Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. ³⁰ For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. 

Examine the Scriptures:

Plans for Timothy and Epaphroditus

Philippians 2:19-30 NLT

Paul Commends Timothy 

¹⁹ If the Lord Jesus is willing, 

If the Lord Jesus is willing.

Paul was not certain of his own future.

• Paul knew that his release or death could come at any time.

James 4:13-17 NLT
¹³ Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” ¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. ¹⁵ What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 

I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit.

Paul is planning to send Timothy to Philippi so that he can encourage the believers at Philippi and report back to Paul how the Philippian Church is doing.

• If Paul ever needed Timothy it was while he was there in Rome under house arrest. Yet he was willing to sacrifice Timothy’s companionship so others could be helped. 

Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 

• Paul’s letter and Timothy’s visit would encourage the believers at Philippi.

• Good news about the Philippians would be an encouragement to Paul. 

²⁰ I have no one else like Timothy, 

Several translations use the word “likeminded”.

• Timothy was one in thought, feeling, and spirit with Paul in love for the church. 

 who genuinely cares about your welfare. 

• Timothy has a genuine concern for the welfare of the Philippians.

Philippians 2:4 NLT
⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

²¹ All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 

Living for self vs. living for Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
³¹ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Did Paul mean to include everyone he had ever known, or did he mean those who were with him in Rome?  Most likely the latter. 

²² But you know how Timothy has proved himself.

The Philippians knew Timothy.

Timothy’s qualities were unexcelled. 

Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 

Timothy “served” with me …

Most translations use the word “served”.

Some translations use

toiled

labors

slaved

worked

Paul and Timothy had a father son relationship.

• Timothy was Paul’s beloved son in the faith.

1 Timothy 1:2 NLT
² I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith.

Philippians 1:1 NLT
Greetings from Paul
^1:1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

Timothy had a servant attitude.

²³ I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.  

This may be referring to the outcome of Paul’s trial. 

²⁴ And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

Paul most likely wrote this letter to the Philippians during his first Roman imprisonment (A.D. 60-62). It is believed that Paul also wrote Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, the other Prison Epistles during this same time period.

It is possible that Paul never saw the Philippian Christians again (but see 1 Timothy 1:3, about AD 63.) (also see Acts 28:30)

Paul Commends Epaphroditus

This is a story of selfless affection.

²⁵ Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you.

• Little is known about Epaphroditus.

Epaphroditus was from Philippi.

• Epaphroditus was the messenger who had delivered gifts to Paul from the Philippian church.

Philippians 4:18 NLT
¹⁸ At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Epaphroditus was most likely delivering Paul’s epistle (Paul’s Letter to the Philippians) to Philippi. 

He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier.

• Paul described Epaphroditus as a brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier.

Fellow soldier suggests the difficulties, opposition, and dangers encountered in Christ’s work.

Epaphroditus is an example of genuine Christian love.

• Paul loved and needed Epaphroditus. 

And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 

The messenger sent by the Philippian Church with gifts to the imprisoned Paul. 

²⁶ I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. ²⁷ And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died.

While in Rome, Epaphroditus had become seriously ill and almost died.

Epaphroditus was distressed about the Philippians hearing that he was ill.

• Epaphroditus longed to return to Philippi.

He was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 

But God had mercy on him—and also on me,

God’s healing was a result of God’s mercy on both Epaphroditus and Paul.

 so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 

²⁸ So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 

Paul did not want the Philippians to be worried about Epaphroditus.

• Paul had the best interests of the Philippian believers and Epaphroditus at heart. 

²⁹ Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 

People like Epaphroditus deserve honor.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NLT
Paul’s Final Advice
¹² Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. ¹³ Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.

³⁰ For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

Epaphroditus could do things for Paul that the Philippian believers living in Philippi could not do.

Paul was indeed selfless.

Galatians 5:22 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love …

 

Introduction:

Let Your Light Shine

This lesson is a repeat of the last lesson we had last school year with some revisions.

Scripture is full of passages telling us how we should live our lives.

            Lessons for us as well as lessons for our students.

As we begin another school year remember that your faithful service is an offering to God.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Paul’s Final Greetings
¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Philippians 2:14-17 NLT
Let Your Light Shine
¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing, ¹⁵ so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. ¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life; … ¹⁷ … your faithful service is an offering to God. …

 Examine the Scriptures:

Lessons for us as well as lessons for our students.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Paul’s Final Greetings
¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

As we are beginning another school year a good component to our prayers could/should be to ask God to help us to:

Be joyful.

