Introduction:
Live Together in a Manner Worthy of Christ’s Gospel.
Stay true to the Lord.
Love others.
Settle your disagreements with others.
Be available to help others resolve their conflicts.
Philippians 4:1-3 NLT
1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
Examine the Scriptures:
Philippians 4:1-3 NLT
1 Therefore,
Therefore applies to the content in chapter 3.
Following Paul’s example (3:17)
Straining Toward the Goal. (3:14)
Setting their minds on heavenly things (3:20-21)
Sanctification
Etc.
my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord.
- Stay true to the Lord (or Stand firm in the Lord.)
Paul exhorts these Philippian believers to “stay true to the Lord”.
Stand firm in the Lord (the wording used in numerous translations)
This is an exhortation I would give to you and hopefully you would all give this exhortation to me.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
- We ought to encourage each other to “stay true to the Lord”.
Stay true to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT
13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
Philippians 1:27 NLT
27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.
Colossians 1:22-23 NLT
22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.
23 But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. …
Hebrews 10:23 NLT
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Hebrews 3:12-14 NLT
12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. 13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. 14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
Galatians 6:9 NLT
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.
These saints were to their spiritual father Paul what victory wreaths were to runners in the Greek races.
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 NLT
19 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.
Leading others to Christ gives Paul hope and joy. Helping believers develop, grow to maturity, produce and reproduce is what Paul lived for.
Their continuing faithfulness to Christ was a deep source of joy to Paul and the crown for his hard work.
ASK:
Who (or what) is your joy and crown?
Your own family?
Your students (and their families)?
Other?
I love you and long to see you, dear friends,
Paul is addressing a group of brothers and sisters in Christ that he loves and longs to be with.
Paul does the following well:
Mark 12:30-31 NLT
30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
John 13:34-35 NLT
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
- Love each other.
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.
- Settle your disagreements with other believers.
Mark 3:24-25 NLT
24 “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. 25 Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
James 3:16 NLT
16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
This is important! (Scripture is filled with verses similar to the following verses.)
Refer back to:
Philippians 2:2
2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
Ephesians 4:1-3 NLT
4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
Ephesians 4:31-32 NLT
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Colossians 3:12-15 NLT
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
How important is reconciliation?
Reconciliation needs to be a priority.
Matthew 5:23-24 NLT
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
A Biblical example of working out differences.
The Matthew 18 principle
Matthew 18:15-17
15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women,
This person is unknown
- Be available to help resolve conflicts.
for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News.
- Christians are not immune to conflict.
At one point in time Euodia and Syntyche worked hard with Paul telling others the Good News.
They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
Euodia and Syntyche had also worked along with Clement and the rest of Paul’s co-workers.
