Sermon Tone Analysis

*Philippians 12.*

Let us turn to Philippians chapter 4. Often you find in Paul’s letters he deals with doctrine, theology, teaching in the first half of the letter and then moves on to practical application – putting it into practice, in the second part.

And that is the way it should be – our way of life should be based on the principles of God’s Word.

First we get the principles, then we apply it to our lives.

Doctrine should not be based on experience, doctrine comes first.

But if it is just theology, something metaphysical and theoretical it is useless and futile – it must be applied, put into action in our every-day lives.

Now we are move on to a real and practical situation: *[P]* [*Philippians 4:1-9*/ Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche *to live in harmony*/ (have the same mind – agree) */in the Lord./*/

Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the Gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.

*The Lord is near*.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace *of God*, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus./]

Some of us a bit more theoretically focused and others more practical.

Unfortunately, I tend to be the former – I am very concerned with the concepts and ideas, but as to people and their situations – I am totally oblivious.

I am into the first half of the letter: the majesty and wonder of the incarnation, the sacrifice and exaltation of Jesus in chapter two; the being sold out to Christ in chapter three; but then you get to chapter four and Paul seems to jump from one thing to another – he is all over the place.

It was several years ago now and Bryan, Robin’s brother, spoke on Philippians – Bryan is not like me, he is very people focused – and he said (Phil 4:2) was the key to the whole letter of Philippians.

It came as a revelation!

– see?

I had missed the people connection!

I had failed to see the reason that the letter was written!

I have used this slide every time, I have just changed the verses on it.

Of course it wasn’t a letter like that – but I have used it to constantly remind us that this is a LETTER!

*[P]* When you write a letter, and particularly in those days when sending a letter was a bit more of an effort; you do so for a reason.

Something motivates you to write, you do so for a reason.

This conflict between Euodia and Syntyche mentioned is central *[P]*, it motivates the organization and tone of Paul’s message, and even the content of the message itself.

Paul’s teaching isn’t in isolation – it is for a practical purpose, it has implications (Phil 4:1) begins with “/therefore/” – it connects and draws implications from what has gone before – it is because of the principles that He has taught that they are to live in the way he outlines.

Paul is moving on to a new section but it is not divorced from what he has previously said – in fact, all he has been saying leads up to this.

He is speaking to them personally – he lays it on thick and heavy addressing them again, as if it were the start of the letter: [*Philippians 4:1*/ Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved./]

Twice he refers to “/my beloved/” – it is a message delivered in love, to those he loves – he longs to see them, they are his “/joy and crown/” – he is affirming them, almost flattering them.

Paul is doing everything possible to ensure his exhortation is received, that people don’t get their backs up, or think that he is criticizing them and getting at them or is displeased with them.

He is going to directly address an issue that is dividing the church – he could just command them to lay aside their differences but, no, bends over backwards to deliver his exhortation in a gentle way.

He loves these people dearly; they mean a great deal to him and have been some of his most faithful and generous supporters.

But still the issue needed addressing – you can’t just carry on being sweet and encouraging and pretend that the animosity isn’t there in the fellowship – it has to be dealt with, but in a gentle and loving way.

They are doing good – but they don’t get along with each other – and it can happen, yes even in a church fellowship.

We are family, we are in this together: twice Paul calls them “/my beloved/”; he refers to “/my true companion/ – yoked together in the work”; “/shared my struggle/”; “/fellow workers/”; he says “/together with Clement/”; he calls them: “/brethren/” – we are in this *together* and so it is vital that we stay united together and not become divided.

And here in the church at Philippi there were two women who were in disagreement.

We have absolutely no idea what the problem was between Euodia and Syntyche.

However, based on the fact that Paul does not provide direct correction or take a side, it seems clear that the problem was not a doctrinal or moral issue.

Paul elsewhere demonstrates his willingness to tackle thorny issues involving members of a church.

If there was some specific problem that had a straightforward solution, he likely would have tackled it.

All we know about the problem is what can be gleaned from Paul’s advice to the Philippians.

Think back on the major themes that Paul has covered so far in the letter.

Paul has not really corrected anything.

Instead, he has called the Philippians to an ever higher standard of righteous living (Phil 1:10).

He has stressed the importance of setting aside your entitlements in order to better serve those around you (Phil 1:27-30; 2:1-4).

This is exemplified by Paul’s decision to continue ministering despite his circumstances (Phil 1:25-26), and by citing Jesus’ humiliation and obedience in the incarnation (Phil 2:5-11).