Grow to maturity.

Encourage each other.

Live in harmony and peace.

• Be joyful.
• Grow to maturity.
• Encourage each other.
• Live in harmony and peace.

Expect the God of love and peace to be with you.

Philippians 2:13-18 NLT
Let Your Light Shine
¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

• God empowers and energizes believer’s lives.

2 Peter 1:3 NLT
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 

John 15:5 NLT
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 12:6 NLT
⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

• Among other things, God uses scripture and the Holy Spirit to work in us.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
For the word of God is alive and powerful.

John 16:13 NLT
¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing, 

More specific instructions for Christians.

Here Paul is speaking to the church at Philippi, but the same principles would apply to us.

Do everything

Without complaining.

No complaining.

No muttering or grumbling.

Complaining about our circumstances could be seen as a contradiction to recognizing God as sovereign and all powerful.

Without arguing

No arguing.

No disputing.

No questioning.

No criticisms.

• Do everything without complaining and arguing.

2 Timothy 2:23 NLT
²³ Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.

 Titus 3:9 NLT
⁹ Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.

Replace complaining and arguing with:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:8 NLT (Later in Paul’s letter)
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

• Always be joyful. Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

¹⁵ so that no one can criticize you.

• It’s hard to have an effective testimony for Christ when you are always arguing with the people around you.

Philippians 2:2 NLT
² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 

• Christians need to show themselves as united and as one in Christ. 

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God,

Become blameless and pure … without fault. (NIV)

Not perfection, but wholehearted devotion to doing God’s will.

Above reproach – undiluted, not weakened.

(Don’t be like wine that has been diluted or metal that has been weakened)

Romans 14:13 NLT
¹³ …. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

• Relate to others in such a way that you do not cause them to stumble.

Go back to Paul’s prayer (1:9-11)

Philippians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Progress in your spiritual maturity.

• Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Matthew 10:16 NLT
¹⁶ “Look, I (Jesus) am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 

shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Ephesians 5:8 NLT
⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.

We too are living in a world full of crooked, unscrupulous, and perverse people.

For the most part, our nation has turned it back on God and on Biblical principles.

• We should shine as lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life;

Believing God’s Word and following it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Share God’s Word with the lost and the dying.

• Believe God’s Word and follow it.
• Share God’s Word with the lost and the dying. 

¹⁷ …  your faithful service is an offering to God. 

• Our faithful service is an offering to God.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Welcome Back (2024-2025 School Year)

We all know the importance of spending time in the Word.  We need to act on what we know.

We all know:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

• The Word of God is alive and powerful. It is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.

• God uses scripture to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

This morning, I want us to focus on a phrase found in Hosea chapter 4.

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

 This verse communicates a powerful message to all of us who are living in the 21^st century. 

My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me.

 These are God’s words directed to his chosen people, the Israelites.

These words certainly apply to the 21^st century church.

• God’s people are being destroyed because they do not know God.

• The next generation will be destroyed if they do not know God.

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

As parents and teachers we have an incredibly important and challenging, and at times seemingly overwhelming, God given assignment.

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) starts out by saying:
Train up a child in the way he should go:

Proverbs 22:6 NLT
⁶ Direct your children onto the right path,
and when they are older, they will not leave it. 

• Train up a child in the way he should go.

Where do we start?

Scripture tells us:

Proverbs 1:7 NLT
⁷ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

ESV The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Scripture also says:

Mark 12:30-31 NLT
³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 

We need to:

• Create an atmosphere where children have the opportunity to “fear the Lord”.

• All of us here have a part in this ministry.

We are One body with many parts.

1 Corinthians 12:18 NLT
¹⁸ But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.

• God has put each one of you just where He wants you.

Look at:

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 NLT
⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building. 

• Some of us plant the seed, some of us waters the seed, but what’s important is that God makes the seed grow.

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

God’s people are being destroyed because they do not know God.

The next generation will be destroyed if they do not know God.

You can be used by God in this ministry.

Acts 4:13 NLT
¹³ The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. 

They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. (More on this later.) 

• God uses ordinary people with no special training in the scriptures.

• God is equipping each one of us for this ministry.

• Resources available to each of us here today include the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures.

The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 NLT (A promise to the apostles)
⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

John 14:26 NLT
²⁶ But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Acts 2:38 NLT
³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
 ³⁹ This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

(Baptism is an act of obedience, not a requirement for salvation.)

