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[0:00] That you would send your spirit, that you would send your Holy Spirit, doing your great work of encouraging, convicting, revealing truth, Lord, teaching.

[0:11] I just pray that as we sing together, that our hearts would be knit together as a family, and that also, Lord, we would be just rejoicing in the sense of family that we have with you.

[0:23] Lord, you have adopted us all into your family, which is beautiful. Thank you so much that we worship you here as a family, not just a collection of people who just decided that this would be an interesting thing to do, Lord, but you have put us together.

[0:39] May we sense that this morning. May we be aware of it. And God, as we interact with your word and with one another this morning, I pray that it would be a blessing to each of us and to you, that we would lift your name up and exalt your name, that your name would be made great in our eyes.

[0:57] Lord, your name is already great. It's the name that's above every name, which is what we're about to declare. But Lord, may we see it as great as it is. So God, we love you. We're excited to worship you. And so here we go. Amen.

[1:12] All right, let's let's read together. We're going to put up Philippians 2, 1 through 10. We're going to read this verse together. Actually, you guys are going to read it. I'm not going to read it. But let's declare this truth to get our minds set for who we are singing to this morning.

[1:29] So one, two, three, go. 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.

[1:51] Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to its own interests, but also to the interests of others.

[2:07] 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 made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men, and being found in human form, humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

[2:36] 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.

[2:58] Yeah, there it is. All right. We don't need no screens, right? Amen, amen. So at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that he is the Lord.

[3:11] We may not bow physically this morning, although you're more than welcome to if you feel led, but we are going to declare that Jesus' name is above every other name. Let's sing together.

[3:22] All hail the King. All hail the King. All hail the King. All hail the King. All hail the King.

[3:34] We make way for you. Prepare a place for you. Let our praise become your throne.

[3:49] Hear your people sing. Give you everything. Jesus, all for you alone.

[4:02] All hail the King. All hail the King. All hail the Savior. Jesus, the Son of God.

[4:14] All hail His name. All hail His power. Before His feet we fall.

[4:26] As we crown Him. Lord of all. This is royalty.

[4:45] This is royalty. Born in aยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยย Jesus, the Son of God.

[5:25] All hail His name. All hail His power. Before His feet we fall.

[5:36] As we crown Him Lord of all. Awake my soul and sing.

[5:59] Of Him who died for me. Hail Him as the matchless King.

[6:14] Through all eternity. Sing it again. Here we go, awake. Awake my soul and sing.

[6:28] Of Him who died for me. And hail Him as the matchless King.

[6:43] Through all eternity. Oh, hail the King. Oh, hail the King.

[6:55] Oh, hail the Savior. Jesus, the Son of God. Sing it out, church. As we crown Him Lord of all.

[7:11] As we crown Him Lord of all.

[7:24] Amen.

[7:35] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Yes, amen. Amen. What a powerful thing it is for God's people to come together and declare the truth. This is a truth that we are entrusted with.

[7:47] That the world knows nothing of. We get to declare these praises to God. And that's exciting, church. Thank you so much for singing with us. Well, I would like for us to read a passage from Numbers 6 together.

[8:02] This is a blessing spoken over God's people. The Aaronic blessing. Let's, yeah, there it is. So I'm going to lead you into it because there's an interesting thing in the verses before this.

[8:16] So listen to this. This is Numbers 6, starting in verse 22. The Lord said, the Lord said to Moses, spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel.

[8:32] You shall say to them. Let's read this together. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

[8:44] The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

[8:56] So this isn't even just a blessing that, like, the priests came up with and said, like, Hey, let's see if we can get God to bless the people. Let's say, you know, Hey, Lord, bless us and keep us and make your face shine upon us, right?

[9:07] This is not coming from man. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, Say this. The Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you and et cetera.

[9:19] And then he says at the end, I will bless them. He's like, Pray this and I will do it. Right? So I think that that's such a beautiful blessing.

[9:30] Oh, yeah. Also, the same blessing exists over in Psalm 67. Yeah, there it is.

[9:42] Okay. So I'll just read this to you. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. Selah. Why? That your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

[9:59] So this isn't just, Hey, God bless us because we want a bunch of stuff and we want to have an easy life and we want you to just be with us and hang out with us and make everything cool for us. Right? Why do we want him to bless us? So that his way may be known on the earth and his saving power among all the nations.

[10:14] That is why we want the Lord to bless us. Amen. Amen. So now we've declared that truth. Now we want to teach you guys a way to sing that same truth. So this is a song called The Blessing, which contains exactly those same words.

[10:28] The Lord bless you and keep you.

[10:41] Make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

[11:01] Let's sing it again. The Lord bless you and keep you.

