WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning.

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 This morning we're going to start a new series in the book of Philippians.

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 And I'm going to begin by talking a little bit about the city of Philippi.

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 It was founded in the 4th century BC and in the 1st century BC it became a Roman colony.

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 In the middle of Macedonia, the Greek-speaking part of the world,

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 it became an outpost for the Roman Empire in important ways.

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 It was named after Philip, the father of Alexander the Great.

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 But when the Romans took over, they made it a Roman city in some very unique ways.

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 Legally, they were free from certain forms of taxation.

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 The benefit of being a Roman colony was they were under Roman law rather than being under local law.

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 If you think through some of the tricky things that Jesus and the Pharisees and Sadducees had to navigate in Palestine,

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 none of that was true because it was direct Roman law.

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 And it was settled by many soldiers who were given land grants to own property

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 after the fall of Julius Caesar and the shakeout in the Roman Empire.

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 It was a very Roman city.

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 And of all the Greek temples and all the other forms of worship,

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 the worship of the emperor of Rome was the greatest thing.

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 The temples that were there was the most prominent form of religion in Philippi in the 1st century.

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 And it's to this city that Paul came during his second missionary journey.

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 You can read about it in Acts 16.

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 He came and though there was no synagogue, so no major Jewish presence,

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 he found a group of people who were God-fearers, probably Gentiles,

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 who were within the Jewish circle who were worshiping and gathering for prayer.

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 And he came and he shared the good news of Jesus.

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 We hear the conversion of Lydia as a part of that,

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 a prominent woman in the city who hosted then the early church.

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 But as Paul came, as happened in lots of places,

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 he not only came and saw some response, but he also saw opposition.

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 After healing a woman possessed by a demon, there was conflict.

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 And hear how strong the Roman theme is in this.

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 They brought accusation against Paul in Acts 16.20.

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 He said, these men are Jews.

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 They're disturbing our city.

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 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.

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 And the rest of the story, Paul was thrown into jail with his companions.

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 Then there was a grand earthquake.

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 Paul and Silas were singing hymns.

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 The jailers converted the famous interaction.

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 The jailer says, sirs, what must I do to be saved?

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 And they said, believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.

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 And this is the foundation of the church in Philippi

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 that probably happened about 12 or 13 years before this letter was written.

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 This letter was written at the end of Paul's life.

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 He was probably imprisoned in Rome.

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 That seems to be the most likely thing about 62 A.D.

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 And he was writing to this church that he had seen founded so many years ago,

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 writing to them as they faced the Roman culture that they lived in.

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 It was a place of great privilege.

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 It was also a place of great pressure.

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 Because conforming to this value that Rome is everything was very high.

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 Roman citizenship was a point of pride.

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 Roman connection was a point of identity.

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 including even their participation in the cult of the emperor.

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 And if they went along with this tide, if they followed along with this,

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 being citizens of Rome and all that, they would have great privilege.

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 But the Christians there and the churches found that following Christ would provoke persecution instead.

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 It would be costly for them.

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 And they were facing pressures from without.

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 They were facing fractures from within because of these tensions.

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 And so Paul writes the book of Philippians to this church in this Roman colony with this theme verse.

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 Verse 127.

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 Live a life worthy of Christ.

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 Standing firm in one spirit with one mind.

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 Striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

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 Paul wrote this as a pastor to a church that he loves saying,

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 Stand firm though the tide of the culture is flowing against you.

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 Stand firm.

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 Be citizens of the new kingdom that you are a part of because of Christ.

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 Count as more worthy than the most great privilege of being a citizen of a Rome.

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 Count being a citizen of heaven your greatest privilege.

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 And friends, this is partly why we think this is a really useful book for us to be studying today.

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 Because I don't know about you, but I feel and see that our church faces similar pressures today.

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 We live in a world where there are strong pressures to be conformed to the world around us.

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 Our media culture, our political culture, the prevailing moral code and ethics of this world that we live in.

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 They run contrary to a life faithful to Christ.

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 And we see this on both the right and the left.

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 There are other visions of a better society.

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 Other offers of an easier salvation.

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 Other programs on how to live a better life.

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 And all of them are fueled by worldviews that do not know Christ.

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 That do not heed God's word.

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 And do not seek to honor and glorify God.

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 And this pressure is on from both sides.

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 And here in New Haven, we feel both of those things acutely.

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 Friends, Paul is saying, reminding us, that the church should be neither left nor right.

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 But to be the citizens of heaven is to be something altogether different.

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 And there will certainly be places where we will find agreement with one side or the other

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 as they reflect kingdom values.

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 But we are never beholden to them.

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 And we never become citizens of following these systems, these groups, these worldviews

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 that our world is promoting.