John 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9 NLT
⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 8:9-11 NLT
⁹ But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) ¹⁰ And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. ¹¹ The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. 

• The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. 

God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  He also gave us:

The scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The Word of God is alive and powerful.  It is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.

God uses scripture to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

What happens when we spend time in the Word?

2 Peter 1:2-4 (NLT)
² May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. ⁴ And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 

• Knowing God better should be a number one priority in our lives.

• As we come to know God better, God is giving us everything we need for living a Godly life.

• As we learn to know God’s promises, we are able to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Acts 4:20 NLT
²⁰ We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

We are all

Changed lives changing lives.

 

Hosea 4:6 NLT
⁶ My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me. …

God’s people are being destroyed because they do not know God.

The next generation will be destroyed if they do not know God.

 

 

 

Shine Brightly for Christ (Part 2)

Introduction:

Remember: Your faithful service is an offering to God.

Philippians 2:14-18 NLT
Shine Brightly for Christ (Part 2)
¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing, ¹⁵ so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. ¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. ¹⁷ But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. ¹⁸ Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

Examine the Scriptures:

Philippians 2:14-18 NLT
Shine Brightly for Christ (Part 2) 

¹⁴ Do everything without complaining and arguing, 

More specific instructions for Christians.

Here Paul is speaking to the church at Philippi, but the same principles would apply to us.

Do everything

Without complaining.

No complaining.

No muttering or grumbling.

Complaining about our circumstances could be seen as a contradiction to recognizing God as sovereign and all powerful.

Without arguing

No arguing.

No disputing.

No questioning.

No criticisms.

• Do everything without complaining and arguing.

2 Timothy 2:23 NLT
²³ Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 

Titus 3:9 NLT
⁹ Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.

Complaining and arguing should not be a part of our lives.

Jude 16 NLT
¹⁶ These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires.

• Complaining and arguing arise from self-centeredness.

Replace complaining and arguing with:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:8 NLT (Later in Paul’s letter)
⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

• Always be joyful. Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 

¹⁵ so that no one can criticize you.

• It’s hard to have an effective testimony for Christ when you are always arguing with the people around you.

Philippians 2:2 NLT
² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 

• Christians need to show themselves as united and as one in Christ. 

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God,

Become blameless and pure … without fault. (NIV)

Not perfection, but whole hearted devotion to doing God’s will.

Above reproach – undiluted, not weakened.

(Don’t be like wine that has been diluted or metal that has been weakened)

Romans 14:13 NLT
¹³ …. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.

• Relate to others in such a way that you do not cause them to stumble.

Go back to Paul’s prayer (1:9-11)

Philippians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

Progress in your spiritual maturity.

• Keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

Matthew 10:16 NLT
¹⁶ “Look, I (Jesus) am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves. 

shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

Matthew 5:14-16 NLT
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Ephesians 5:8 NLT
⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

John 8:12 NLT
¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.

We too are living in a world full of crooked, unscrupulous, and perverse people.

For the most part, our nation has turned it back on God and on Biblical principles.

• We should shine as lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 

¹⁶ Hold firmly to the word of life;

Believing God’s Word and following it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Hold forth. Share God’s Word with the lost and the dying.

John 6:68 NLT
⁶⁸ Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.

• Believe God’s Word and follow it.
• Share God’s Word with the lost and the dying. 

then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 

3 John 4 NLT
⁴ I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

2 Timothy 4:7 NLT
⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

• I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth. 

¹⁷ But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God,

Pouring out wine onto the altar or onto the ground.

Illustrating a life “poured out” for God’s service.

2 Timothy 4:6 NLT
⁶ As for me (Paul), my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. 

Just like your faithful service is an offering to God.

Romans 12:1 NLT
^12:1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 

The Philippians’ faithful service is an offering to God.

Genuine faith is active and working.

Faithful service is hard work.

Philippians 2:12 NLT … Work hard to show the results of your salvation … 

• Our faithful service is an offering to God.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
⁵⁸ So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 

And I want all of you to share that joy. 

• Share in the joy of serving the Lord. 

¹⁸ Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. 

Philippians 4:4 NLT
⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  (NIV)

Shine Brightly for Christ

Philippians 2:12-18 NLT
¹² Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. ¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Examine the Scriptures:

Philippians 2:12-13 NLT
Shine Brightly for Christ 

¹² Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important.