[11:33] Let's sing this. Let's sing this. Amen.ยยยย and sing this amen, amen, maybe so. Amen, amen, amen.

[11:50] Amen, amen, amen.

[12:03] Sing the verse one more time. The Lord bless you. The Lord bless you and keep you.

[12:17] Make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

[12:36] One more time, amen, amen. And amen, we agree. Amen, amen.

[12:49] Amen, amen, amen.

[13:03] Amen. You are holy. You are holy. You are worthy.

[13:21] Worthy of all praise. Worthy of all praise.

[13:32] You are holy. God almighty.

[13:44] Who was and is to come. Who was and is to come.

[13:57] You are worthy. You are worthy. To receive glory.

[14:09] And honor and power. And honor and power. Go back to that first one.

[14:21] You are holy. You are holy. You are worthy. You are worthy.

[14:32] Worthy of all praise. Worthy of all praise.

[14:42] Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

[14:55] Praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly host.

[15:14] Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Sing the amen one more time.

[15:27] Amen. Amazing Grace.

[16:14] Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

[16:35] I once was lost, but now I am found.

[16:48] Was blind, but now I see. T'was grace that taught my heart to fear.

[17:11] And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear.

[17:33] The hour I first believed. The Lord has promised good to me.

[17:56] Hallelujah. His word my hope secures.

[18:08] He will my shield and portion be. As long as life endures.

[18:29] Through many dangers, toils, and snares.

[18:42] I have already come. Tis grace that brought me safe thus far.

[19:04] And grace will lead me home. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail.

[19:28] And mortal life shall cease.

[19:40] I shall possess within the veil. A life of joy and peace.

[19:59] Amen. Yes, Lord. Amen. We have that to look forward to. Sing this last verse together about heaven. When we've been there ten thousand years.

[20:17] Bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise.

[20:39] Than when we'd first begun. Yes, God. Amen.

[20:58] That is such joyous truth. Such amazing grace that you have shed upon us. Lord, for no reason, as far as we are concerned, we have not merited it, Lord.

[21:11] We have not earned it. We have not deserved it. We've earned the opposite of it. And yet, for the sake of your own glory. And to demonstrate your great love towards us.

[21:22] You sent your son to die on the cross for our sins. And that through faith in him. Through believing in who he is and what he has said. Following him and loving him for our whole lives.

[21:35] We might be with you in heaven. So that we can sing crazy stuff, God. Like ten thousand years in the future. We will be luminous. We will be luminous.

[21:46] And have sung your praise for ten thousand years. And yet, have not diminished the amount of time that we have to praise you in the slightest. We will go right on into your ten thousand and one.

[22:00] Just as fervent. Just as excited. Just as powerful. Just as true. Just as solemn. Just as holy. As when we first stepped through the gates. And had our minds blown by the presence of Jesus Christ.

[22:14] God, that's great. That is great. And that is encouraging. Let it lay aside the struggles of the rest of our lives. As we focus on you and what you have done. God, you are good.

[22:26] And your mercy endures forever. Thank you. We love you. Amen. You may be seated. And as we move into a time of announcements, I have one that I want to make.

[22:41] So we were planning on having a music team meeting this afternoon. We are postponing that meeting. I sent you that we're involved with that an email to that effect last night.

[22:52] But I wanted to make sure that everybody knows we are going to postpone that meeting until probably May. And one of the reasons for that is to make a little bit more space for the family meeting that we're having after the service today.

[23:03] Okay. So I want you all to participate in that. So we're going to dispense with the music team meeting until a later time. Thanks, worship team.

[23:15] Good morning, everybody. It's so good to be worshiping with all of you this morning. I'd like to read us a passage from Ephesians 4. This is Ephesians 4.1.

[23:28] I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

[23:47] There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

[24:04] So this morning, as we gather, we are truly one body. We're filled with one spirit. We have the same single resurrection hope, right? We were just singing about in 10,000 years, right?

[24:19] We'll be with the Lord. We'll be with one another. We will be with one another. We'll be with those who have gone before, right? That's the hope that we share. So we're united as one body.

[24:30] And as one united body, we have the privilege. This passage talks about how we have the privilege of reflecting the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[24:42] What an awesome thing to reflect the unity of the Trinity. That's the foundation for our unity as a church. And so what's the goal of this unity?

[24:54] We see this in John 17, the High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus prays repeatedly that we would be one as he is one with the Father.

[25:05] He says that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. So our unity and our love for one another puts God's unity and love on display for the watching world.

[25:21] And that results in him getting maximum glory. So may this be increasingly true for us here at Shoreline. If you're new here, right, the Bible teaches that we're actually united to you, even though, you know, we might be strangers, which is such an encouraging truth.

