Phil 1: 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy8 of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
2: 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Pride, power and dominance have always been problematic in churches.
1. The Problem of Contention
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
The threat of AI. Depersonalisation in the technological age. 'Technological Isolationism'
Rationalism : Empiricism : Scientism: Secularism.
Genesis 3:4-7 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
2. The Continuing Power of the Cross
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
The Presence of The King
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hold Thou Thy cross Before my closing eyes Shine through the gloom and Point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks And earth’s vain shadows flee In life in death O Lord Abide with me
The Continuing Power of The Cross
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
3. The Compelling Witness To The Cross
among whom you shine as lights in the world,16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Aristotle’s Rhetoric Ethos -Character Pathos -Emotion Logos -Logic
Entertainment Education Evangelism
Shalom Do all things without complaining and disputing,15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
4.The Connecting Empathy Of The Cross
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state…. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
Liminality. You and me together against the world.
The Cross Produces Friendship and Fellowship in the Work
Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; … and hold such men in esteem;30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
What a help Epaphroditus was, "My brother" - fellow-believers: as such born into the family of the Father. All His sons are brothers of each other. Alas, we don't always behave brotherly towards our fellow-Christians, as Galatians 6:10 says we ought "especially" to do.My "companion in labour" - fellow-worker: no distinction drawn between the foreman and the ordinary hand.
The apostle places his helper as on the same footing in this building operation. My "fellow-soldier" - fellow-campaigner in this "World War One" against all the allied forces of entrenched evil. Then Paul turns to simpler tasks performed by this helper.
"Your messenger" - the one sent by the Philippian church with the love and largesse of the believers there. He had doubtless, with gladness, accepted this commission. Lastly, "that ministered to my wants" - what were these wants, and how catered for, we do not know. What we do know is that he wore himself out in this "Temple ministry". As the passage ends, "to supply your lack of service toward me" - it doesn't mean that they were ignorant of his need, nor idle to supply it, but that, for some while, they had had no chance to do what their heart
longed to do.
All that distance over land and sea away, they had no one to take the supplies, until Epaphroditus had become available for the purpose. And now, Paul reports, his friend "was full of heaviness" - full of gladness that he was the better of his sickness, but so sorry because the news
of his grave illness had somehow reached Philippi, and he knew how grieved and anxious they would be.
Thus is revealed the deep affection of all to each.
How Paul loved Timothy and Epaphroditus; how they loved him. How Paul loved the Philippians; how they loved him. How Epaphroditus (and even Timothy, 20) loved the Philippians; how they loved him. See how these Christians loved one another!
are you a Christian? Here is the sign by which you may be sure: listen carefully: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love . . ." I John 3:14. Do others know we are Christians? Here is the test: listen carefully: "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love . . ." John 13:35.
"Served with me in the gospel.”
5. The Conscious Participation In the Work
so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
"Served with me in the Gospel" (22). A fellow-slave, for so strong is the word. It is interesting to observe how anxious Paul seems to have been to hold both these men as equal partners with himself in the pursuit of the great advantage. By the way, the word "in" could easily be "unto", unto the Gospel: Plummer translates it "for the promotion of" - you get the same thing in 1:5. Here, then, is Timothy slaving away, alongside his father in GOD, sharing the hardships, the perils, the chances of the campaign.
Here is Epaphroditus pouring himself out as a sacrifice for the gospel.
The Capacity For Joy in the Work
I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
The Joy of Fulfillment John 1: 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Eph 3:17-19 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The Joy of Fellowship
The Joy of Fruitfulness V. Frankl A meaningful life. John 12:24 "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.