Note: We aren’t really talking about Paul’s instructions. 2 Timothy was written by Paul, but notice what it says.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. ¹⁷ God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

We are not really talking about Paul’s instructions.  We’re talking about instructions from God. 

(repeat) And now that I am away, it is even more important. 

What is more important?

Let’s look at another passage recorded by Paul.

Ephesians 6:5-8 NLT
⁵ Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. ⁶ Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ⁸ Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

• As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. ⁷ Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

The word “work” is going to show up a lot in this lesson.

Who are you working for?  Who are you trying to please? 

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, 

work out your own salvation ESV 

Keep on working to complete your salvation.  International Children’s Bible

Work with fear and trembling. CEV + others

This is not working for salvation.  The Philippians had already received the gift of salvation.

This is talking about an ongoing process that continues after receiving the gift of salvation. 

*** “work out” means continually work to bring your salvation to fulfillment.

• Sanctification is an ongoing process which will not be complete or reach perfection in this life.

Sanctification is the process of becoming more Christ like.

In “progressive sanctification” we have a part to play.

We work out our salvation by keeping in step with the Holy Spirit who leads us in the will of God.

Ephesians 4:1 NLT
^4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Galatians 5:16 NLT
¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

2 Peter 1:10 NLT
¹⁰ So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.

Galatians 6:7-9 NLT
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. ⁸ Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. ⁹ So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Romans 6:19 NLT
¹⁹ Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

2 Corinthians 7:1 NLT
^7:1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

Hebrews 6:10-11 NLT
¹⁰ For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. ¹¹ Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.

• Living the life that God wants you to live takes hard work.

Working at Redeemer Day School is hard work. 

obeying God

Obey.  Do the things scripture tells believers to do.

John 14:15 NLT
¹⁵ “If you love me, obey my commandments. 

1 John 5:3 NLT
³ Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 

James 1:22 NLT
²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

John 14:21 NLT
²¹ Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

2 John 6 NLT
⁶ Love means doing what God has commanded us,

Luke 11:28 NLT
²⁸ Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” 

• Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says.

Don’t get hung up on the passages of scripture you don’t understand.  You already know a lot of scripture.  Do what you know you should be doing.

Example:

Put verses 2 and 3 into practice (achieving unity through humility).

Philippians 2:3-4 NLT
³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

with deep reverence and fear. 

We need to have a healthy fear of offending God and a righteous awe and respect of Him.

Proverbs 1:7 NLT
⁷ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Deuteronomy 8:6 NIV
⁶ Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.

Psalm 34:9 NIV
⁹ Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

Proverbs 9:10 NLT
¹⁰ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

We have a strong and crafty adversary, and we are weak and dependent on God for all that we need. 

• Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

We need to be practicing and teaching “respect”.

Practicing respect is becoming a lost art.

Fearing God is respecting God.  We need to always honor and esteem God.

Can we do all of this on our own?  Of course not. 

¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

• God empowers and energizes believer’s lives.

2 Peter 1:3 NLT
³ By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 

John 15:5 NLT
⁵ “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

1 Corinthians 12:6 NLT
⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

• Among other things, God uses scripture and the Holy Spirit to work in us.

Hebrews 4:12 NLT
For the word of God is alive and powerful.

John 16:13 NLT
¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. 

Have the Attitude of Christ (Part 2)

Living the Christian Life

Chapter 2:1-11
Live lives that are united in thought and purpose with other believers and dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another.

Verses 5-11
Christ is the supreme example of humility and selfless concern for others.

• Christ is the supreme example of humility and selfless concern for others.

Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
Have the Attitude of Christ (Part 2)
⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
⁶ Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸     he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

 Examine the scriptures:

Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
Have the Attitude of Christ (Part 2)

From the previous passage:

Let there be no divisions in the church.

Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. V. 2

United in self-sacrificing love and humility. V. 2

Looking out for the interests of others. V. 4

Paul goes on to say:

⁵ You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

• Christians are to have Christ’s attitude of self-sacrificing humility and love for others.

Christ is the supreme example of humility and selfless concern for others.

• Jesus tells us to follow his example.

John 13:12-15 NLT
¹² After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? ¹³ You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. ¹⁴ And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. ¹⁵ I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

Jesus prays for unity among believers.

The Prayer of Jesus
John 17
⁹ “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. ¹⁰ All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. ¹¹ Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are.
²⁰ “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. ²¹ I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
²² “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. ²³ I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 

The Christ Hymn

Many view Philippians 2:6-11 as an early Christian hymn, telling about the nature of Christ, taken over and perhaps modified by Paul.