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 We are called to love a world that we will constantly find we will need to nuance our response to.

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 We will need to find ways to love without agreement.

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 We will need to find ways to serve without buying in.

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 And Paul is writing this letter to a church to say, stand firm in the gospel.

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 Hold on to the word of life in the midst of the pressures that you are facing.

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 Be gospel citizens is what he's saying in this overall book.

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 And so we're going to start by looking at the first section, verses 1 through 11.

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 That's at page 980 in the Pew Bible.

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 If you want to look there with us, we're going to be looking at Philippians 1, 1 through 11.

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 We're going to be answering the question, what does a community of gospel citizens look like?

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 So if you want to turn with me, we're going to read this passage together and then pray.

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 Philippians chapter 1.

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 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,

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 with the overseers and deacons, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all,

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 making my prayer with joy.

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 Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

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 and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion

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 at the day of Jesus Christ.

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 It is right for me to feel this way about you all because I hold you in my heart,

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 for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense

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 and confirmation of the gospel.

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 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

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 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment,

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 so that you may prove what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

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 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

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 Let's ask for God's help as we listen to his word this morning.

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 Lord, we pray that you would help us, Lord, to sit under your word,

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 that our hearts, Lord, would be ready to hear and to heed what you have to say to us,

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 that your Holy Spirit would be working in our hearts to convict us of ways

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 that we have not followed your word.

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 Lord, I pray for minds to be alert, to listen and understand,

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 and Lord, for hands and wills to be ready to obey.

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 Lord, I pray for your help this morning, that you would help me to speak clearly,

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 that you would help me to speak your word, truthfully and faithfully,

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 for all of our good.

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 We pray this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So in this section, and I'm going to focus on verses 3 through 11 as we look at it this morning,

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 in this section we see three things about the characteristics of a gospel community.

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 A gospel community is thankful for gospel partnership,

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 expressive of gospel love, and prayerful for gospel fruit.

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 So if you're taking notes, there's your outline.

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 First thing then, Paul says, is that a gospel community is thankful for gospel partnership.

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 This is what I see in verses 3 through 8.

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 This idea of the gospel is central, not only here but throughout the book.

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 What does he mean in the gospel?

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 He uses it seven different times in this short book,

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 and he never ever defines it.

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 Because by this time at the end of his life, in the Christian church,

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 gospel was shorthand that everybody knew what it meant.

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 It talks about the good news of what God has done in Jesus Christ

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 to accomplish for us our salvation,

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 so that by faith in him we might be brought out of darkness into light,

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 out of death into life,

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 out of alienation and into a life-giving relationship with God.

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 That's what the gospel is.

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 And what Paul starts with is,

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 I am so thankful for gospel partnership with you.

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 What did this look like?

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 Well, it looked like a couple of things.

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 First of all, he remembers the story back that we talked about briefly,

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 and you can read about in Acts 16,

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 how they participated in the founding of the church,

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 how Lydia hosted the home,

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 how the jailer, after he was converted,

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 took Paul and his companions into his home,

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 and how we'll see in chapter 4,

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 this church was regularly contributing to the ongoing ministry that Paul had.

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 Even as he moved on from Philippi to other churches,

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 to Thessalonica and to Corinth and to Rome,

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 the church at Philippi was continuing to financially support Paul's ministry.

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 So there was a partnership in that sense.

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 Secondly, there was a partnership because they shared this commitment to live a life worthy of the gospel.

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 That phrase that we read in verses 127.

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 Their partnership was not just in a mission,

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 but in a shared belief system,

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 in a shared world that they lived in.

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 Because of the gospel, we share together.

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 We are partners in our faithfulness to believing and continuing to believe

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 and live out in obedience our life according to the gospel.

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 But thirdly, and also clearly from this,

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 we see that they were participating in the proclamation of the gospel.

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 Paul came and he was all about the gospel.

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 And they not only supported him by doing this,

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 but they would actively share.

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 Look at verse 7.

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 This is partly where I see this.

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 Paul writes,

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 Not only was Paul doing this,

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 explaining and defending the gospel,

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 but so were the Philippians.

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 They were standing with him and doing the same thing

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 in whatever context they lived in.

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 They too were sharing this good news,

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 defending and confirming.

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 This is the best thing that you have ever heard.

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 Come and see who Jesus is.

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 Come behold what God has done.

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 And come believe.

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 This was a mission of Paul.

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 This was a mission of the early church.

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 And Paul was so thankful for this Philippian church

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 that was a partner with them.

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 And it was not an easy partnership.

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 As we read in that verse,

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 not only did they participate with him in the ministry,

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 but they participated with him in the suffering.

