Joy in the Lord, Whatever Comes

In one paragraph

This message worked through the whole letter of Philippians, with Pastor Ray using Paul's imprisonment as the lens through which everything else comes into focus. The thread running from the first verse to the last is that real joy, real peace, and real unity are not produced by circumstances but by Christ. The sermon built toward Philippians 4:6-9, which Carl had already set up in his elder...

Read together

1. Romans 6:23 Paul learned that the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus
2. Romans 5:1 peace with God comes through being justified through faith in Christ
3. Romans 12 outdo one another in showing honor
4. Acts 16 Paul's first trip into Philippi, the Macedonian call, Lydia, the demon possessed slave girl, the jailer
5. James 3 where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there is disorder and every evil thing, contrasted with wisdom from above
6. Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy bond servants addressed to all saints in Philippi including overseers and deacons
7. Philippians 1:3-4 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you always offering prayer with joy
8. Philippians 1:5 your participation in the gospel from the very first day until now
9. Philippians 1:6 the one who began a good work in you will complete it by the day of Christ
10. Philippians 1:7 partakers of God's grace both in imprisonment and in defense of the gospel
11. Philippians 1:9-11 prayer that love would overflow in real knowledge and discernment and be filled with fruit of righteousness through Christ
12. Philippians 1:12-13 Paul's imprisonment turned out for the greater progress of the gospel known throughout the Praetorian Guard
13. Philippians 1:14-18 some preach Christ from envy and strife, others from goodwill; either way Christ is proclaimed and Paul rejoices
14. Philippians 1:19-20 Paul's deliverance through prayer and the spirit of Christ, his hope that Christ will be exalted in his body
15. Philippians 1:21 to live is Christ and to die is gain
16. Philippians 1:22-26 hard pressed between departing to be with Christ or remaining for the Philippians' progress and joy
17. Philippians 1:27 conduct yourselves worthy of the gospel standing firm in one spirit striving together
18. Philippians 1:28-30 not alarmed by opponents, granted to suffer for Christ's sake as Paul suffered
19. Philippians 2:1-4 if there is encouragement in Christ be of the same mind, with humility consider others more important than yourself
20. Philippians 2:5-11 the attitude of Christ who emptied himself taking the form of a bond servant, obedient to death on a cross, exalted so every knee bows
21. Philippians 2:12-13 work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work in you
22. Philippians 2:14-16 do all things without complaining or arguing, appear as lights in the world holding to the word of life
23. Philippians 2:17-18 even if poured out as a drink offering Paul rejoices and urges the Philippians to rejoice
24. Philippians 3:1 rejoice in the Lord; to write the same things is no trouble and a safeguard for you
25. Philippians 3:2-3 beware of evil workers and false circumcision; we are the true circumcision who worship in the spirit
26. Philippians 3:4-6 Paul lists his credentials as a Hebrew of Hebrews, pharisee, blameless in the law
27. Philippians 3:7-9 whatever was gain he counts as loss and rubbish to gain Christ and be found in him through faith
28. Philippians 3:10-11 to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and fellowship of his sufferings
29. Philippians 3:12-14 not yet perfect but pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
30. Philippians 3:15-17 let the mature have this attitude, follow the pattern you have seen in Paul and his companions
31. Philippians 3:18-19 enemies of the cross whose God is their appetite and minds are on earthly things
32. Philippians 3:20-21 our citizenship is in heaven from which we await the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly bodies
33. Philippians 4:1 my beloved brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord
34. Philippians 4:2-3 Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord, fellow workers whose names are in the book of life
35. Philippians 4:4-5 rejoice in the Lord always; let your gentle spirit be known to all people, the Lord is near
36. Philippians 4:6-7 be anxious for nothing but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let requests be made known to God and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds
37. Philippians 4:8 whatever is true honorable right pure lovely commendable excellent worthy of praise, think on these things
38. Philippians 4:9 what you have learned received heard and seen in Paul, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you

Talk about it

1. Carl shared that it was the kindness of God that drew him back after a prodigal season, and that peace in Christ came with it. When did you first notice that kind of peace in your own life, and what made you recognize it as something you couldn't find anywhere else?
2. Paul writes from prison that his circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, and he rejoices that Christ is being proclaimed even by people with wrong motives. Is there a situation in your own life right now where it is hard to see God working, and what would it look like to hold Paul's attitude toward it?
3. The sermon pointed to Philippians 2 and the humility of Christ, who set aside equality with God and took the form of a servant. Where in your daily relationships is that kind of humility most difficult for you, and what gets in the way?
4. Paul urges Euodia and Syntyche, two women he calls genuine gospel workers, to live in harmony in the Lord. He does not question their faith, just their unity. Have you ever written someone off spiritually because of a disagreement? What does it change to remember that both people may genuinely belong to Christ?
5. The sermon closed on Philippians 4, noting that prayer with thanksgiving and fixing your mind on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely and excellent are Paul's answer to anxiety. What is one true or excellent thing about your current situation, however hard it is, that you could deliberately dwell on this week?