[25:43] We do still, though, want to actually get to know you. And so we'd love it if there are connection cards on the back table. You can just fill one of those out, drop that in the offering box, and that way we can know how to best get in contact with you.

[25:58] There's also information on the welcome table in the hallway about who we are as a church and specific ways you can get connected. So please check that out after the service.

[26:09] Before I dismiss kids, praise the Lord, Hannah LeHoon Pollack was born Thursday at 8.59 p.m. Mom and baby are doing great. We're so thankful for that.

[26:21] There is a meal train set up. You can check that out in the latest Shoreline email. That has the link. So please check that out and sign up to bring them a meal. Children ages one through second grade are now dismissed to Shoreline kids.

[26:35] So as Tyler mentioned, there are two congregational meetings coming up.

[26:52] There's one today directly after the service where the deacons and the elders are going to be presenting a proposal for us to purchase land in Waterford.

[27:03] And then the following Sunday, we will, the congregation will be formally voting on that proposal. There will be food for both meetings. And we'd love it, you know, whether you're a member.

[27:15] Members will be officially voting. But these meetings, our congregational meetings are for everyone. You know, whether you're a member or this is your first Sunday, please come. We'd love to have you. A big part of our congregational meetings is just fellowship, enjoying a meal together.

[27:30] So please plan on joining us for that. So please pray with me now. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for dying for us.

[27:43] Thank you for giving your life so that we could have life. But you didn't stop there. Thank you for uniting us into a body and giving us the glorious privilege of reflecting the unity that you share with the Father and the Spirit.

[28:00] Help us to put your unity on display to the watching world. Father, we pray for Randy right now as he labors for the gospel in Bangladesh.

[28:15] The obstacles that the gospel faces in that country are significant. Both the state and the culture are very opposed to Christianity.

[28:27] And Christians are few in number and they're persecuted. But you are a God who made a nation out of slaves in Egypt. You're the God who became a man and laid down your life to save your people.

[28:43] You're the God who delights in doing the impossible. We know and we believe that you're able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. And so we ask that you would send your spirit to embolden the believers in Bangladesh.

[28:59] Fill them with your spirit. Use Randy and his co-worker Tim to equip and encourage leaders in the Bangladeshi church.

[29:10] And we pray that the gospel would go forward. Use, Lord, use even the opposition that the gospel faces to further its spread as unbelievers see both the unity and the boldness of the church in the face of opposition.

[29:25] We pray now for the Pollock family. We thank you for the precious gift of new life. And we ask that you would shower their family with your grace as they adjust to life with baby Hannah.

[29:38] And I pray now for Dave as he brings a message from your word. Help us to receive your truth with joy. Amen. Well, good morning.

[30:04] For those of you I may not have met, my name is Dave. I'm one of Shoreline's pastors or elders. I get to open up Philippians chapter 2 with you today.

[30:15] And that is a great blessing. If you don't have a Bible, the words will be here, I think. And I believe we have Bibles on the back table. Or you can look on with your neighbor.

[30:26] I'll give you a moment to get there. I'm going to begin in Philippians chapter 2, verse 19. And I'm going to mark myself a note.

[30:38] Here now, I'm going to mark myself a note.

[30:58] Hear now the word of the Lord. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be cheered by news of you.

[31:12] 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.

[31:23] But you know Timothy's proven worth. I was a 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.

[31:35] And I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 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.

[31:50] 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 on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

[32:07] I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice in seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor such men.

[32:20] For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. This is the word of the living God to his people.

[32:33] Let's pray. Lord, as we come to this word, there are those in this room who are torn and pulled.

[32:53] They might come to this and see these two paragons of the faith, and see expectation laid upon them, and it might crush them.

[33:06] Lord, will you help us? Will you help me to see what Paul sees in them? Encouragement. Lord, would you, by this word, lift all our spirits in praise towards you and love towards one another, so that the world may know us by our love.

[33:34] We pray this in the name of Christ. Amen. What's in this passage? What is it that is here?

[33:46] What is it that Paul is telling us? We're going to take kind of like three passes at it. The first one, we're going to look at this passage and say, what exactly is he saying? What are the details here?

[33:57] What does he mean by the things he's saying? In our second pass, we'll ask, why is he saying this? This seems like something of a departure from where we've been the last few weeks.

[34:09] The beginning of chapter 2 doesn't look quite like this. And then on our third pass, we'll ask the question, what does that mean for us?

[34:21] How do we respond to this passage? And so, with that plan kind of in place for ourselves, let's look first at the specifics of what Paul means by all of these things that he has said about these two men, Timothy and Epaphroditus.