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 Paul writes to them later in chapter 1,

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 For it has been granted to you

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 that for the sake of Christ,

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 you should not only believe in him,

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 but also suffer for his sake,

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 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had,

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 and now hear that I still have.

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 Paul knows that this partnership

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 was going to be costly for them.

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 It would mean them identifying with Christ

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 against the culture that they lived in

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 and potentially facing the opposition and persecution

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 that Paul faced as well.

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 So the first thing that Paul says about a gospel citizenship

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 is that there is a gospel partnership.

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 We are in this together.

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 If you are a believer in Jesus Christ,

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 God has called you to be a part of the church.

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 And the church is here on earth

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 in this in-between time,

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 between the ascension of Christ and his return

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 to bring final judgment and the end of all things

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 and the remaking of all things

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 in a glorious new world.

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 We have a mission that God has given us all

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 to share in together,

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 to make Jesus known.

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 And that happens through our faithfulness,

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 and it happens through our ministry to one another.

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 For those of you who are new,

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 and to remind those of you who have been here

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 for a long time,

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 this is why we're moving to two services.

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 The church right now is not full.

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 You might be thinking,

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 why did we go to two services?

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 It's not that full.

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 We're going to two services

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 because over the last five years,

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 we've seen God slowly bring more and more people.

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 We're not wanting to be big just to be big,

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 but we do want more and more people

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 to hear the gospel.

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 And so we're going through this growth pain right now.

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 If you're new,

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 we're going through a growth pain

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 of moving from one to two services

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 so that more people can come

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 and be a part of our church community

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 and hear the preaching of the gospel.

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 It's also why we do children's ministry,

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 by the way,

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 because we believe that children need to hear the gospel

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 contextualized for their developmental stage.

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 And so that's why we do it.

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 It's also why we have missions partnerships

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 with places like Bridges of Hope

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 and the 180 Center

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 and other ministries in the city,

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 because we believe that the gospel should go out

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 to all people,

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 to this whole community,

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 to the big old university behind us,

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 to the homeless people who live on the green,

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 to the various communities in Fairhaven

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 and Newhallville and the Hill

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 and Prospect Street

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 and Cozy Beach

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 and so on and so forth.

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:18.700
 Because God has called us

00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:21.399
 to bear witness to Jesus Christ

00:17:21.399 --> 00:17:22.379
 in this city

00:17:22.379 --> 00:17:24.799
 and around the world,

00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:26.700
 which is why we partner with our missionaries

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.740
 who serve in Southeast Asia

00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.859
 and in Europe

00:17:29.859 --> 00:17:31.539
 and in other places

00:17:31.539 --> 00:17:35.240
 so that we can be a part of what God is doing.

00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:38.299
 This is the mission

00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:39.599
 and the gospel partnership

00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:41.899
 that God calls us into.

00:17:41.900 --> 00:17:44.780
 And the question for you this morning

00:17:44.780 --> 00:17:45.960
 is that if you're here

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:48.259
 and you're wondering,

00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:50.440
 as a believer in Christ,

00:17:50.800 --> 00:17:52.340
 why am I here?

00:17:53.040 --> 00:17:55.340
 Well, because God has called you here as a mission.

00:17:55.440 --> 00:17:58.040
 If you're here starting your time here at university,

00:17:58.620 --> 00:18:01.000
 you're here, yes, to get an education,

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:02.280
 yes, to get a degree,

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:03.980
 but even more than that,

00:18:04.320 --> 00:18:06.860
 you are here to be a part of God's mission

00:18:06.860 --> 00:18:08.480
 in this city while you are here.

00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:13.019
 who has God put around you

00:18:13.019 --> 00:18:16.079
 to be a part of this gospel mission

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:17.279
 by bearing witness to?

00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:19.860
 Who has God put around you in this room

00:18:19.860 --> 00:18:22.200
 that you can partner with to do that?

00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:26.099
 So there's an active gospel mission for sure,

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.380
 but we're not meant to be lone rangers in it

00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:29.620
 as we've seen.

00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:32.259
 This gospel partnership is a shared task

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:34.339
 and in that relationship,

00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:36.420
 we see the second characteristic.

00:18:36.759 --> 00:18:37.759
 In three through eight,

00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:39.019
 we also see that Paul says,

00:18:39.140 --> 00:18:42.420
 gospel citizens show an expression

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:44.920
 of gospel love for one another.

00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:47.400
 Verse seven, again,

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:50.339
 it is right for me to feel this way about you all

00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:52.440
 because I hold you in my heart.

00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.759
 Now, when we read something,

00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:56.180
 how you feel this way,

00:18:56.180 --> 00:18:57.019
 we usually think,

00:18:57.220 --> 00:18:59.379
 oh, feelings, this is sentimentality,

00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:03.940
 this is the moment when I have this rush of emotion.

