Paul's Epistles – Philippians - Part 1:
Introduction to Philippians
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
SERMON INTRODUCTION
Paul’s epistle (letter) to the Philippians
is very important to the Gentiles. It was written to the first church founded
in Europe (Acts 16:9-40).
Though not generally considered one of the
most remarkable or deepest books of the bible, it is considered one of the
sweetest of Paul’s writings.
It is more in the nature of a love letter
to the Philippians, who had excelled all others in devoted attachment to Paul.
Throughout this letter we get a glimpse into the apostle’s heart.
THE CHURCH
The Philippian church was noted for its
generosity. It had repeatedly ministered to Paul (6:15 & 16).
Hearing Paul was imprisoned in Rome they
sent help again by the hands of Epaphroditus (6:10 & 18), who,
however, was struck down on his arrival by an almost fatal illness. Somehow
news of this illness had reached Philippi, to their dismay, and on his
recovery, Epaphroditus was anxious to reassure them in person (11:25-28),
so Paul write this letter for him to take.
So this letter was written by Paul while
in prison in Rome, and given to Epaphroditus to be taken back to the church in
Philippi.
TODAY’S SERMON
Today we will look at the Salutation in
the beginning of the letter to all, and examine the basic outline of the letter
in its entirety.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Philippians 1:1&2
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ
Jesus,
To all
God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the
overseers (Elders) and deacons:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul opens his letter with a
salutation to all.
The overall
message of this epistle to the church is;
“Christian unity to be maintained at all
costs”.
I. BREAKDOWN
OF THE EPISTLE TO PHILIPPI
a. The letter
opens with a Salutation to ALL
i. Paul goes out of his way to emphasize that he was writing this letter
to ALL God’s holy people IN Christ Jesus.
ii. A nod to the “Body of Christ” located in Philippi
b. Then a prayer
for ALL
i. In 1:3-11 Paul writes
his prayer
ii. He prays for the church in Philippi;
1. With joy
2. For more love
3. Not a blind love
4. Have good taste
5. Sincere
6. And to be filled with the fruits
c. Then
encouragement to ALL
i. In 1:12-30 we see
Christ Glorified through Paul’s imprisonment an encouragement to ALL
ii. His imprisonment led to wide distribution of the
Gospel
iii. Paul exposes those who preach with unworthy motive
iv. He tells of his love for the Lord
v. And if others suffered, it would also glorify the Lord, provided they
were ONE.
d. Then shows
Christ as an example to ALL
i. Paul them shows Christ’s lowliness and humility to be an example to ALL
ii. Pride is the foe of unity in the church
iii. He explains the humility of the Lord is an example
to them in 2:1-5
iv. His seven-fold humiliation and exaltation in 2:6-11
v. The effects of this should be
1. Humility
2. Lowliness of heart (not lifting yourself above
another)
3. Lowliness of mind (not thinking you are above
another)
4. This alone is the cure for Spiritual pride
e. Paul then gives
warnings for ALL
i. Paul warns in 3:1-3
against false teachers (motives & doctrine)
ii. Against self-righteousness in 3:4-6
iii. Against Absolute instead of progressive perfection
in 3:7-14 along with 1:6&9 and 2:12-13
iv. And against false professors in 3:15-19
f. Exhortations
for ALL
i. In 4:1-20 Paul
exhorts ALL (God’s holy people IN Jesus Christ 1:1) Paul instructs the Body of Christ on
1. Unity 4:1-3
2. Rejoicing 4:4
3. Self control 4:5
4. Peace of God 4:6&7
5. WHAT to think on 4:8
6. And finally contentment and its source 4:11-14
g. Paul then
closes his letter with Greetings from ALL and to ALL
i. “Every saint” saluted
ii. “All saints” send salutations
iii. Saints even in Caesar’s household
II. PAULS
OBJECTIVES
a. The objective
of this letter was 2 fold
i. First to thank Philippi for their generous gift
ii. Secondly on a serious note, Paul had learned
through Epaphroditus dissention had broken out in the church, which threatens
not just the peace of the church…but the churches usefulness!
b. Notes &
Observations
i. Notes about this letter, Women, right from the beginning, had an
important place in the church. Two of the leading women had fallen out 4:2
ii. The dissention in the church was more than likely
from the teaching of instant perfection as opposed to the true scriptural
doctrine of progressive perfection.
iii. Apparently the church had taken sides and split
into divisions
iv. Paul’s letter focuses on bringing them back to
unity.
1. He refuses to recognize two parties
2. He did NOT lecture the two women, but speaks the
truth throughout the letter and bringing them to light near the end.
3. Instead of lecturing them, he fills their minds
with our Lord’s greatness.
4. And the Lord’s lowliness, meekness and
long-suffering
a. 1:27
b. 2:1-3
c. 3:15&16
d. 4:2
c. Success in
unifying
i. Ephesians (we just finished) speaks of the Body of Christ,
and the mystic unity existing between Christ and the Church.
ii. Philippians shows how that unity can be broken or
maintained
III. NOTABLE
POINTS TO REMEMBER
a. There is not one quotation from the Old Testament
in this letter
b. The words “joy” and “rejoice” are used in every
chapter
c. The word “mind” is used very often as well
d. The “Spirit” is only mentioned three times, but
they are very important passages
i. Supply of the Spirit
ii. Fellowship of the Spirit
iii. Worship by the Spirit
CONCLUSION – christian unity to be maintained at all costs
As Paul sees the errors of this church (1. Dissension over false doctrine and 2. The two women fallen), he corrects their
focus, and brings unity back into the church by writing about the Lord’s
position on pride, and the dangers of acting, or even thinking you are above
another.
As expected, humility, and true doctrine save the
church.
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