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[0:00] Well, good morning. For those of you I don't know, my name is Dave.! I'm one of Shoreline's pastors or elders.! We did our series in Acts.

[0:31] It was kind of a cool moment where we left Paul in prison at the end of Acts in Rome, and here now we see the letter to the Philippians written from that jail cell.

[0:43] So it's the continuation of his ministry as we walk through the New Testament together. Today what we are going to do is not to move on from there.

[0:55] It's actually to plant ourselves back in this one more time. I'm going to read the entirety of the book of Philippians, the letter of Paul to the Philippian church today.

[1:12] This is sort of a tradition here at Shoreline. We've done this with the book of Ephesians. We've done summary readings of Matthew and Acts as we have completed those sermon series.

[1:23] Why do we do something like this? Well, first, it's because of Paul himself, his instruction in 1 Timothy 4. As he instructed Timothy on how to lead a church, he said, Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture.

[1:43] At Shoreline, we try to do that by publicly reading Scripture together every day. I forget what psalm we did this morning. 147. We do that week by week as a congregation.

[1:57] We publicly proclaim his word week by week in the preaching of the Scriptures. And here we get to do that as a full sermon. It also helps us, once we hear it all at once, to see and understand how all of the passages that we've spent three months pulling apart fit together.

[2:21] Hearing it all at once helps us connect also with the Philippian Christians who originally heard it this way. Hearing it again will remind us and solidify all of those messages, all of those things that the Lord has shown us in this book over these last three months.

[2:41] And last, it honors what the book of Philippians is, because it is indeed itself a sermon, better than any sermon I've ever preached.

[2:53] And Paul, in chapter 1, verse 1, says, Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and the deacons.

[3:06] And so this whole letter is addressed to a church as a church. And for these reasons and more, we believe that this is a fruitful practice in the church.

[3:18] So as we are about to open Philippians to chapter 1, verse 1 together, here are some things to pay attention for. First, pay attention for the love of the church.

[3:31] A few months ago, as we traced Paul's missionary journeys, we saw his last trip in the book of Acts. He's headed to Jerusalem, where he knows he will be imprisoned, which is how he eventually makes his way in chains to Rome.

[3:50] Along the way, people wept for him, knowing that he would be imprisoned. And they begged him not to go. In Caesarea, the saints, even Luke himself, the author of the gospel of Luke and of the book of Acts, urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.

[4:08] The churches loved the apostle. And that was no different than the church of Philippi. Notice all the times as we walk through this today that he mentions their concern for him or their sacrifice on his behalf.

[4:22] And watch for the flip side of that relationship. His love for them, his longing for them. And look for indications of love, which Jesus said would mark his people, his church.

[4:36] And speaking of Jesus, pay attention to the Christ focus of this book. He is the center of the whole letter.

[4:47] Paul doesn't like have an agenda to which he affixes Jesus Christ. Jesus is his agenda. And pushing Christ-likeness out into the whole of the church and the whole of our lives.

[5:01] And so everything from his own apostleship to his message, to his attitude towards his own imprisonment, to his perspective on his own upcoming death, to all of the commands he gives to the church, all of it springs from Christ and who he is and what he has done.

[5:21] Christ is the very center of the letter. And so he commends to them, also pay attention to the mind of Christ, where he encourages them to have the same mindset that our Lord has, but it shows up in more places than simply in the famous Christ hymn.

[5:42] So pay attention to all of the places where Paul is instructing the Philippian church to have the mind of Christ, including in unity. Think through, as we're walking through, everywhere he mentions unity and the why behind it.

[6:01] Why is he looking for the church to stay unified? And how does he encourage them to walk in unity? Pay attention to, to all of the references of the Lord being near to his people and how that is so foundational to all of the various commands and encouragements.

[6:25] The Lord is near to his people. Also, let's give our attention to Christian identity. Who are we?

[6:36] From the very first verse, he names them saints. And as he draws things to a close, he talks to them about their citizenship and where it lies.

[6:52] Who Christians are dominates this letter and shapes all of his instructions. And then, finally, pay attention to the twin themes of suffering and of joy.

[7:09] Sufferings include Paul's own imprisonment, Christ's sufferings for his people, conflict between members and anxiety in their souls.

[7:21] Think of how Paul views it, how Christ views it, and how we are encouraged to think as well. Because so much of the theme, the attitude of this book is joy.

[7:37] Paul explains where his joy, even in the midst of imprisonment, is. How does that impact this whole letter? How does that impact our souls?

[7:48] And the most incredible command of this whole letter, the command to rejoice, we asked several times, because he makes it several times, how can you command rejoicing?

[8:05] That's not a command that you can make. Yet he, in Christ, because he has something that is worthy of rejoicing over, he can give that to us.

[8:20] And what a joy it is to open God's word with you then and read the letter to the Philippians. Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, who are at Philippi with the overseers and deacons, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[8:46] Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always, in every prayer of mine, for you all, making my prayer with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

[9:03] And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all because I hold you in my heart.

[9:18] For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

[9:34] And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with all knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the praise of God.

[10:01] I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

[10:16] And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

[10:31] The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

[10:44] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

[10:56] Yes, I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all be ashamed.

[11:13] But that with full courage, now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death, for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

[11:27] If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet, which I shall choose, I cannot tell. I am hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

[11:43] But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus because of my coming to you again.

[12:02] Only let your manner of life be worthy 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 and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

[12:23] This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

[12:48] So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

[13:10] Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.

[13:27] Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, a thing to be grasped but emptied himself.