[34:40] And clearly, that's the breakdown, right? There are two sections to this text, one about Timothy and then one about Epaphroditus. And each section is a commendation.

[34:53] Paul is telling them, these guys are great, right? And so, he begins with Timothy, who accompanied Paul in the founding of this church in Philippi. We saw that just a couple months ago when we were in Acts chapter 16, in the Macedonian call.

[35:08] The first place that Paul brought the gospel in Europe was Philippi. And now he's writing to them from prison about 10 years on. And so, they already knew Timothy.

[35:19] He was there at their founding and there's quite a good chance that he saw them in the intervening years as well. And we'll also see that they know Epaphroditus. He's one of the members of their church who went to serve Paul.

[35:33] So, Paul isn't actually telling them anything new. They know these people already quite well. What he's doing here is he's highlighting what they already know and pointing out that this, this is the significant thing about them.

[35:54] And that will come in handy for us when we get to the, what is he trying to accomplish part of our conversation today. He's pointing something out, maybe because it's easy for us to miss.

[36:07] And so, he begins commending Timothy to them, even though he's not about to send Timothy. He's about to say, I can't send him to you yet. But he's commending Timothy to them and he says, verse 20, I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

[36:29] For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But the mark of a great leader in the church, which Timothy was, isn't necessarily someone who has it all together.

[36:45] Or, you know, can bring a high profile to the church. Or even has lots of gifts and abilities.

[36:56] The mark of a great leader in the church is this. Having a genuine concern for the welfare of the church.

[37:09] And when the Bible talks about the church, it's not talking about a building. We're going to talk about a building later today. It's not talking about a building.

[37:22] It's not talking about even, like, the organization. You know, we have a logo even, right? Lots of churches have, like, that, like, brand almost.

[37:34] It's not that. When the Bible talks about the church, the Bible is talking about the people of God. And that is the object of Timothy and Paul.

[37:49] Timothy's affection and concern. He has genuine concern for your welfare. And that is the mark of a true leader among the people of God.

[38:04] And there are a lot of counterfeits to that, I think. Right? Some gifted leaders might see the church as, you know, a platform on which to build their own personal brand.

[38:18] Personal branding is, like, a phrase that, you know, came to be just a couple years ago. And there are probably some leaders who see the church as the opportunity to commit to their own ends, to display their own abilities.

[38:35] Some leaders look like they have a genuine concern for the church, the people, until a scandal breaks. For instance, sadly, there have been reports, numerous reports, of abuse arising within the church.

[38:54] And how a pastor or a team of elders or just the leaders of a church respond to that are very, very, very telling. If allegations of abuse arise, if allegations of abuse arise, and some leaders, by their actions, demonstrate that they care for the flock.

[39:16] And others demonstrate that they care about the brand. But Paul tells them that Timothy genuinely cares for the flock.

[39:29] And he continues. There's more. Because he says in verse 22, Now, Paul is not talking here about Timothy's, you know, usefulness, per se.

[39:49] Though, indeed, he was. You don't need to be extra productive to be valuable in the kingdom of God. No, Paul is talking not about Timothy's usefulness, but about his dedication.

[40:04] Paul and Timothy, again, they planted this church ten years ago. And here he is still working on their behalf. Faithfully committed to the cause.

[40:15] And so Paul has emphasized that Timothy has genuine concerns for the Philippians. He loves them, themselves. And he's highlighting his commitment. And that is a key indicator of concern, isn't it?

[40:27] That it endures. You're not really committed to a people if you walk away after a couple months. It didn't fade over time. And so he says he wants to send Timothy to them for their encouragement.

[40:41] And unfortunately, he can't right now. Verse 23, he says, 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 surely I myself will come also.

[40:55] Right? Paul is still in prison. He hopes to leave soon. And church historians think that he did likely survive this imprisonment.

[41:06] And then was later re-imprisoned and martyred. We're not completely sure of that, but it's likely that his hope was granted to him in this case. But until that time, he decides to keep Timothy with him.

[41:20] And probably what he means by, as soon as I see how it will go with me, he's probably saying, if the worst happens. If Nero takes my head now, I'm going to have instructions for Timothy for all of the churches that I've planted.

[41:39] So that he could give last instructions and last encouragements to all of the churches. And so he can't spare Timothy for just one church just yet. But someone else was coming.

[41:52] Epaphroditus. In fact, it's probably that Epaphroditus is the one carrying this letter. Paul's letter to the Philippians back to them.

[42:04] He's the one hand delivering it. And so he shifts now to Epaphroditus and says, 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.

[42:22] This verse probably tells us a bunch of different information if we have eyes to see it. When Paul calls him your messenger and minister to my need, he's probably not only indicating that he was one of the Philippians and had come to minister to Paul in prison.

