Pentecost 6 - 2012: Sermon

July 8, 2012 - Sermon from Pentecost 6 Sermon: "Rejoice! How to Get Along with Christians"

Philippians 1:27-2:4 (Summer Series 3)-Rev. Mark C. Wagner

Intro: Now we come to the main purpose of this letter: our unity in Christ displays the integrity of his message. When we war over preference and opinion we damage the impact of the Gospel. Only serious doctrinal error involving the essentials of the faith or some terrible inconsistency between faith and practice ever warrants division.

Part 1. Because we belong to Him, we must behave as citizens of heaven.

1. Never depart from a complete dependency on the Spirit of God.
2. Never let anything but heresy keep you from working for the Gospel.

App: All the wiles of the devil, all the thrust and power of his activity is aimed at these two things. Our enemies will consistently try to cut us off from "grace alone" or isolate us from our fellow believers.

Part 2. Because of fear, we can easily compromise the truth.

1. Never forget the natural opposition of the "flesh."
2. Yet remember that trust in Christ will remove opposition.

App: God has wisely designed that a life of faith involves suffering. It is a privilege that we are granted when we comprehend that they treated Christ this way as he died for OUR sins.

Part 3.  Because Satan fears Christ, we seek strength in unity.

1. We can avoid the snare of a critical attitude toward others.
2. Jesus removes the selfishness and pride that cause unhealthy competition.

App: True humility, inherited along with faith in Christ, counteracts the awful activities of selfish conceit.

Conclusion: Here's some downright practical admonition from the pen of the apostle to our hearts. Paul sincerely urges us to live like Christ in all our relationships.