To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain

In one paragraph

This message came from Philippians 1:18b-26, the passage where Paul weighs life against death and lands on the famous phrase "to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Pastor Mark preached it as a personal and searching question, not a comfortable one, and he admitted he had been wrestling with the weight of it for several weeks before standing up to preach it. Pastor Mark opened by reminding the...

Read together

1. Psalm 92:1 opened the service with congregational singing from this psalm about giving thanks and singing praises to the Most High
2. Colossians 1:12-14 cited after the song 'Into Marvelous Light' as the source of its lyrics about being transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear son
3. Romans 1:16 cited after the song 'Not Ashamed' as its scriptural source: 'I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes'
4. Philippians 1:12-14 recapped from a previous sermon: Paul's chains had advanced the gospel to the whole palace guard and emboldened other believers to speak without fear
5. Philippians 1:15-18 recapped: some preach Christ from envy and selfish ambition, others from goodwill and love, but either way Christ is preached and Paul rejoices
6. Philippians 1:19 Paul's confidence that his situation will turn out for his deliverance through their prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
7. Philippians 1:20 Paul's earnest expectation that Christ will be magnified in his body whether by life or by death
8. Philippians 1:21 the central text of the sermon: 'For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain'
9. Galatians 2:20 cited as Paul's earlier grounding statement: 'I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me'
10. Philippians 1:22-26 Paul weighing the desire to depart and be with Christ against remaining in the flesh for the Philippians' progress and joy of faith
11. Colossians 3:15 closing benediction: 'Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you are called to peace, and be thankful'
12. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 words of institution read over the communion elements: the bread and cup taken the night Jesus was betrayed

Talk about it

1. Pastor Carl described how Paul was able to let go of bitterness toward people he felt were preaching Christ from selfish ambition, saying 'the message is true regardless of the messenger.' Is that easy or hard for you to accept, and why?
2. Paul wrote 'for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and through the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ.' He connected that to people like Anna Mae who gave ten dollars a month while he and his family were in Mexico. What does it look like in practice to be the kind of person whose prayers and support give someone else strength to carry on?
3. The sermon pointed out that Paul's statement 'to live is Christ, to die is gain' is not a despairing wish for death but a resolute confidence. How would you explain the difference to someone who is in a dark place and hears 'to die is gain' as permission to give up?
4. The preacher asked everyone to honestly fill in the blanks: 'For to me, to live is blank, and to die is blank.' He listed some common answers, family, money, the party, meaninglessness. What do you think your honest answer looks like right now, and how does it compare to Paul's answer?
5. Paul said he was confident it was 'more needful' for the Philippians that he remain in the flesh, because he still had things to pour out that Christ had poured into him. Who in your life is someone you feel that kind of responsibility toward, and what does Christ have you to pour into them?