00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.020
 But for Paul,

00:19:05.100 --> 00:19:07.100
 he actually means something a little bit different.

00:19:08.200 --> 00:19:09.780
 By how I feel about you,

00:19:09.860 --> 00:19:12.620
 he means this is my disposition towards you.

00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:15.720
 This is how I view you.

00:19:16.160 --> 00:19:18.320
 This is not a natural affection of,

00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:19.920
 I like you because you're funny

00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:21.400
 or because we share interests

00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.880
 or those sorts of things,

00:19:23.020 --> 00:19:25.460
 but I have an affection for you.

00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.800
 I care about you

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.619
 and I view you in a certain way

00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:31.480
 because of the gospel.

00:19:32.419 --> 00:19:33.659
 Verse eight says,

00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:34.960
 I yearn for you

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.139
 with the affection of Jesus Christ.

00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:40.879
 That is, I see you the way Christ sees you

00:19:40.879 --> 00:19:45.200
 as a fellow citizen of God's family.

00:19:45.899 --> 00:19:50.180
 I see you as someone who, like Christ,

00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:52.859
 longs for your spiritual well-being.

00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.919
 This word yearning has,

00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.639
 it actually,

00:19:55.899 --> 00:19:57.599
 its roots is from our gut,

00:19:57.719 --> 00:19:58.679
 not from our heart.

00:19:58.919 --> 00:19:59.979
 It's from our gut.

00:20:00.199 --> 00:20:02.000
 I have this gut longing

00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.279
 for you

00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:05.539
 to be steadfast in the gospel.

00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:08.099
 He calls them at the beginning of the letter,

00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.159
 you are saints.

00:20:11.699 --> 00:20:13.979
 And to be in relationship with them

00:20:13.979 --> 00:20:16.799
 brings him great joy.

00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.819
 He has them in his heart.

00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:23.139
 And as he writes this,

00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:23.619
 he says,

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:26.179
 and I am so jazzed

00:20:26.179 --> 00:20:28.480
 about what God is doing in you.

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:30.480
 This is what verse six is about.

00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:31.960
 This is a wonderful verse.

00:20:32.399 --> 00:20:33.220
 Look with me at it.

00:20:33.399 --> 00:20:34.179
 I'm sure of this,

00:20:34.259 --> 00:20:36.159
 that he who began a good work in you

00:20:36.159 --> 00:20:37.259
 will bring it to completion

00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.319
 at the day of Christ Jesus.

00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:42.359
 Paul writes with this affection saying,

00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:44.519
 I have seen God at work in you.

00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.279
 I know God is there.

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:48.480
 I know that he has started something.

00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:50.140
 Not only has he started it,

00:20:50.180 --> 00:20:51.400
 but I am so confident

00:20:51.400 --> 00:20:53.559
 because I've seen God at work in you,

00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:55.259
 he is going to finish it.

00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:57.640
 He is going to take this home.

00:20:58.339 --> 00:20:59.860
 God has got you.

00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:01.779
 God has got this.

00:21:04.039 --> 00:21:05.480
 This is based on his understanding

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.799
 of the sufficiency of Christ's work,

00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.620
 that Christ has done

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:10.940
 all that we need for our salvation.

00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:13.880
 It's not up to our ongoing obedience

00:21:13.880 --> 00:21:15.740
 to achieve this end,

00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:17.480
 but we're called to obedience

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:19.000
 out of the security

00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.519
 that we have in Christ.

00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.680
 And Paul says,

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.359
 I yearn for you

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:27.059
 as one who will be

00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:30.359
 my forever gospel family.

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.480
 And I love you

00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:37.000
 because of Christ

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:38.620
 and because of what God

00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:40.140
 is doing in you.

00:21:40.220 --> 00:21:40.940
 Paul saw them

00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.519
 as fellow gospel citizens

00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:44.740
 and to model how we ought

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:45.619
 to see one another

00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.319
 in the church.

00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:48.259
 It's easy today

00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:49.359
 in our culture

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:51.700
 to call love

00:21:51.700 --> 00:21:52.379
 something

00:21:52.379 --> 00:21:54.160
 very sentimental

00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:55.339
 and very easy.

00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.759
 It's how we mesh.

00:21:56.859 --> 00:21:57.680
 It's how we get along.

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:58.839
 We have shared interests.

00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:00.519
 We come from the same backgrounds.

00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:01.980
 We feel strong passions

00:22:01.980 --> 00:22:02.660
 or emotions.

00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.680
 And this is what love is

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:06.019
 in our culture.

