Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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God and Father, we are so easily distracted from the things that matter most.
My prayer today is that the message of the Scripture would be crystal clear.
And even more than that, that it would grip my heart and the heart of this people that we would feel the weight of this truth and be changed.
I ask it that Christ might be glorified in this church.
Amen.
Turn in your Bible to .
Once you have found that place, please stand for the reading of God’s Word.
Distracted, diverted, divided.
These are things that a church should never be.
But sometimes we are.
Sometimes we get distracted from what matters most.
We get diverted from our true purpose.
And we get divided around all kinds of lesser things.
What the church needs is to be laser-focused and 100% unified around what matters most.
And what matters most is the gospel.
Paul has been discussing his imprisonment and how it has turned out for the good of the gospel.
He doesn’t know what will happen to him, if he will be released from prison or not.
But he hopes to see the Philippians again to help them progress in their faith.
In the verses we read Paul says, “Whether I come to see you or not, I want you to stand together for the gospel.”
These verses are a call for the church to stand together for the gospel.
No more being distracted.
No more being diverted.
No more being divided.
It’s time for us to stand together for the gospel.
I. What standing together implies (V 27)
To say that we stand together for the gospel implies that we as a church are united in our firm and unwavering commitment to the gospel.
Paul doesn’t know if he will get to visit the Philippians again or not.
Either way, he wants to know that they are standing together for the gospel.
So, he tells them to behave in a way that is worthy of the gospel.
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
“Manner of life” is actually a verb that refers to behaving according to your obligations as part of a community.
Paul wants the church, as a community of faith, to behave and function in a way that is worthy of the gospel.
That means to behave in a way that is suitable to the gospel and shows the worth of the gospel.
Paul is saying, “If you as a church are behaving in a way that is worthy of the gospel, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit” Read V 27 up to “one spirit.”
“Standing firm” is actually only one word in the original language.
It means to be firmly committed in conviction or belief.
The church is to be absolutely unwavering in its Christian beliefs and convictions.
This word “standing firm” could be translated “steadfast.”
John MacArthur says it this way.
“It refers to holding fast to a belief, conviction, or principle without compromise, regardless of personal cost.”
Paul is saying, “If you are behaving in a way that is worthy of the gospel, I will know that you are standing together for the gospel.”
But notice the words “in one spirit.”
He is referring to the way a person thinks or feels about something.
The point is that Paul wants to church to stand firm with a common purpose.
In other words, we are to have unity of purpose.
Our commitment to the gospel must not only be unwavering.
It must be undivided.
That means all of us should be in agreement.
We should have the same thoughts and feelings in regards to our purpose.
That purpose is the gospel.
We’re to stand together in the faith, stand together in the Lord.
This is clear some other places in Scripture.
Read V 28 up to “one spirit.”
Those who are a part of the church should behave worthy of the gospel.
That means behave as the gospel would require.
Behave in a way suitable to the gospel.
In a way that shows the worth of the gospel.
Paul says, “If you do this, whether I am released from prison and come see you, or if I remain absent from you, either way I will hear that you are standing firm in one spirit.”
What I need you to see is that one implies the other.
To behave worthy of the gospel is to stand together for the gospel.
To stand together for the gospel is to behave worthy of the gospel.
This is Paul’s goal for the church.
That we be a united community of faith with a firm and unwavering commitment to the gospel of Christ.
That’s what is implied when we speak of standing together for the gospel.
And what this verse is telling us is, if this doesn’t describe our church, we are not living worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Our church will only show the world the worth of the gospel when we our commitment to the gospel is unwavering and undivided.
This is Paul’s goal for the church.
That we be a united community of faith with a firm and unwavering commitment to the gospel of Christ.
That’s what is implied when we speak of standing together for the gospel.
And what this verse is telling us is, if this doesn’t describe our church, we are not living worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Our church will only show the world the worth of the gospel when we our commitment to the gospel is unwavering and undivided.
II.
What standing together involves (Vv 27-28)
Standing together for the gospel involves “striving side by side.”
Once again Paul stresses the importance of unity.
First, “striving side by side is a single word in the original language.
It means to toil together in a struggle; implying opposition and/or competition.
He’s not just saying labor for the gospel.
He’s saying “labor together for the gospel, arm in arm, side by side.”
This word is used of athletic competition.
So, you could picture a football team giving working as a single unit.
Paul also emphasizes unity by the words “with one mind.”
It means having the same orientation of the will.
In other words, we are to strive with only one desire.
So. we work together as a single unit with a single desire.
The importance of unity is highlighted again in two ways.
First, “striving side by side” is a single word in the original language.
It means to toil together in a struggle; implying opposition and/or competition.
He’s not just saying labor for the gospel.
He’s saying “labor together for the gospel, arm in arm, side by side.”
Paul also emphasizes unity by the words “with one mind.”
It means having the same orientation of the will.
In other words, we are to strive with only one desire.
Paul also emphasizes unity by the words “with one mind.”
It means having the same orientation of the will.
In other words, we are to strive with only one desire.
Secondly, Paul emphasizes unity
That desire is described as “the faith of the gospel.”
The Philippians are to stand united in their struggle for the spread and growth of the Christian faith.
Standing together for the gospel involves laboring, side by side, with all our might for the advance of the gospel.
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