Emulate Those Who Are Interested in the Well-Being of Others

In one paragraph

Pastor Carl walked through Philippians 2:19-30 and 3:10-17, asking what it looks like to conduct yourself in a way that is worthy of the gospel. The sermon's central question was simple: who should Christians be looking at and learning from, and why does that matter? The answer came through two first-century examples, Timothy and Epaphroditus, and pointed toward what faithful Christian character...

Read together

1. Philippians 1:27 opening anchor verse: let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ
2. Philippians 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like minded, having the same love, of one accord
3. Philippians 2:3 let nothing be done through selfish ambition, esteem others better than yourself
4. Philippians 2:4 look out not only for your own interest but also for the interest of others
5. Philippians 2:5-8 let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, who humbled himself to death on the cross
6. Philippians 2:9-11 God exalted him, every knee shall bow, every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord
7. Philippians 2:12 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling
8. Philippians 2:13 it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure
9. Philippians 2:14-16 do all things without complaining, shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation
10. Philippians 2:17-18 being poured out as a drink offering, rejoice with you all
11. Philippians 2:19-24 Paul plans to send Timothy, who sincerely cares for their state unlike those who seek their own
12. Philippians 2:25-30 Epaphroditus sent as messenger, was sick near to death, receive him with gladness and hold such men in esteem
13. Philippians 3:1 rejoice in the Lord, repeating this is a safeguard for you
14. Philippians 3:2 beware of dogs, evil workers, the mutilation referring to Judaizers
15. Philippians 3:3 we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit and have no confidence in the flesh
16. Philippians 3:4-6 Paul's credentials: circumcised eighth day, Hebrew of Hebrews, Pharisee, blameless in the law
17. Philippians 3:7-8 what was gain he counts as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
18. Philippians 3:8-9 counts all things as rubbish to gain Christ, righteousness through faith not the law
19. Philippians 3:10-11 to know him and the power of his resurrection, fellowship of his sufferings, attain the resurrection
20. Philippians 3:12-14 not yet perfect, pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
21. Philippians 3:15-16 let the mature have this mind, walk by the same rule
22. Philippians 3:17 join in following my example, note those who walk as you have us for a pattern
23. Romans 13 mentioned briefly regarding authorities set over us and the justice system

Talk about it

1. Paul describes Timothy as someone who genuinely cares for others rather than seeking his own interests, and the sermon pointed out that 75% of unbelievers do not consider pastors trustworthy. What do you think makes the difference between a Christian leader people trust and one they don't?
2. Epaphroditus risked his life to minister to Paul's needs, and the sermon described him as someone who put the gospel and others ahead of himself. Who is someone in your own life, past or present, whose example of that kind of selfless faith has shaped you?
3. The sermon brought up Dr. Cashin staying in Bangladesh after being beaten nearly to death because he valued the gospel more than his own safety. What do you think it looks like to value the gospel that way in ordinary, everyday circumstances closer to home?
4. Paul says he forgets what is behind and presses on toward the goal, and the sermon asked whether we are trying to grab hold of that for which Christ Jesus grabbed hold of us. How would you answer that question for yourself right now?
5. The sermon closed with the story of Dave telling a skeptic to simply watch how he lived rather than handing him a reading list, and connected that to firefighters earning trust by doing what they believed. What is one specific way the people around you can see that you live what you believe?