[42:38] What he's probably saying is that he is the one who carried to Paul financial support from the Philippian church. And now Paul is sending him back with this letter of encouragement.

[42:50] Paul had to fund his own. In the ancient world, if you're under house arrest, you have to fund that yourself. If you don't, you know, if not, then you get thrown in a dungeon and you have to fund your meals in that dungeon even.

[43:05] It was a pretty rough go. And so when he says at the end of the passage, what was lacking in your service to me, it probably means that their financial support came in two parts.

[43:19] One as he was leaving and one as Epaphroditus was able to bring more gifts from them as they were able to give them. We also see here that because Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier and your messenger, the Philippian church chose Epaphroditus probably to carry money because they trusted him.

[43:51] And so he, like Timothy, cared deeply for the people of God and the mission of God. And so Paul saw this and saw in him a brother as well, calling him his brother, his fellow worker and a fellow soldier in the cause of Christ.

[44:11] And this journey had cost Epaphroditus quite a bit. We don't know the specifics, but in verses 26 and following, we know that he came ill in this journey.

[44:26] 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.

[44:37] But God had mercy on him and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again and that I may be less anxious.

[44:52] And so Paul is showing us a beautiful relationship that exists between this one member and this congregation. And so Paul is saying, the Philippians had heard that Epaphroditus had fallen ill and they were greatly concerned for him.

[45:06] And he was concerned over their concern for him. Their distress brought him pain. That's true of people you love, is it not?

[45:19] And then Paul shows his concern for them both. He rejoiced for Epaphroditus himself. He said he would have sorrow upon sorrow.

[45:30] If his friend and fellow minister, his brother, he says, had died from this illness on this missionary journey, he would have had the sorrow of that death compounding the sorrow of his imprisonment.

[45:43] And he rejoiced that the Philippians would be encouraged by his return. And friends, I think we could easily enter this mindset.

[45:54] Just a few months ago, Randy Matthews, the missionary that we support, that we prayed for today, he didn't make it out.

[46:05] I actually forget because he's served so many places recently. Someone will probably shout it out. But he was unable to leave a country because he had tested positive for COVID. Luckily, in the Lord's providence, he was not significantly affected by it.

[46:20] But if he was intubated, if he was hospitalized for it, if he was profoundly ill, had the very severe case, how would we have felt? And how would we have felt if he was restored to us?

[46:33] That is the relationship we're seeing between Epaphroditus and the Philippian church. And so, again, we see a genuine concern in every direction.

[46:46] Right? The apostle, the messenger, the congregation, all of them concerned one for the other, loving one another, which is why Paul concludes in verse 29, receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor such men.

[47:02] For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. And so that is what Paul means by this.

[47:16] Those are the details of this text. The next question, then, is why is he saying this? In chapter 2, we read some of it today.

[47:28] Together, at the outset of today's service, we read together verses 1 through 10. They don't sound anything like this. We've been talking about the humility and exaltation of Christ.

[47:41] Last week, in verses 12 through 18, we were talking about the obedience of the Philippian believers. This seems like, all right, I'm done with my content. Now we're getting on to, you know, talking about, I hope you guys have a good time seeing your friend.

[47:57] Why transition to this? The thing is, I don't know that it is a transition. The flow of chapter 2 goes something like this.

[48:12] Have this mindset among yourselves. Like Christ, consider others before yourself. And then he talks, that's verses 1 through 11.

[48:24] Then, verses 12 through 18, he talks what? Live out what has the salvation, the new life that has been birthed in you by the living God.

[48:35] And what is he saying about these men? They consider others more highly than themselves, don't they?

[48:46] They are humble. Everyone, he says, everyone else seeks their own interests, but not these men. And they are obedient. You know, Timothy's proven worth, how a son, as a son with a father, he has served with me in the gospel.

[49:02] And he puts Epaphroditus in parallel with Timothy and his character. And so, by the Spirit, these two men are working out, verse 12, the humility and obedience Paul has just been talking about.

[49:19] He's showing the Philippian church, right? This isn't just an ideal, these things that I have been talking about. It's not a pipe dream.

[49:31] By the instruction of the word, and the empowering presence of the Spirit, and the encouragement of the saints, and our work in the Lord, in our redeemed new nature, this is possible.

[49:48] Everything I've been talking about, it is possible you see it in front of you. Here are two men doing that.

[50:00] So receive them in the Lord with all joy and honor such men. I love how one writer put it. We might, or well might we honor such a man, and well might we wish to be like him.