00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.859
 But Paul says

00:22:07.859 --> 00:22:08.339
 there's actually

00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.400
 a greater culture

00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:11.960
 or greater love

00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:12.619
 than that.

00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:13.740
 A love that is based

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.480
 on commitment.

00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:16.400
 A love that is based

00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:18.160
 on viewing people

00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.660
 the way God sees them.

00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:21.299
 A love that sees

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.220
 I see you

00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:23.339
 and I value you

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.440
 and I treasure you

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.420
 not because

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.460
 of some

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:28.079
 passing human affection

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.160
 but because of

00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:29.859
 what God

00:22:29.859 --> 00:22:30.940
 has made you to be

00:22:30.940 --> 00:22:31.940
 and what God

00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:33.139
 has saved you to be

00:22:33.139 --> 00:22:34.059
 and the value

00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.400
 that God puts on you

00:22:35.400 --> 00:22:36.920
 as both a created person

00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:38.480
 and a redeemed member

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.019
 of the gospel community.

00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:42.580
 And friends

00:22:42.580 --> 00:22:43.360
 this is part of

00:22:43.360 --> 00:22:43.940
 what I love

00:22:43.940 --> 00:22:45.259
 about our Trinity community

00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:46.500
 is that I see this.

00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.580
 We don't gather together

00:22:48.580 --> 00:22:49.600
 because we share

00:22:49.600 --> 00:22:50.580
 common interests.

00:22:51.420 --> 00:22:52.840
 We don't share age

00:22:52.840 --> 00:22:53.720
 and stage of life.

00:22:53.860 --> 00:22:54.860
 We don't share race

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:56.040
 or socioeconomic

00:22:56.040 --> 00:22:57.480
 or educational status.

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:58.940
 We certainly don't share

00:22:58.940 --> 00:22:59.480
 political affiliations

00:23:00.140 --> 00:23:00.480
 or allegiances

00:23:01.060 --> 00:23:02.000
 across the board

00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.820
 but we do share

00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:04.700
 in the gospel.

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:07.980
 And we come together

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.560
 and worship

00:23:08.560 --> 00:23:10.040
 with one another

00:23:10.040 --> 00:23:11.320
 and love one another

00:23:11.320 --> 00:23:12.380
 well because of it.

00:23:13.340 --> 00:23:14.340
 One of the examples

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:15.300
 throughout the pandemic

00:23:15.300 --> 00:23:16.000
 this has become

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.000
 even more true.

00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:18.340
 It happened before so

00:23:18.340 --> 00:23:20.019
 but I've seen

00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:22.019
 there's a bunch of people

00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:22.500
 in our church

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.360
 who go out to lunch

00:23:23.360 --> 00:23:24.240
 after service.

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:25.620
 I think this will probably

00:23:25.620 --> 00:23:27.100
 happen after the second service now

00:23:27.100 --> 00:23:27.720
 so I don't know

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.759
 how you all are going

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.700
 to navigate that.

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.620
 Maybe you want to come back

00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.280
 at 1230

00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:32.320
 to join the lunch bunch.

00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.800
 But it's this wonderfully

00:23:33.800 --> 00:23:35.060
 diverse group of people

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.679
 who just say

00:23:35.679 --> 00:23:36.700
 hey we're here

00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:37.460
 with one another

00:23:37.460 --> 00:23:38.240
 brothers and sisters

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.259
 let's go have fellowship

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:40.519
 together and eat.

00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.559
 And they eat good food

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.259
 and it's a cross section

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:44.980
 of our church.

00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:46.419
 It's a wonderful group

00:23:46.419 --> 00:23:46.819
 of people

00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:48.079
 that just spontaneously said

00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:49.500
 let's spend time together.

00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:51.399
 And just one example

00:23:51.399 --> 00:23:52.940
 of many that I could give

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.980
 of the places

00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.259
 where I see this happening

00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:56.139
 already at Trinity.

00:23:56.839 --> 00:23:58.119
 And Paul says to us

00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:58.740
 as he said

00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.500
 to the Philippians

00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:01.399
 do still more.

00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.800
 Finally

00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:05.880
 if gospel partnership

00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:07.420
 is something

00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:08.519
 Paul is thankful for

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:09.500
 if gospel love

00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:09.940
 is something

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:11.240
 that he's encouraged by

00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:12.380
 engaged in

00:24:12.380 --> 00:24:13.080
 the last thing

00:24:13.080 --> 00:24:14.259
 is that he is prayerful

00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:16.400
 for gospel fruit.

00:24:17.280 --> 00:24:18.720
 What does he mean by this?

00:24:18.800 --> 00:24:19.340
 Look with me

00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:20.600
 at verses 9 through 11.

