1 Corinthians 7:10-24 teaches that each believer has an life situation which is God’s assignment to him. This is the biblical idea of vocation. Work is a key part of that overarching vocation. Ephesians 6:5-9 teaches that we are to do all of our work as service to God.
Standing Against Opposition
In this passage, Paul exhorts the Philippians to “conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel” in the context of opposition. To do so is to stand firm and to contend for the faith. Paul also gives a number of encouragements to such faithfulness.
Read Philippians 1:27-30
The Role of Wisdom
Proverbs belongs to the wisdom literature of the Bible. The wisdom literature teaches us that part of the way that we serve God is through living lives that implement biblical principles of wisdom. In the NT Jesus Christ presented as the fulfillment and embodiment of God’s wisdom and it is through him that we are enabled to practice wisdom in our lives.
Read Proverbs 8
Paul’s Thoughts on Living and Dying
In this passage, Paul reflects on the fact that he does not know whether he will be executed or released from prison. By these reflections he gives us a wonderful perspective on thinking of the future. He would rather die and be with Christ, but he is content to be released from prison because it will mean fruitful labor for him among the Philippians.
Read Philippians 1:18-26
Creation and the Creation Mandate
There are three themes in this passage which give us insight into our calling to serve God in all of our lives. They are the goodness of creation, the fact that man was created in the image of God and the creation mandate.
Read Genesis 1
Paul’s Attitude in Prison
This sermon looks at four main themes from this passage, the importance to thinking in terms of the providence of God in connection with out witness, the importance of a charitable attitude towards other Christians whose motivations are not always as they should be, the supreme importance of the preaching of Christ and the importance of joy in suffering.
Read Philippians 1:12-18
The Kingdom of God
This sermon is the beginning of a new series that will look at the idea of serving God in all of life. The biblical theme of the Kingdom of God is considered as the theological framework for our calling to serve God in all that we do.
Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
This prayer of Paul for the Philippians gives us guidance concerning what should be the priorities of both our prayers and our lives. It gives us instruction about the focus of a life lived “to the glory and praise of God.”
Read Philippians 1:9-11
Perseverance
This sermon examines the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints in the light of the biblical warnings against falling away.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
Paul’s Prayer of Thanksgiving
Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving shows that he was a man of prayer, that he was was thankful for the Philippians, joyful for God’s grace in their lives even though he was in prison and that he loved them deeply. The reasons for this thanksgiving were their partnership in the gospel and his confidence that God would complete the work he had begun in them.
Read Philippians 1:3-8