[50:17] But indeed, that is the purpose of the portraits given here of Epaphroditus, Timothy, and Paul. The grace of God had been at work in them.

[50:29] The effectual work of the indwelling God, verse 13, was changing them in will and deed into the likeness of the great servant, the Lord Jesus Christ.

[50:40] They were varied characters with varying gifts and diverse temperaments. Their backgrounds could not have been more dissimilar. But they were each coming to resemble the Savior.

[50:55] They loved him and followed his example. What was true of them can be true of us. God has not changed.

[51:09] Paul concludes the passage saying, Honor such men. I think if you asked Timothy and Epaphroditus how they would have us honor them, they who, verse 20, have a genuine concern for the church, who, verse 21, seek the interests of Jesus more than their own interests, they would ask you to honor them by following in the same path.

[51:47] Not by lifting them up and putting them on a pedestal, but by walking in the same way that they have, loving the Lord and loving his people. So the first thing that Paul, right, in this second pass on the passage, we're asking, you know, why is he saying these things?

[52:07] The first thing Paul is doing by writing about Timothy and Epaphroditus is saying, if you want to see what this humility and obedience look like in the life of the Christian and know that it is possible for this transformation to happen in the life of a believer, look, it is possible, and it looks like this.

[52:28] Look at these two men who have yielded their lives to the Spirit and submitted themselves to his mission. And it says, honor them, which by their disposition we can think looks like following in their steps and in their example.

[52:49] And I think there are two other things, two other reasons that Paul brings this before our eyes. So that we would recognize first what is important in the church, what is most important in our own lives, and secondly to encourage the Philippians.

[53:10] These two guys could look like imposing, daunting examples to which, well, we can't measure up to that. I think the opposite is Paul's intention.

[53:23] He intends this as an encouragement for us. So we'll consider those two ideas, and then we'll consider how we ourselves respond.

[53:34] First, that they would see what is truly the gift of these two men, because they are probably very competent. They are probably well-spoken.

[53:45] They probably have lots of gifts themselves. But what is it that makes them, that Paul highlights here, why is it that he says this is what makes them a gift to the church?

[53:56] It is not the worldly way of thinking. It is not my natural way of thinking about what's valuable. It is not their status, or their appearance, or their gifts, or their abilities, or their income, or anything like that.

[54:14] What made them such a blessing to the church was their love for the church.

[54:28] If you want to make a real difference in the kingdom, in the kingdom of Christ, you don't need to be eloquent, or skilled, or high status, or even have lots of energy.

[54:42] What is Paul highlighting here? Their genuine concern for Christ's concerns, and for Christ's people. If you want to make a real difference in the kingdom of Christ, love the church Christ loves.

[55:01] That is how you make a real difference. And remember, when we say love the church, we're not talking about love the institution, we're talking about love the people that are right here in this room and next door.

[55:18] Timothy was genuinely concerned for their welfare, just as a passworditis longed for the people. So you don't need to come to this body of believers with anything to commend yourself to be valued and to be a blessing to the church of Christ.

[55:48] You need to come with your love. You need to come with your love. And everyone can do that. These are not daunting examples. These are the things that Paul is highlighting here, is the simplest thing.

[56:02] Because everyone can love their brother and sister in Christ. Another way of asking the why question, what is Paul getting out of this?

[56:18] What is his ambition here? He doesn't get anything out of commending these two guys. His goal, no, was to encourage the Philippians by pointing out just these same things.

[56:32] The truths that Epaphroditus and Timothy would be blessing them. We can pause a quick moment and think about Paul himself.

[56:44] This is really great leadership, isn't it? Paul is showing us that a good leader sees the good in others. Narcissists need not apply.

[56:57] Think about, seize the good in others, which Paul is putting on display here. The next time it comes time to nominate elders and deacons in our church.

[57:13] Think first about their concern for the church. Think first about their desire to see what is good in others. Before you think of their giftedness.

[57:26] And it demonstrates here that a leader encourages the saints. What is this passage but one great encouragement to the people of God, about the people of God.

[57:37] And in writing this, Paul was opening their eyes to the encouragement that could be had from seeing how wonderfully the Lord had shaped these two men.

[57:54] Let us look likewise, then, to the saints around us. And see how the Lord has done work in and among our lives together.

[58:10] I'm going to pause right now. Think. I'd love for you to think. Especially if you have been here a while. If you've been involved in community group. In this church.

[58:23] How have you seen God at work in the people in your congregation? And how might that encourage you? Let us, like Paul, look around us.

[58:52] To the saints who love us. And be encouraged by what he is doing in each of our lives. And, just like Paul, let us encourage in return.

[59:05] That's one thing we can point out. If you have seen God at work in someone's life. How encouraging is it to point that out? Have you been encouraged by someone who said, Hey, I have seen God at work in you in this way.