00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:22.600
 My prayer is that

00:24:22.600 --> 00:24:23.740
 your love may abound

00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:24.460
 more and more

00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.120
 with knowledge

00:24:25.120 --> 00:24:26.019
 and all discernment

00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:27.040
 so that you may approve

00:24:27.040 --> 00:24:27.800
 what is excellent

00:24:27.800 --> 00:24:29.040
 and so be pure

00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:29.600
 and blameless

00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.779
 for the day of Christ

00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.740
 filled with the fruit

00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.339
 of righteousness

00:24:32.339 --> 00:24:34.000
 that comes through

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.839
 Jesus Christ

00:24:34.839 --> 00:24:35.539
 to the glory

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.079
 and praise of God.

00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:39.679
 Paul prays

00:24:39.679 --> 00:24:41.839
 his engagement

00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.319
 with the gospel communities

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.459
 that he prays for them

00:24:44.459 --> 00:24:46.079
 but what he prays for them

00:24:46.079 --> 00:24:47.959
 is not for Aunt Millie's

00:24:47.959 --> 00:24:48.659
 you know

00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:49.419
 hammer toe

00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.179
 to get healed

00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.279
 although it's okay

00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.359
 to pray for those things.

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.459
 It's not praying

00:24:53.459 --> 00:24:54.519
 that they get good jobs

00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.179
 although it's okay

00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:56.119
 to pray for those things.

00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.419
 What he prays for

00:24:57.419 --> 00:24:58.959
 is their spiritual growth

00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.700
 in the gospel

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:00.700
 and particularly

00:25:00.700 --> 00:25:02.059
 in the context

00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:02.680
 that they're in

00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:04.039
 that they would grow

00:25:04.039 --> 00:25:05.000
 in love

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.319
 and that this love

00:25:06.319 --> 00:25:07.380
 for God

00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:08.640
 for their world

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.960
 and for one another

00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:11.819
 would be increasingly

00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:12.500
 characterized

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.680
 by knowledge

00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:14.740
 and discernment

00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:15.380
 that leads

00:25:15.380 --> 00:25:16.480
 to pure living.

00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.860
 Paul prays

00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.559
 that they would not

00:25:19.559 --> 00:25:20.519
 just be loving

00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:21.539
 in the sort of

00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.620
 tolerant sense of

00:25:22.620 --> 00:25:23.279
 hey it's okay

00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.059
 you can do whatever

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.620
 you want

00:25:24.620 --> 00:25:25.240
 that our world

00:25:25.240 --> 00:25:26.079
 tends to embrace

00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:27.279
 but to love

00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:28.220
 with a knowledge

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:29.480
 of what is right

00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.159
 and wrong

00:25:30.159 --> 00:25:31.279
 what is good

00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.339
 and what is evil

00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.980
 what is life giving

00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.419
 and what is destructive

00:25:35.419 --> 00:25:36.339
 in this world

00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.960
 according to God

00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:38.899
 and his word

00:25:38.899 --> 00:25:40.500
 and Paul prays

00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:42.679
 that this church

00:25:42.679 --> 00:25:43.539
 would know that

00:25:43.539 --> 00:25:44.379
 more and more

00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:45.939
 because they know

00:25:45.939 --> 00:25:46.519
 the pull

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:48.019
 he knows the pull

00:25:48.019 --> 00:25:49.559
 of the Roman culture

00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.699
 saying there are other

00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:51.639
 things you should value

00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:53.379
 more than the gospel

00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:54.240
 there are other things

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:55.059
 that you should value

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:56.480
 more than God's word

00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.680
 there are other things

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.099
 that should be

00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.099
 higher priority

00:25:59.099 --> 00:26:00.220
 than this mission

00:26:00.220 --> 00:26:01.539
 that God has called you on

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:05.099
 Paul says

00:26:05.099 --> 00:26:07.079
 I pray that you would love

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.140
 with knowledge

00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:09.160
 and discernment

00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:11.059
 so that you would understand

00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.740
 from God's perspective

00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.579
 this world

00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:14.799
 and how to navigate it

00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:15.819
 with grace

00:26:15.819 --> 00:26:17.200
 and truth

00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.420
 and that as you understand

00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.240
 these things

00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.039
 more and more

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:22.420
 that you would live

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.620
 a life that is pure

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:24.320
 and blameless

00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:25.700
 this doesn't mean

00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:26.480
 perfection

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:27.680
 but it means

00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:28.820
 people who live

00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:30.000
 knowing what is right

00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:30.620
 and wrong

00:26:30.620 --> 00:26:32.279
 knowing who God

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.300
 is in the world

00:26:33.300 --> 00:26:36.240
 and living

00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.900
 not as a Roman citizen

