The Gospel is Radical
Philippians 2:25-30 (ESV)
25 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, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 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. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
The Heart of Philippians: A Life Worthy of the Gospel
“Live in such a way that you show the worth of the gospel.”
“To live in such a way as to call attention to the worth of the gospel.”
- John Piper
Bottom Line: Live a life that proclaims the worth of the gospel.
The Gospel is Radical Unity & Radical Humility
Radical Unity = one spirit, one mind, side by side; for the gospel!
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” - Jesus’ Prayer for His Church (John 17:20-23)
Radical Humility = same mind, same love, full accord (complete agreement)
Humility Hymn = Radical Humility
I. Be like Jesus: “have this mind among yourselves…”
II. Be like Paul, being like Jesus: “Poured out…”
III. Be like Timothy and Epaphroditus, being like Jesus…
Models of Radical Unity & Humility
I. Timothy
II. Epaphroditus
Timothy Models Radical Unity & Humility
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. (Phil. 2:19-24, ESV)
Epaphroditus Models Radical Unity & Humility
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, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 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. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (Phil. 2:25-30, ESV)
Don’t be like Epaphroditus…
Don’t be like Timothy…
Don’t be like Paul…
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
What happens when believers live a life worthy of the gospel?
We become…
- known for our salvation
- known for our service
- known for our struggle (soldiering)
- known for our sacrifice
- known for our sensitivity to the community of faith
This type of radical unity, made possible by radical humility, would truly bring about radical change in this community of faith.
Be like Epaphroditus, imitating Jesus through radical unity to his community of faith and radical humility to the cause of Christ.
Be like Timothy, imitating Jesus through radical unity to his community of faith and radical humility to the cause of Christ.
Be like Paul, imitating Jesus through radical unity to his community of faith and radical humility to the cause of Christ.
The Mindset of Christ
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11, ESV)
What is one thing that needs to change in our lives this week to take a step towards radical unity and radical humility in this community of faith?