Colossians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

• We are told, in scripture, to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 

⁶ Though he was God,

John 1:1-2 NLT
¹ In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
² He existed in the beginning with God. 

Colossians 1:15-20 NLT
¹⁵ Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
¹⁶ for through him God created everything
in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him.
¹⁷ He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.
¹⁸ Christ is also the head of the church,
which is his body.
He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead.
So he is first in everything.
¹⁹ For God in all his fullness
was pleased to live in Christ,
²⁰ and through him God reconciled
everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

• The Son of God is God.

• The Son of God has always been God.

Colossians 1:17
¹⁷ He existed before anything else,

John 17:24 NLT
²⁴ Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! 

he did not think of equality with God

Jesus is God.

John 10:30 NLT
³⁰ The Father and I are one.”

as something to cling to.

⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

• Jesus did not stop being God. He gave up the privileges that were His because He is God.

2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT
⁹ You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

Example:

Matthew 26:52-54 NLT
⁵²“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? ⁵⁴But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” 

• Christ gave up His right to manifest himself visibly as the God of all splendor and glory. 

The Jesus we will see in heaven will be different than the Jesus seen on earth. 

 he took the humble position of a slave

Matthew 20:28 NLT
²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

• Jesus came to earth to serve, not to be served.

As a servant, Jesus was always submissive to the will of the Father.

 and was born as a human being.

Jesus is truly God and truly man.

John 1:14 NLT
¹⁴ So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. 

1 Timothy 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:
Christ was revealed in a human body
and vindicated by the Spirit.

• Jesus was born as a human being. 

When he appeared in human form,

⁸     he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Matthew 20:28 NLT (repeated)
²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

in obedience to God

• It was God’s will that Jesus die for the sins of humanity.

Romans 5:8 NLT
⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

1 John 4:9-10 NLT
⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Matthew 26:39 NLT
³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

John 10:17-18 NLT
¹⁷ “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. ¹⁸ No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

Crucifixion was a cruel and humiliating punishment intended for criminals. 

⁹ Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,

• As a result of Christ’s humble obedience, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor.

Jesus is now in a position of supreme authority and power.

Matthew 28:18 NLT (After His resurrection)
¹⁸ Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 

Acts 2:33-36 NLT
³³ Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. …. ³⁶ “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

1 Peter 3:22m NLT
²² Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.

Ephesians 1:9-10, 21 NLT
⁹ God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. ¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.
²¹ Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come.

• Jesus is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 

¹¹ and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

God’s design is that all people should worship and serve Jesus as Lord.

• Ultimately, everyone will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, whether willingly or not.

 

Review:

Chapter 2:1-11
Live lives that are united in thought and purpose with other believers and dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another.

Christ is the supreme example of humility and selfless concern for others.

Have the Attitude of Christ

Introduction:

Philippians

Living the Christian Life

Chapter 2:1-11
Live lives that are united in thought and purpose with other believers and dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another.

Verses 1-4 give us a foundation for living in unity with other believers.

Philippians 2:1-4 NLT
Have the Attitude of Christ
^2:1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? ² Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Examine the scriptures:

Philippians 2:1-4 NLT
Have the Attitude of Christ

^2:1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? (Belonging to Christ means to be saved.)  Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 

Paul begins by asking “Is there any …”

These are rhetorical questions.

Paul knows that the answer to his questions (for believers) is “YES”.

We know that we can receive encouragement from belonging to Christ.

We know that we can be comforted by the love of Christ.

We know that we can have fellowship with other believers because of the Holy Spirit.

We know that God has given us tender and compassionate hearts.

Do we really understand what it means to be a child of God?

 

Four incentives.

Verse one could say:

Since you have encouragement from belonging to Christ. (We have been given an Advocate, Comforter, Encourager, or Counselor)

Since you have comfort from His love.

Since you have fellowship together in the Spirit.

Since your hearts are tender and compassionate.

All of this is being offered to us on a daily basis.

² Then make me truly happy

“make my joy complete” NIV 

by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other,

“by being like-minded” NIV

A common purpose

Be one in purpose.

We are to use our different spiritual gifts in a cooperative way, focusing on God’s glory.

We all know that the body has many different parts. (1 Corinthians 12:12-31.)

Look at:
1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
¹⁰ I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

• Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 

Paul continues this theme through verse 4. 

loving one another,

John 13:34 NLT  (Maundy Thursday)
³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

• Love one another. 