[59:21] How encouraging is that to be affirmed that that's the case? And sometimes we don't even know it. We don't even see it. And so you might be coming to someone and saying, I saw God has changed you in this way.

[59:35] You might be showing them, opening their eyes to something for the very first time. How wonderful would that be? How encouraging might that be?

[59:46] And let us encourage based on what truly matters. Paul here is showing us that it's not about the great man, right, in the church who is going to fix all the problems.

[60:00] There's only one of those. And he's in heaven, ruling and reigning. Paul himself, right? When one of the apostles walked the earth, it wasn't all up to him.

[60:14] His ministry involved raising up new leaders, involved building up the church to do the work of the ministry, which means your ministry matters. Each and every one of you.

[60:27] Timothy and Epaphroditus both had ministries of their own.

[60:38] They were in harmony with Paul. But they were their own ministries indeed. And he charges the Philippians. They have a ministry to do here, right?

[60:50] Honor these men by following in their footsteps, right? Everyone here has ministry to do, and it has to do with loving the brethren.

[61:01] All of it has to do with loving the brethren. And so much of that depends on following in Paul's footsteps here and being an encouragement to others.

[61:23] When you think of serving in the church, what is it that you first think about? We're super lucky. For a portable church like this, the hotel sets up these chairs for us.

[61:36] So often, church plants who meet in a portable space get really burnt out by having to set up and tear down chairs every week. We're very lucky that that's not the first thing you have to think about here at the Holiday Inn.

[61:50] Fantastic. But when you think about serving the church, what is it that first comes to your mind? It's probably like, Josh is serving on your visual today.

[62:01] Thank you so much, Josh. You're the man, right? It might be being up here or serving next door. That one is actually much more close, much closer to the kind of ministry that Paul is talking about here.

[62:13] It has less to do with logistics and more to do with people. When you think of serving the church, when you think about serving the kingdom of God, what is it that you think first about doing?

[62:30] Paul is encouraging the church. He's pointing all this out so that they'll take courage. Encourage is our ministry.

[62:45] Each individually and together as a congregation. Is it marked by encouragement? I hope that it is. And I hope that we grow in it. The wonderful thing about the Christian life is it leads to a life of being an encouragement.

[63:03] Because it springs from an eternal well of encouragement, doesn't it? Because we worship a risen Savior.

[63:18] There is nothing that can happen that will destroy what we sang today. When we've been there 10,000 years.

[63:30] Bright, shining as the sun. We'll have no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun. There is no way for you to be ultimately disappointed if you belong to Jesus Christ.

[63:45] Through many toils, dangers, and snares. I think I flipped those maybe.

[63:57] We have come and will go through. Make no mistake. But it will be totally impossible if you are in Christ for you to be ultimately disappointed.

[64:14] We can be encouragers because we have an unceasing, unyielding, infinite, in its scope, in its depth, and in its duration.

[64:30] Source of encouragement for our own souls. The risen and reigning King, Jesus Christ. And so for anyone who has not come to that encouragement, might I encourage you to grasp hold of Christ.

[64:51] Who is willing to make you presentable before the Father. If you repent of your sin and believe on Him and trust your soul to His care.

[65:06] He will, by His cross, forgive all your sins. And by His resurrection, He will give you this life that cannot be snatched from your hand.

[65:18] Ever. And so we become encouragers. Because there is no better news that can be had.

[65:29] We have it at no cost. And we can give it for free. And so what is an encouragement that you can share today?

[65:41] Certainly this gospel is an encouragement you can share with a defeated saint. Or with someone who has not yet come in contact or come to a full realization of the beauty of the gospel.

[65:54] We've already said an encouragement that we can share is how we have seen God at work in someone else's life. Just as Paul is saying it of these two men.

[66:09] Let me encourage you to think. Let me encourage you to have. Let me encourage you to think of encouragements that you might share in other ways with people. With someone here in this room.

[66:21] In this body of believers. Perhaps someone who lives far away. Who you've been meaning to encourage for a long time but haven't gotten around to it. Let me encourage you to take.

[66:33] I keep saying that. Let me encourage you to take that step. Perhaps someone who within their office, within their neighborhood, wherever they are in their social situation, who is ignored or forgotten.

[66:53] And likely hasn't heard a word of encouragement in quite some time. Someone who doesn't yet know Christ. Who doesn't have the hope that we have.

[67:04] And let's not forget also children. So often when we sit here and are thinking about the way we live out the life of the Christian body.

[67:16] We are thinking mostly about other adults. But biblically speaking children are our neighbors as well. Right?