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.880
 but as a citizen

00:26:38.880 --> 00:26:40.100
 of heaven

00:26:40.100 --> 00:26:41.779
 and Paul prays

00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.960
 that these things

00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.640
 would abound

00:26:43.640 --> 00:26:45.140
 more and more

00:26:45.140 --> 00:26:47.900
 and as he prays

00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:48.320
 for them

00:26:48.320 --> 00:26:49.740
 he points to the foundation

00:26:49.740 --> 00:26:51.080
 the fruit of the righteousness

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.859
 that comes from Christ Jesus

00:26:52.859 --> 00:26:54.059
 this is the key

00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:54.740
 to the gospel

00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:56.319
 we're going to preach on it again

00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.500
 when we get to chapter 3

00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:58.960
 but let me just rephrase it

00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.779
 Paul says

00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:02.299
 all of this flows

00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:02.720
 right

00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.699
 your growth

00:27:03.699 --> 00:27:05.019
 as a Christian community

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.879
 this prayer

00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:06.699
 being fulfilled

00:27:06.699 --> 00:27:07.419
 in us

00:27:07.419 --> 00:27:08.379
 to live

00:27:08.379 --> 00:27:09.519
 counter-culturally

00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:11.279
 his prayer for them

00:27:11.279 --> 00:27:12.039
 is rooted

00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:12.639
 and grounded

00:27:12.639 --> 00:27:13.839
 in this gospel

00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:15.379
 not that we

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:16.319
 are going to be righteous

00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.799
 by knowing more

00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.980
 and getting things

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:20.159
 more and more right

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:21.600
 but that we are righteous

00:27:21.600 --> 00:27:22.980
 because we have a righteousness

00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.420
 that comes from Christ

00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:26.200
 this is what Paul will see

00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.060
 in chapter 3

00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:27.680
 verse 9

00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.440
 not my own righteousness

00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:30.620
 because my own righteousness

00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:32.080
 will never get me there

00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:33.560
 I am not smart enough

00:27:33.560 --> 00:27:35.320
 I am not faithful enough

00:27:35.320 --> 00:27:36.620
 I am not strong enough

00:27:36.620 --> 00:27:37.759
 to get there

00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.759
 on my own

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:40.259
 but Christ

00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.180
 has given me

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:41.860
 a righteousness

00:27:41.860 --> 00:27:43.480
 outside of myself

00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.980
 that is all I need

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.840
 to be brought

00:27:45.840 --> 00:27:46.540
 into this

00:27:46.540 --> 00:27:47.880
 citizenship

00:27:47.880 --> 00:27:48.540
 of heaven

00:27:48.540 --> 00:27:49.680
 into this family

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.440
 with God

00:27:50.440 --> 00:27:52.100
 and this righteousness

00:27:52.100 --> 00:27:53.920
 is Christ's righteousness

00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.960
 given to us

00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.960
 it covers us

00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.800
 and makes us right

00:27:56.800 --> 00:27:57.480
 with God

00:27:57.480 --> 00:27:59.360
 we trust that Jesus' death

00:27:59.360 --> 00:28:00.060
 is sufficient

00:28:00.060 --> 00:28:01.260
 for our forgiveness

00:28:01.260 --> 00:28:02.500
 we believe that Jesus

00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:03.540
 rose from the dead

00:28:03.540 --> 00:28:04.440
 to give us life

00:28:04.440 --> 00:28:05.960
 and we lean on this

00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.820
 gift of righteousness

00:28:06.820 --> 00:28:08.580
 so that we can be gods

00:28:08.580 --> 00:28:10.260
 so that what he has

00:28:10.260 --> 00:28:11.160
 given to us

00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:11.860
 then becomes

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.540
 the fountain

00:28:12.540 --> 00:28:13.740
 of this life

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.800
 that we now live

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:16.059
 for him

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:19.079
 the gospel

00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.119
 that is bearing fruit

00:28:20.119 --> 00:28:21.819
 in the Philippians

00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:23.899
 and in us

00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:26.559
 the gospel

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.500
 that is the focus

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.759
 of their gospel partnership

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.619
 it is the fountain

00:28:29.619 --> 00:28:30.819
 of their gospel love

00:28:30.819 --> 00:28:32.339
 and it is the focus

00:28:32.339 --> 00:28:33.339
 of his prayers

00:28:33.339 --> 00:28:35.659
 that we would know

00:28:35.659 --> 00:28:36.299
 this gospel

00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.559
 more and more

00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:39.359
 that we might know

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.960
 Christ

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.379
 more and more

00:28:41.379 --> 00:28:42.419
 the initiator

00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:43.759
 the sustainer

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.920
 and the finisher

00:28:44.920 --> 00:28:46.000
 of our faith

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:47.940
 and so Paul prays

00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:49.440
 do still more

00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.920
 do still more

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:52.799
 if you want to grow

