Sermons

20/10/19                                                             Worthy Church Life                                            Philippians 1:27-30

It was towards the end of my sermon. A member of the congregation stood, walking into the aisle with a handcrafted pottery jug. Deliberately dropping the jar which broke into numerous pieces. Saying, as the congregation gasped in shock, that God would break us. Just like the pottery jug. If our church did not repent of its pride. Picking up the pieces of pottery he sat down. Taking a deep breath, I finished my sermon. While I was still Rector, that church endured a difficult, painful time of division, brokenness, loss of focus. Pride, one of the factors. During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome affection for the Philippian Christians undiminished. Paul keeping informed about the internal life of the church. Troubled by emerging signs all not well. In this letter, hints of pride, arrogance, division and fear. Eating away at the gospel focus of the church. Like the parishioner with the pottery jug, Paul moved to speak. Out of love for Jesus and his church. His words flowing from a pastoral heart. Brothers and sisters, how passionate are you about the health of our local church? About the quality and focus of our inner life? Paul’s passion leads him to clear, pointed exhortation, ^‘Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.’ v27a Its force lost in translation. Paul is saying, ‘Above all, at all costs, worthily of the gospel of Christ, conduct yourself as a citizen.’ Roman citizenship a prized status in Philippi. Knowing that, Paul points to the citizenship that really matters. Citizenship in the kingdom one belongs to through the gospel of Christ. Is status in your local community more important than your faithfulness to the gospel? The priority of worthy kingdom citizenship emphasised in the opening words of Paul’s exhortation: above all at all costs. Regardless of the prestige of Roman citizenship. Whatever current personal struggles. Whatever factions in the local church. Whatever level of opposition to the gospel. The Philippian church to live in such a manner the gospel of Christ honoured. Paul explains this worthy conduct. The foundation: gospel unity. Lived by standing firm, striving together, living courageously. Paul looks forward to being encouraged by news of this worthy conduct in the Philippian church. In contrast to what he’s currently hearing about division and fear. ‘Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.’ v27b-28a Unity as the foundation evident in Paul’s language. The nature of true unity clear in God’s word through Paul. True unity comes through shared faith in the truths of the gospel message. Guarding the inner life of the Philippian church. Conducting oneself in a manner worthy of the gospel, involves standing firm, striving together. In the Philippian church, unity in the gospel under constant pressure. From within and outside. Paul’s teaching: preserving unity, enhancing worthy church life requires hard work. The word Paul uses for striving together describes strenuous athletic effort. Necessary for the defence of the gospel. A working together mission. Sisters and brothers, how are you working alongside one another to grow gospel unity? What personal changes are required for you to get your spiritual athletic gear on? In readiness for action. If you think you are too old or tired for strenuous athletic activity. No inclination to get off your comfortable rocker. Then pray. Prayer is a strenuous activity. Paul urges the Philippians to channel their energy and focus away from petty internal division. Toward working together in a manner worthy of the gospel that brought them salvation. The gospel they are to guard and promote without fear of the opposition. Paul describes the Philippian Christians as gripped by fear. Of those opposing them. The word Paul uses describes the uncontrollable stampede of startled horses. The Philippians are terrified. No rebuke from Paul. An exhortation in light of the grand picture of God’s victory. Urging standing firm and striving together for the gospel; without fear. Finding courage and assurance in the decisive, final outcome. ‘This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.’ v28b I was never confident in the outcome of my only playground fistfight. I knew it would not end well. The outcome certain in standing firm for the gospel of Christ. Salvation from God for the believer who perseveres. Eternal judgement from God for opponents of the gospel. The Philippians are to find strength in this assured final outcome. Paul does not promise the Philippian church freedom from opposition. He offers what appears to be a perverse comfort.  ^‘For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.’ v29-30 Like Paul, the Christians in Philippi will suffer. As they do, they are not alone. Paul, and by implication, other Christians also enduring ill-treatment because of their allegiance to Christ. The bigger picture of their suffering for the gospel. In partnership with faith, their suffering a gift of God, expression of his grace, mark of his favour. The Philippians are to take comfort in that. Sisters and brothers, Paul’s words to the Philippians are God’s words to us. The King of the kingdom of which we are citizens. Speaking to our inner church life; our gospel witness. Are you hearing? Commitment to our life together. To conduct that honours the gospel of Christ a key priority. Christians in the twenty first century also face threats to the gospel from within and outside. The gospel message and gospel lifestyle under public attack. Growing disunity within the Anglican Church of Australia. God’s word through Paul, timely and challenging. Obedience to the exhortation in this passage begins in the heart of each believer and in the local church. I believe we are a healthy church. Your ministry leaders praise God regularly for his blessings upon us asking him to grow humility and dependency within us and our church. Brothers and sisters pray with us. A healthy church will keep reforming. By the renewing of our minds; the cleansing of our hearts. By submitting to the authority of Scripture as the rule for our personal and corporate life. Sisters and brothers, allow the living word of God to continue to teach, correct, rebuke, train in righteousness. A healthy church will not be complacent about the quality of their inner life. Guarding against doctrinal error, drift from gospel focus, pride, division, fear, insularity, superficiality in welcome and fellowship. Sisters and brothers if you discern these things in our inner life be a pottery jug carrying Christian. Like that member of a previous congregation. Speak what you believe God is saying. We will sift and test it against God’s word. A healthy church will live in the unity of the gospel. Unity that transcends institutional unity. That is relational. United with Christ and each other by the gospel. A healthy church values shared gospel commitment above insignificant differences. Standing firm in the gospel. Strenuously defending it from attack. Defending the gospel by not departing from it. Whatever the opposition or pressure to do so. Out of love for those around sharing the gospel of forgiveness and hope. A healthy church will not live in fear knowing true believers share in the victory of Christ. Brothers and sisters, ‘stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.’ When the church is true to its name and embodies the gospel it professes it will effectively impact the world. Praise be to God when Northern Beaches Anglicans testifies to the power of the gospel in the heavenly realms.

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