[67:27] And we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. By obeying all the scriptures including this one toward them. Parents. And beyond parents.

[67:38] But parents especially. Is your ministry to your children marked by encouragement? And again when we think about encouragement. We are normally thinking about encouraging words.

[67:51] Which is super important. Which is what we have before us. Paul has written encouraging words. Let's also remember that we can encourage people in other ways.

[68:04] Encouragement in word and deed. Who might you encourage by showing up for this week in various ways?

[68:15] Being there for someone. In a new way perhaps. Or being the kind of person. How encouraging is it when someone's yes is yes. Who perhaps needs your ministry of presence right now.

[68:34] As an encouragement. To those of us. To those of us. To those of us. To those of us. To those of us. To those of us. To those of us.

[68:44] An encouragement that it is possible that God actually does the work that we have been talking about in the lives of his saints. An encouragement that what is most valuable in the people of God is not our gifts and abilities and what we bring to the table, but a love for one another, which everyone can do.

[69:07] And the encouragement of that love that the body has for one another, and the encouragement especially as we think of the broader scope of Scripture, how the gospel brings us encouragement and makes us a people who are happy, excited to encourage others.

[69:27] Let us remember, and I'm going to actually move us straight into our time of the Lord's Supper here. This is the ultimate encouragement, is it not?

[69:43] There is nothing that can be said of and for you that is better than this. And Jesus himself spoke of the gospel in terms of encouragement.

[70:01] In John chapter 16, he said these words. Behold, the hour is coming. Indeed, it has come.

[70:13] When you will be scattered each to his own home and will leave me alone. What he's talking about here is when the disciples abandoned him on his way to the cross. The cross which these elements point us towards.

[70:33] But he said, yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you. I have said these things to you.

[70:43] I have said these things to you. That in me, you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart.

[70:58] Be encouraged. I have overcome the world. I'm going to pause.

[71:12] Let us each meditate. You can leave that up there. Let us each meditate upon that truth. That our encouragement is found in the Christ who overcame the world.

[71:31] Let us desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde desde Amen.

[72:31] Amen. As they were eating, Jesus took bread.

[73:07] After blessing it, broke it. Gave it to the disciples and said, take, eat. This is my body. Let us remember him together.

[73:31] Amen. And he took a cup.

[73:55] When he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying, 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.

[74:06] Let us proclaim his death for his people together. And friends, let us hear these words of encouragement with which he concluded that night.

[74:25] 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.

[74:44] Weary saints, be encouraged in your king. Lord, help us not to dig wells looking for water in places that do not satisfy.

[75:14] Draw our hearts back to you once more. that we might quench our thirst in endless rivers of your love.

[75:29] Be glorified as we exalt in you and find comfort for our souls. I ask this for myself for us all and for the world for our great joy and your great glory.

[75:57] Amen. Amen. Would you stand? Amen. Would you stand? Let's sing.

[76:17] Crown Him with many crowns. Crown Him with many crowns. The Lamb upon His throne.

[76:27] Hark how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake my soul and sing of Him who died for thee.

[76:45] And hail Him as thy matchless King throughout eternity. Crown Him with many crowns. Crown Him with many crowns.

[76:58] Crown Him with any crowns.종종종!종 Who triumphed o'er the grave And rose victorious in the strife For those he came to save His glories now we sing Who died and rose on high Who died eternal life to bring And lives that death may die Crown him the Lord of love Crown him the Lord of love Behold his hands and side Rich wounds yet visible Above in beauty glorified No angel in the sky

[77:58] Can fully bear that sight But downward bend he's burning I had mysteries so bright Let's finishing out by proclaiming and declaring That we hail the King All hail the King All hail the King All hail the Savior Jesus the Son of God All hail his name All hail his name All hail his power Before his feet we fall As we crown him Lord of all

[78:59] Yes, amen, amen Remember that there are two important meetings coming up One in just a couple minutes There's pizza for both This one And next Sunday Today we will be deliberating as a church Thinking about together This is an opportunity to ask questions An opportunity to share your own wisdom About the path Shoreline might take In these next weeks and years Cadets, Conn College You guys are welcome to stick around Because we're thinking about moving into your neighborhood Your thoughts might be like You know Yeah, yeah Walking distance So Your thoughts on that might be

[80:00] Quite helpful to us I think that's it Yeah Yeah, that's it And don't go to the Wilkins house afterwards Unless you want to just hang out with them They're pretty great So you can do that But let them know first Yes Friends The Lord bless you And keep you The Lord make his face To shine upon you And be gracious to you The Lord lift up his countenance upon you And give you peace His peace In the name of the Father And the Son And the Holy Spirit Amen Amen Thank you.