Joy for the journey in Christ Jesus
Part 2: Encouragement
Philippians 1:1-11
David Bielby
VCF B/N
Christian encouragement is the art of helping someone become a better Christian during all seasons of life.
1) Review of past msg.
2) Cultivate the art of elevating others
Philippians 1:1-2
Paul was an apostle. How did he present himself to the Philippians? What connotation did the label slave have in their day? Paul was a tradesman (tent maker), Apostle, successful church planter, faith healer, prophetic minister and many other wonderful things in God’s Kingdom.
As we mature in Christ, we become less and less impressed with name dropping and titles for ourselves, and more interested in elevating others around us.
If you want to be great, be the servant of all.
The cult of celebrity seems to be an American disease. The plague of vain ambition-can ruin us.
Humility is a guardian against the plague of vain ambition resident within the heart of the leader who wants to be a star. Status, name-dropping, defensiveness, self-promotion, using the ends to justify the means are all bluntly shut out by Paul’s humble presentation of himself.
For more: Denny Gunderson’s “The Leadership Paradox”
To identify as a slave of Christ is to say that one is no longer a slave to sin. It is not just saying he is called a slave of Christ…no Paul says he is a slave of Christ.
See Romans 6:15-23
Chrysostom said Paul made slavery for Christ an honor by saying this. In other words, the lowest point of societal roles has now become the pinnacle of Christianity.
3) Your partners in the gospel are the members of our fellowship & our missionaries.
Philipians 1:3-5
Our partners as a Church
One another here in B/N
Pastor, Servants Team & all the Saints
Our missionaries we have officially committed to
(Paul was an official partner with the Philippian Church)
Terry & Sharon Zimmerman
Lori Boyer
4) Pray thank-filled prayers for your partners in the gospel.
5) Pray for spiritual growth of your partners in the gospel. Never assume your
friends in Christ are ok. Pray for them. Love, knowledge & depth of insight, spiritual growth in purity & holiness.
6) Bear your true future in mind...always see the future judgment of believers where you will be rewarded for what you have done in Christ!
See Philippians 1:6 & 10
7) Communicate how you feel and how you are praying so your partners in the gospel know it and are encouraged as well.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Four Terms To Understand in Philippians 1:1-11
Four terms to better understand Philippians 1:1-11
A) Slave-this term had a different connotation in Paul’s day than it does in modern America. For one thing there was no race attached to slavery in Paul’s day. Some slaves were temporary and others were life long slaves. They all were considered ‘living tools’ of their masters though with no personal rights. That was in common with America’s slave history.
B) Saint-Although millions of Christians today believe that saints are a special class of Christians who must be approved by a process in the Church, Paul means all Christians in the city of Philippi. Any Christian is a saint in the bible’s eyes because our sainthood is not based on what we have done but solely on Christ’s work for us through the atoning sacrifice on the cross. Saints are not people we go to in prayer because they have a special in with God. We all are saints the moment we choose to start trusting in Christ for our salvation as the Philippian jailer did in Acts 16.
C) Joy-this term is not referencing the feeling one gets when things go well for you or when your emotions are stoked. Joy here is attached directly to the progress of the gospel without regard to our personal comfort or discomfort.
D) Participation-This term means more than the common idea of ‘sharing thoughts or views in common’. It involves a deeper and more formal commitment. There was a sort of legally binding relationship that Paul may have had with the Philippian Church. Paul was bound to help them if they were in trouble ever as well. The fact that he was in prison meant that he may not have been in a position to reciprocate as he was obligated to do. The fact that he was facing potential execution underscored the gravity of his ‘debt’ to the Philippians. Gordon Fee and other scholars have developed the historical use of this term. See NICNT on Philippians by Fee for more on this and for other resources.
A) Slave-this term had a different connotation in Paul’s day than it does in modern America. For one thing there was no race attached to slavery in Paul’s day. Some slaves were temporary and others were life long slaves. They all were considered ‘living tools’ of their masters though with no personal rights. That was in common with America’s slave history.