[13:41] By taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

[13:57] Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

[14:19] therefore, my beloved, as you've always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

[14:40] Do all things without grumbling or disputing that you may be blameless and innocent. Children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation among whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast to the word of life so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

[15:07] Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

[15:23] I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be cheered by news of you for I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare for they all seek their own interests not those of Jesus Christ but you know Timothy's proven worth how is his son with a father he has served with me in the gospel I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will also come I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier and your messenger and minister to my need for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill indeed he was ill near to death but God had mercy on him and not only on him but me also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow

[16:25] I am the more eager to send him therefore that you may rejoice at seeing him again and that I may be less anxious so receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor such men for he nearly died for the work of Christ risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me finally my brothers rejoice in the Lord to write the same things to you but no trouble to me and is safe for you look out for the dogs look out for the evildoers look out for those who mutilate the flesh for we are the circumcision who worship by the spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also if anyone thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh I have more circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin the Hebrew of Hebrews as to the law a Pharisee as to zeal a persecutor of the church as to righteousness under the law blameless but whatever gain

[17:42] I had I counted as a loss for the sake of Christ indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which comes through faith in Christ the righteousness from God that depends on faith that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share in his sufferings becoming like him in his death that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead not that I have already obtained this or I'm already perfect but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own brothers

[18:44] I do not consider that I have made it my own but one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus but those of us who are mature think this way and if in anything you think otherwise God will reveal that also to you only let us hold true to what we have attained brothers join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us for many of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears walk as enemies of the cross of Christ their end is destruction their God is their belly and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things but our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a savior the Lord

[19:48] Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself therefore my brothers whom I love and long for my joy and crown stand firm thus in the Lord my beloved I entreat you Odia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord yes I ask you also true companion help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement 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 reasonableness be known to everyone the Lord is at hand not be anxious about anything 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 understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ

[21:01] Jesus finally brothers whatever is true whatever is honorable whatever is just whatever is pure whatever is lovely whatever is commendable if there is any excellence if there is anything worthy of praise think about these things what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things and the God of peace will be with you I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me you were indeed concerned for me but you had no opportunity that I am speaking of being in need for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger abundance and need

[22:06] I can do all things through him who strengthens me yet it was kind of you to share my trouble and you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel when I left Macedonia no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you only even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit I have received full payment and more I am well supplied having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent a fragrant offering a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God and my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus to our God and Father be glory forever and ever amen greet every saint in Christ

[23:08] Jesus the brothers who are with me greet you all the saints greet you especially those of Caesar's household the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit this is God's word let's pray Lord we ask with Paul that you would cause our love to abound more and more Lord may our love abound more and more as Paul and the Philippian Christians showed us for each other Lord help us to care for one another with the love of Christ Lord as our love abounds more and more for

[24:09] Christ Lord help us to see that day by day as this distraction and that comes to our minds and would keep us from thinking about the glory of Christ whose name is above every name Lord help us to remember and see his love and may our hearts echo back that love to him and Lord make us those who love others father would the missionary spirit born of love burn in our hearts for those in our daily lives and in our cares and in our prayers for missionaries around the world bringing this life giving message of Jesus

[25:09] Christ to all the world so that all may celebrate his name as we do Lord we ask that you would do this and that our love would abound more and more with all knowledge and all discernment so that we may approve what is excellent and Lord as Paul has instructed us in this book Lord we have that knowledge that discernment that mind of Christ that is to approve humility as excellent and as a testimony that he is all sufficient for us and to us so that we might live humbly and with proper concern towards others thinking more highly of them than ourselves because

[26:12] Lord we have all in Christ and we have him forever Lord as we walk in these ways abounding more and more in love for Christ and his church and for the world around us holding high what is excellent in his own attitude towards us Lord would you make us pure and blameless for the day of Christ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the praise of your glory Lord as we hear terrible news around the world terrible news today from Buffalo New York terrible news these last months in

[27:14] Ukraine and elsewhere in the world Lord we plead for your mercy on this world come Lord Jesus restrain the evildoer Lord keep us from despair help us to keep our minds set on what is true and honorable and just and pure and lovely and commendable knowing that that is who you are help us oh God to keep our eyes fixed on you Lord thank you for this letter a letter born of an imprisonment and born of Christian love their love in supporting him and sending

[28:15] Epaphroditus with the gift that permitted him to be in house arrest so that he could do things like send this letter so that we could benefit from it we thank you for your word we thank you for your church and we thank you most of all that you have come for your people that you have rescued us and that as Paul has instructed us and reminded us and taught us to set our hope upon that you are near near to us and it is only by your grace that you are near to us in love and not in wrath so Lord make us a gospel people who have set our minds on these great testimonies of grace and celebrate forever your goodness and your glory amen we turn our attention now to the

[29:43] Lord's supper this is the testimony of what Christ did when in Philippians 2 Paul teaches us about his incarnation salvation and his sacrifice on our behalf this meal is for all who have repented of their sins and believed in Christ if that's not what you've if that's not your story if you heard this message and don't understand what it is that Christ did for you this meal isn't for you it won't mean anything to you yet don't receive these elements instead receive Christ today I would love to talk with you and pray for you afterwards and for all who have repented of their sins and trusted on Christ this meal is his testimony to us again and again that the gospel is indeed true this is the testimony of his love on the night he was betrayed

[31:05] Jesus held up the bread and he said this is my body it is the testimony that Christ Jesus though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but emptied himself taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men this is my body he said let's remember him together when Jesus held up the cup he said drink of it all of you for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins it is the testimony that being found in human form he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even death on a cross and the final words of institution

[32:45] Jesus said I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom which means that the story isn't over which means God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Lord there is nothing that we can do but celebrate Lord we can receive this grace with joy and with thanksgiving which is why

[33:57]  Paul can say rejoice! to us there is something worth rejoicing! over and it is this fact that you are this kind of God who would have dreamt it that a God so glorious would do something so humble and so loving Lord it is the thing that we will celebrate you are the one that we will celebrate forever and ever amen