PHILIPPIANS (series)HOW TO LIVE LIFE

PHILIPPIANS 1:27-2:4

Philippians 1:27-30

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”

Philippians 2:1-2

“If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Philippians 2:3,4

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

I. HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN!

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” Philippians 1:27

THREE WORDS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE!

“ONLY……” ‘THIS ONE THING…’

“WORTHY…” ‘BALANCE OUT THE SCALES’

“CONDUCT…” ‘HOW I LIVE’

HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN

A. BE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST AND STAND TOGETHER

“…STANDING FIRM IN ONE SPIRIT…” Phil. 1:27a

HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN

B. CONTENDING TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL WITHOUT COMPROMISE

“…striving together for the faith of the gospel…” Phil. 1:27

HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN

C. NOT BEING ALARMED NOR FEARFUL OF THE OPPOSITION

“…in no way alarmed by your opponents…” Philippians 1:28

HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN

D. HAVE FAITH AND BE WILLING TO SUFFER – AND DO BOTH WITHOUT SHAME

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear to be in me.” Phil. 1:29-30

II. HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN – TOGETHER!

“IF THEREFORE, THERE IS ANY ENCOURAGEMENT IN CHRIST, IF THERE IS ANY CONSOLATION OF LOVE, IF THERE IS ANY FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT, IF ANY AFFECTION AND COMPASSION…”

IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY OF THESE… IF YOU HAVE BEEN A RECIPIENT OF THESE…

HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN – TOGETHER!

A. STAND TOGETHER IN UNITY! CONDUCT YOURSELVES AS THOUGH YOU ARE A SYMPHONY!

HOW TO STAND IN UNITY TOGETHER1. BE LIKE MINDED! HAVE UNITY IN HOW WE THINK AND WHAT WE BELIEVE! DO NOT MAJOR ON THE MINORS BUT ALSO DO NOT MINOR ON THE MAJORS

BASIC RULES FOR UNITY OF THOUGHT1. EMPHASIZE WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON2. RESPECT THE RIGHT TO DISAGREE3. HOLD YOUR CONVICTIONS AND BELIEFS IN LOVE4. TRUST THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD EACH OTHER

IN THE TRUTH5. UNDERSTAND THAT TRUTH IS A JOURNEY IN EACH

OTHER’S LIVES

HOW TO STAND TOGETHER IN UNITY

2. BE LIKE HEARTED IN OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER!

“…maintaining the same love…” 2:2

HOW TO STAND IN UNITY TOGETHER

3. BE LIKE SPIRITED IN HOW WE RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER!

“…united in spirit…”

HOW TO STAND TOGETHER IN UNITY

4. BE LIKE PURPOSED FOCUSING ON THE ONE IMPORTANT THING!

“ONLY CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST…”

Phil. 1:27

HOW TO LIVE LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN - TOGETHER

IN RESPECT TO SELF: DON’T BE SELFISH!

IN RESPECT TO OTHERS: PUT THEM FIRST!

B. WITH HUMILITY

“DO NOTHING FROM SELFISHNESS OR EMPTY CONCEIT, BUT WITH HUMILITY OF MIND LET EACH OF YOU REGARD ONE ANOTHER AS MORE IMIPORTANT THAN HIMSELF; DO NOT MERELY LOOK OUT FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS, BUT ALSO FOR THE INTERESTS OF OTHERS.”

PHILIPPIANS 2:3,4

THE TESTanswer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the following questions about yourself

1. Do I love to argue too much?2. Do I worry about getting due recognition?3. Am I envious at the success of others?4. Am I too concerned what others think of me?5. Do I get upset if someone gets MY credit?6. Do I criticize others who disagree with me?7. Do I spend time talking about MYSELF?8. Is it becoming easier for me to say “I was wrong?”9. Do others consider me ‘difficult to get along with’?10. Am I glad at the misfortunes of those I disagree with?

PHILIPPIANS (series)HOW TO LIVE LIFE

PHILIPPIANS 1:27-2:4