B) Saint-Although millions of Christians today believe that saints are a special class of Christians who must be approved by a process in the Church, Paul means all Christians in the city of Philippi. Any Christian is a saint in the bible’s eyes because our sainthood is not based on what we have done but solely on Christ’s work for us through the atoning sacrifice on the cross. Saints are not people we go to in prayer because they have a special in with God. We all are saints the moment we choose to start trusting in Christ for our salvation as the Philippian jailer did in Acts 16.
C) Joy-this term is not referencing the feeling one gets when things go well for you or when your emotions are stoked. Joy here is attached directly to the progress of the gospel without regard to our personal comfort or discomfort.
D) Participation-This term means more than the common idea of ‘sharing thoughts or views in common’. It involves a deeper and more formal commitment. There was a sort of legally binding relationship that Paul may have had with the Philippian Church. Paul was bound to help them if they were in trouble ever as well. The fact that he was in prison meant that he may not have been in a position to reciprocate as he was obligated to do. The fact that he was facing potential execution underscored the gravity of his ‘debt’ to the Philippians. Gordon Fee and other scholars have developed the historical use of this term. See NICNT on Philippians by Fee for more on this and for other resources.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Part 1: The God who pursues us (Acts 16)
Introducing: Joy for the journey in Christ Jesus
Part 1: The God Who Pursues Us
September 18, 2005 Sermon Notes by David Bielby
Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Bloomington/Normal
Acts 16:6-40
Outline ideas adapted from Philippians "Jesus our joy" by Donald Baker (IVP)
1) Acts 16:6-10
Live for the Lord’s call on you only!
Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus & God’s call
Visions/Planning & God’s sovereignty
What was the first encounter with God you ever had?
2) Acts 16:11-15
Get involved with where God is moving!
The pre-synagogue riverside meeting
Evangelism methods & God opening a heart
Lydia-A wealthy merchant business lady becomes the first European in Paul's ministry.
3) Acts 16:16-24
Have courage to counter the devil’s attack on God’s work!
Harassment: One of the devil’s ways
Paul’s spiritual authority and power
Psychics today: True and false
Slave girl-perhaps she became a Christian through this. God's favor touches not just business people, but those who are destitute and without hope. Yet her rich owners missed God so badly they persecuted Paul-even though they witnessed the miracle of God's power through him.
What attitudes or personal desires have stopped you from accepting God’s kingdom coming into your life?
4) Acts 16:25-40
Know your future no matter how bad things look or feel!
Philippian jailer’s conversion
We all will receive rewards from the Lord for what we have done as Christians. For those who don't know Jesus, they must hear what Paul told the Philippian jailer sometime before he went to sleep. That every person in the world needs to repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The jailer repented with trembling when he asked Paul what he must do to be saved. Paul gave him the rest of the answer...believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.
What belief do you have about the future judgment? Is it deep
enough to enable you to sing even when suffering?
5) God’s pursuit of us
Make room for people of all kinds of people!
Wealthy merchant, slave girl or government employee (Philippian jailer)-God
pursues us all.
God is pursuing you. He hasn't brought you to this point by accident. He has sent people into your life as He sent Paul into the Philippians lives. Recognize His deep love for you and take comfort in the fact that He loves you!
Take comfort in the knowledge that God is pursuing you!
Part 1: The God Who Pursues Us
September 18, 2005 Sermon Notes by David Bielby
Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Bloomington/Normal
Acts 16:6-40
Outline ideas adapted from Philippians "Jesus our joy" by Donald Baker (IVP)
1) Acts 16:6-10
Live for the Lord’s call on you only!
Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus & God’s call
Visions/Planning & God’s sovereignty
What was the first encounter with God you ever had?
2) Acts 16:11-15
Get involved with where God is moving!
The pre-synagogue riverside meeting
Evangelism methods & God opening a heart
Lydia-A wealthy merchant business lady becomes the first European in Paul's ministry.
3) Acts 16:16-24
Have courage to counter the devil’s attack on God’s work!