The key components to achieving this kind of experience as a community are summarized in the calls to be like-minded (Phil 2:2) *[P]*, to humbly consider others to be better than yourself (Phil 2:3-4) *[P]*, and choosing to rejoice and be thankful even in the face of adversity (Phil 1:18; Phil 3:1)*[P]*.

Whatever the problem, for Paul to have heard about it and had time to respond, it would have been festering for a while.

So why address the problem?

Why not just allow them to agree to disagree with one another?

Because disagreement falls short of like-mindedness and putting others’ interests before your own.

How can you esteem someone as more important than yourself and simultaneously hold a grudge against them?

You can’t do both, which means we must be proactive about truly resolving conflict rather than allowing it to fester below the surface.

A broken relationship is still broken even if there is civility on the surface.

And that is the trouble with disagreements – people tend to take sides – particularly if, as these were, respected and mature people in the fellowship – they had both “/shared Paul’s struggle in the Gospel/”.

And it splits a fellowship in two – I have seen it happen, and have been personally involved more than once.

So here we have three core themes that run through the book: like-mindedness, humbly serving others, and rejoicing.

All three will surface again in this section.

If the conflict between Euodia and Syntyche was not a doctrinal or moral issue, it must have been an interpersonal conflict of some kind – and these can be more divisive than those over doctrine.

It usually begins as a disagreement of some kind, often over a judgment call – you recall that Paul himself had such a disagreement with Barnabas over John Mark.

It is not the difference between right and wrong, but between better and best, between doing it one way versus another.

Such matters are highly subjective, with “right” based on one’s personal values and preferences.

If the issue is not resolved early on, it will fester.

This is especially the case where efforts at reconciliation end with “agreeing to disagree.”

Why?

Because each side leaves thinking that /they/ are right, without either being willing to back down.

What may have started as a small disagreement can lay the foundation for something far larger.

People begin to align with one side or the other.

Each is looking for a slip-up or failure of the other person that might lead to vindicating themselves.

If you have been in the church for any length of time, there is a good chance you have witnessed or experienced something like this unfold.

Not only does it destroy relationships, it can completely distract believers from the God-given task at hand: living out the Gospel in a way that attracts people to Christ.

If people see unresolved conflict with people taking sides, they are not seeing that we are Jesus’ disciples by our love for each other.

So why do we have these arguments in the first place?

[*James 4:1-2*/ What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you?

Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder.

You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.

You do not have because you do not ask./] it has to do with being envious—wanting what someone else has, wanting our own way, and that above the interests of other people.

If we don’t get what we desire, we are unhappy.

If unaddressed, disappointment can turn into anger or resentment.

What keeps a conflict from being resolved?

Wanting to prove that you are right?

How about thinking your interests or needs are more important or worthy than those of your opponent?

Most of our conflicts could be resolved by us considering others *more important than ourselves* taking the humble position *[P]*, being *like-minded [P]*, and choosing to *rejoice* *[P]* instead of being resentful.

When we are willing to set aside pride and emotions, we can boil down most conflicts to a few disagreements.

If I really valued the other person’s interests more than my own, how could I be pushing my own cause and viewpoint at their expense?

If I’m truly thankful for them, how can I resent who they are or what they have?

This all sounds so simple when you are just reading Philippians, but it gets personal in a hurry when you apply it during a dispute.

Jesus ran into people who thought they had it all figured out yet needed correction, like the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-25) or the Pharisees.

No one can make other people change but we can provide people with an opportunity or challenge to change, like Jesus did with the rich ruler.

That is what Paul does here, providing a challenge to the parties involved to make a change.

And you notice that he addresses them both – if John and Robin had a disagreement, I could go and say: “Hey guys, lay it aside, agree with each other.”

I would be addressing them both – John could think Robin has to do something about it and Robin could think John has to change.

But Paul says “I exhort you Euodia, and I exhort you Syntyche” – he is speaking to each of them individually – both of them have to do something about it.

And that has been my experience in situations of this kind, it takes “two to tango” – unless /both/ of parties are prepared to do something about it, the situation remains unresolved.

And often that is not enough – you need someone independent to help – Paul calls upon His “companion” (his yoke-partner) to help them resolve the issue.

Paul doesn’t point a finger at them, but instead points to a higher standard of conduct, to the type of conduct a godly, honourable person would strive for.

In (Phil 4:1) Paul commands them to /stand firm in the Lord/.