Mark 12:28-34 NLT
The Most Important Commandment
²⁸ One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
²⁹ Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. ³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 

and working together with one mind and purpose.

Be one in purpose. (Common goals.)

Paul is telling the Philippians that they need to live together with each other in harmony and love.

Romans 15:5 NLT
⁵ May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 13:11 NLT
¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

• All Christians should live together in harmony and love. 

³ Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. 

• Don’t be selfish.

Concerned chiefly with your own personal profit or pleasure.

• Self-centeredness is a mortal enemy of unity and harmony in the church.

Self-centeredness is a desire of our sinful nature.

Galatians 5:19-21 NLT
¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.  

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  

Romans 12:10 NLT
¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Ephesians 5:21 NLT
²¹ And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

1 Peter 5:5 NLT
⁵ … . And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”

• Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 

⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Galatians 5:26 NLT
²⁶ Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

1 Corinthians 10:24 NLT
²⁴ Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. 

Everyone naturally looks out for his or her own interests.  

• The challenge here is for us to look out for the interests of others in the same way we look out for our own interests. 

This can only be accomplished when the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. Refer back to verse 1.

Scripture tells us that we have the Holy Spirit living in us.

1 Corinthians 6:19 NLT
¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?

Galatians 5:16 NLT
¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 

Psalm 143:10 NLT
¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

Ephesians 3:16 NLT
¹⁶ I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 

• Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 

• Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives.

 

 

 

 

Live as Citizens of Heaven

Philippians 1:27-30 NLT
²⁷ Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. ²⁸ Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. ²⁹ For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. ³⁰ We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

Examine the scriptures:

Philippians 1:27-30 NLT
Live as Citizens of Heaven 

²⁷ Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven,

The Philippians were Roman citizens.

Philippi prided itself on being a Roman colony.

Philippians knew the privileges that came with being a Roman citizen.

Paul reminded the Philippian church that, more importantly, the Philippian Christians (like us) were citizens of a heavenly kingdom.

Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to look to Christ, not Caesar, for their model of behavior.

• Remember that you are a citizen of Heaven.

Philippians 3:20 NLT
²⁰ But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

1 Peter 2:9-11 NLT
⁹ But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
¹⁰ “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”
¹¹ Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 

Live your life in a way that reflects what you believe.

If you call yourself a Christian, live like a Christian. 

conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 NLT
¹² We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

What would that look like?

Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT
Unity in the Body
^4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Pray that your life would honor and please the Lord.

Colossians 1:9-10 NLT
⁹ So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

• Live your life in a way that is worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

• Live your life in a way that would honor and glorify Christ. 

Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 

• As a body of believers, stand together in unity and steadfastness.

As a body of believers, have a common purpose,

fighting together for the faith.

• Christians need each other and must stand together, especially when the Gospel is under attack.

Apparently, there was some disunity in the Philippian church.

Philippians 4:2-3
² Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. ³ And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. 

An appeal for unity.

1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
 ¹⁰ I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Psalm 133:1 NLT
¹ How wonderful and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in harmony! 

²⁸ Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies.

Stand strong despite persecution.

Live courageously for Christ.

• Do not be intimidated or frightened by persecution. 

This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, 

Stand up for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the end God wins.

Romans 1:18-19 NLT
¹⁸ But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. ¹⁹ They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

• Persistent opposition to the church and the gospel is a sure sign of eventual destruction.

KJV (and other translations) uses the word perdition – a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unpenitent person passes after death.

John 3:18 NLT
¹⁸ “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 

but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 

Don’t be intimidated by your enemies.

When Christians are persecuted for their faith, it is a sign of the genuineness of their faith.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 NLT
Encouragement during Persecution
³ Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. ⁴ We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. ⁵ And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 

• Live courageously for Christ in the midst of opposition and persecution knowing that you are going to be saved. 

²⁹ For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 

• Both faith (trusting) and suffering are gifts (or privileges) from God.

Acts 5:41 NLT
⁴¹ The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 

Matthew 5:10-12 NLT
¹⁰ God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 

³⁰ We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

When Paul and Silas first visited Philippi they were imprisoned.

Acts 16:19-24 NLT
¹⁹ Her masters’ hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. ²⁰ “The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials. ²¹ “They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”
²² A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. ²³ They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape. ²⁴ So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.

1 Thessalonians 2:2 NLT
² You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition. 

• It is not uncommon for Christians to struggle. 

• As Paul says to the church, We are in this struggle together.