May 21, 2006
"Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Ministry"
God's Not Finished With You Yet—Part 5
Philippians 2:19-30
Review
Philippians 1:1-11
- Get your eyes off yourself.
- Develop a deep love for one another. (Not just toleration)
- Develop a habit of prayer for one another.
Philippians 1:12-30
- God's made you to be courageous.
- Courage comes when we recognize God is in control.
- Courage comes when we stand together.
- 4. Courage come when we see ministry in light of eternity.
Philippians 2:1-11
- There is an incredible life for those connected in the church.
- Unity not uniformity is the key to a powerful corporate witness.
- Jesus is calling you to become a servant not just serve.
- 4. There is no retirement from service in the church.
Philippians 2:12-18
- Grumbling and arguing destroys the witness of the church.
- God must work in us before He can work through us.
- God is more interested in the worker than he is the work.
- Grumbling and complaining is temporary atheism.
Special note: To grumble or to murmur means to complain behind someone's back.
You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD.
—Exodus 16:8
Here are the facts:
- Every church can fall prey to grumbling. The longer you are part of a family, you find out it is not perfect.
- Every church ebbs and flows through stages of growth, transition and adjustments.
- It is during times of adjustment that discontent can lead to grumbling.
- Grumbling derails a church from its mission. What we are saying is this, "God we don't like the route you are taking us."
- Grumbling is complaining against God. It happens because we get our focus on ourselves and off of what God has called us to do.
- Our mission is holding out the Word of Life to those who don't have it. Grumbling renders the church powerless.
- The mission God has called us to takes faith, forged in unity, carried out through our great diversity as servants.
Faithful Servants
Timothy
1. He had a servant's mindset.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
—Philippians 2:19-21
2. He had a servant's training.
But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
—Philippians 2:22
3. He had a servant's heart.
I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
—Philippians 2:23-24
Epaphroditus
1. He loved people.
Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother...Now I am sending him home again, for he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.
—Philippians 2:25-26 (NLT)
2. He worked hard.
...a faithful worker...And he surely was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him - and also on me, so that I would not have such unbearable sorrow.
—Philippians 2:25a and 27 (NLT)
3. He was a servant-leader.
And he was your messenger to help me in my need. Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and be sure to honor people like him.
—Philippians 2:25a and 29 (NLT)
4. He took a risk for the advancement of the gospel.
...a courageous soldier...Indeed he was ill, and almost died. Honor men like him...For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while trying to do for me the things you couldn't do because you were far away.
—Philippians 2:27a, 29b and 30 (NLT)
Lifework
Will you allow the Spirit of God to reproduce "the attitude of Christ" in you?
This is what the Christian faith does for us: it leads us out of ourselves, freeing us from ourselves, binding us to Christ and to our brothers and sisters in Christ."
—Maxie Dunnam
"God's Not Finished With You Yet"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- Have you ever been partners in a business? What kind of business was it? Are you still involved in this business? If not, how did it end? If you had to leave your estate to someone outside your family, who would you choose? Why?
- Have you ever taken a vacation and used it to go on a mission or do a church project? How did you feel at the end of your time off? What were the pros and cons of doing this?
Digging Deeper: Read Philippians 2:19-30
- Timothy has a much higher profile in Church history than Epaphroditus, yet, both men played a significant part. How were these two men similar? How were they different?
- What was Paul's opinion of Timothy? What was Paul's opinion of Epaphroditus?
- Paul addresses several problem issues facing the church at Philippi. Which of the problems would be the hardest for you to deal with? (See 1:17; 2:3; 3:2 and 4:2-3)
- What kind of risk did Epaphroditus take to minister to Paul? What are some of the more understandable excuses people give for not helping others? What are often the real reason we fail to help when we can?
- Is it wrong to give recognition and esteem to people who serve selflessly and effectively? How is that best done? What is the danger of recognition and esteem?
Applying It To My Life
- How can you expand your service to others?
- What qualities in Timothy and Epaphroditus' lives would you like to make part of your own life?
- What risks are you willing to take to serve others and advance the gospel of Christ?