00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:53.900
 in your prayers

00:28:53.900 --> 00:28:55.879
 for one another

00:28:55.879 --> 00:28:57.119
 D.A. Carson

00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:58.259
 Nick mentioned him earlier

00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.019
 he's got another

00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.700
 great book

00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.079
 called

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:01.119
 Praying with Paul

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:02.700
 the priority of Paul

00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.420
 in his prayers

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.379
 goes through all

00:29:04.379 --> 00:29:05.240
 the letters of Paul

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:05.700
 and just says

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.599
 what did Paul pray for

00:29:06.599 --> 00:29:08.700
 maybe these are things

00:29:08.700 --> 00:29:09.619
 we should pray for

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.379
 for one another

00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.180
 and for ourselves

00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:11.680
 as well

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.660
 there's a copy of it

00:29:12.660 --> 00:29:12.879
 in the book

00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:13.660
 stall downstairs

00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:15.820
 and if you need more

00:29:15.820 --> 00:29:16.400
 let me know

00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.200
 we'll get some

00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:19.520
 but friends

00:29:19.520 --> 00:29:20.600
 as we think about this

00:29:20.600 --> 00:29:21.520
 as Paul prays

00:29:21.520 --> 00:29:22.460
 for gospel fruit

00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:23.260
 in the Philippians

00:29:23.260 --> 00:29:24.220
 we think about this

00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.940
 for ourselves

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:27.080
 how do we pray?

00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:27.940
 do we pray

00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.840
 for gospel fruit

00:29:28.840 --> 00:29:29.760
 in our lives?

00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:32.060
 do we pray

00:29:32.060 --> 00:29:34.580
 for our love

00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:35.360
 to abound

00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:36.520
 in discernment?

00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:37.280
 do we pray

00:29:37.280 --> 00:29:38.580
 for one another

00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.700
 to be steadfast

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.380
 in the stream

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:40.980
 of a culture

00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.700
 that flows

00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.520
 the other way

00:29:42.520 --> 00:29:43.360
 against us?

00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:44.840
 do we pray

00:29:44.840 --> 00:29:45.840
 that we would be

00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.840
 ultimately caught

00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:48.040
 up with

00:29:48.040 --> 00:29:49.780
 the vision

00:29:49.780 --> 00:29:50.200
 that Paul

00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.380
 ends his prayer with

00:29:51.380 --> 00:29:53.700
 that we would live

00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.600
 to the praise

00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.720
 and glory of God

00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:57.260
 so that God

00:29:57.260 --> 00:29:57.940
 would be seen

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.700
 to be great

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.580
 so that God

00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:00.280
 would be seen

00:30:00.280 --> 00:30:01.860
 to be an awesome God

00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:02.500
 worthy

00:30:02.500 --> 00:30:05.420
 worthy of our

00:30:05.420 --> 00:30:07.240
 proclamation of him

00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:08.700
 worthy of our suffering

00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:11.000
 worthy of our attention

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.600
 worthy of our fellowship

00:30:12.600 --> 00:30:13.539
 with one another

00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:16.500
 let's go ahead and pray

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.259
 and ask the Lord

00:30:17.259 --> 00:30:18.240
 to do that for us

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.620
 Lord we thank you

00:30:19.620 --> 00:30:20.240
 this morning

00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.720
 for this word

00:30:21.720 --> 00:30:22.759
 and we pray

00:30:22.759 --> 00:30:23.840
 that you would help us

00:30:23.840 --> 00:30:25.720
 to be gospel citizens

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.759
 Lord to live

00:30:27.759 --> 00:30:29.519
 not according

00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.259
 to the world

00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.860
 but to live

00:30:31.860 --> 00:30:33.220
 according to the good news

00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:34.059
 of what you've done

00:30:34.059 --> 00:30:34.519
 in Jesus

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.860
 I pray Lord

00:30:35.860 --> 00:30:36.660
 that you would encourage

00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.580
 us this morning

00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:39.519
 to pursue you

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:42.559
 I pray as well

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.519
 that you would help us

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:43.839
 Lord

00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.460
 to pursue one another

00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.919
 to encourage one another

00:30:46.919 --> 00:30:48.379
 as we have opportunity

00:30:48.379 --> 00:30:50.059
 to stand fast

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:50.939
 and to press on

00:30:50.939 --> 00:30:52.220
 in this journey

00:30:52.220 --> 00:30:53.119
 and this mission

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:54.059
 that you've called us

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.939
 and we pray these things

00:30:55.939 --> 00:30:56.779
 in Jesus name

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:58.139
 Amen