Harassment: One of the devil’s ways
Paul’s spiritual authority and power
Psychics today: True and false
Slave girl-perhaps she became a Christian through this. God's favor touches not just business people, but those who are destitute and without hope. Yet her rich owners missed God so badly they persecuted Paul-even though they witnessed the miracle of God's power through him.
What attitudes or personal desires have stopped you from accepting God’s kingdom coming into your life?
4) Acts 16:25-40
Know your future no matter how bad things look or feel!
Philippian jailer’s conversion
We all will receive rewards from the Lord for what we have done as Christians. For those who don't know Jesus, they must hear what Paul told the Philippian jailer sometime before he went to sleep. That every person in the world needs to repent of their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The jailer repented with trembling when he asked Paul what he must do to be saved. Paul gave him the rest of the answer...believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.
What belief do you have about the future judgment? Is it deep
enough to enable you to sing even when suffering?
5) God’s pursuit of us
Make room for people of all kinds of people!
Wealthy merchant, slave girl or government employee (Philippian jailer)-God
pursues us all.
God is pursuing you. He hasn't brought you to this point by accident. He has sent people into your life as He sent Paul into the Philippians lives. Recognize His deep love for you and take comfort in the fact that He loves you!
Take comfort in the knowledge that God is pursuing you!
Monday, September 12, 2005
Joy-filled journey in Christ Jesus
The outline of yesterdays sermon is now posted on my Ephesians blogspot. If you missed the message or would like to review it, please go to:
http://ntephesians.blogspot.com/
Next Sunday we will start into a wonderful look at the church in Philippi and Paul’s letter to them.
I’m asking each person in the fellowship to add Philippians to your devotional reading for the next few months. Please take a verse or paragraph each day and keep in front of you.
Extraordinary circumstances opened the door for the gospel in Philippi. We will look at what God did in His pursuit of the Philippians…and also His extraordinary pursuit of us as a people today. I’m calling this series “Joy-filled journey in Christ Jesus”.
Please join me in making it your personal goal to gain a deeper grasp of this awesome section of God’s holy word during the next two months. More will be said on Sunday, but for now please take the section in Acts which we have about Philippi and prayerfully read it this week.
NLT Acts 16:6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, "Come over here and help us." 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. 11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony; we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we supposed that some people met for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had come together. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we did. 16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed along behind us shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved." 18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her. "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," he said. And instantly it left her. 19 Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted. 21 "They are teaching the people to do things that are against Roman customs." 22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. 24 So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, "Don't do it! We are all here!" 29 Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 He brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." 32 Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. 33 That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
http://ntephesians.blogspot.com/
Next Sunday we will start into a wonderful look at the church in Philippi and Paul’s letter to them.
I’m asking each person in the fellowship to add Philippians to your devotional reading for the next few months. Please take a verse or paragraph each day and keep in front of you.
Extraordinary circumstances opened the door for the gospel in Philippi. We will look at what God did in His pursuit of the Philippians…and also His extraordinary pursuit of us as a people today. I’m calling this series “Joy-filled journey in Christ Jesus”.
Please join me in making it your personal goal to gain a deeper grasp of this awesome section of God’s holy word during the next two months. More will be said on Sunday, but for now please take the section in Acts which we have about Philippi and prayerfully read it this week.
NLT Acts 16:6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had told them not to go into the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not let them go. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the city of Troas. 9 That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, "Come over here and help us." 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. 11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony; we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we supposed that some people met for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had come together. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we did. 16 One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a demon-possessed slave girl. She was a fortune-teller who earned a lot of money for her masters. 17 She followed along behind us shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved." 18 This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and spoke to the demon within her. "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her," he said. And instantly it left her. 19 Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace. 20 "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted. 21 "They are teaching the people to do things that are against Roman customs." 22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. 24 So he took no chances but put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. 25 Around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! 27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, "Don't do it! We are all here!" 29 Trembling with fear, the jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 He brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with your entire household." 32 Then they shared the word of the Lord with him and all who lived in his household. 33 That same hour the jailer washed their wounds, and he and everyone in his household were immediately baptized. 34 Then he brought them into his house and set a meal before them. He and his entire household rejoiced because they all believed in God.
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