This Sunday, I continued by study of the book of Philippians with a message on chapter 1, verses 22-26. Here is the sermon skeleton:
Philippians 1:22-26 is the final portion of Paul’s report to the Philippians about his personal circumstances and missionary work. In verses 12-18, Paul looks back and remembers what the Lord had done through his life and ministry. In verses 19-26, he looks ahead and anticipates what the Lord will do through his life and ministry. In verse 19-21, Paul speaks about the future with great confidence. Yet his confidence is tempered with uncertainty. In our text, verses 22-26, continues to address matters of life and death with this tension between confidence and uncertainty.
This text is a soliloquy, in which Paul muses over the possibilities of life and death. There are no commands or exhortations in this text. Paul speaks here for himself and about himself. Yet Paul writes this deeply personal letter in an open letter to the church at Philippi.Yet Paul does not write this passage to get some things off his chest. He writes this passage for the sake of the Philippians.
In the next passage, verses 27-30, Paul will exhort the church to live in unity and steadfastness. In chapter 2, Paul will emphasize the attitude of humble servanthood that is required for unity and steadfastness to take place in the church. But in our text, Paul makes this point, not by exhortation, but by testimony.
Title: “The Service Driven Life”
Text: Philippians 1:22-26
Series: Philippians: Partnership in the Gospel
Theme: A Christ-centered life of service to others
Point: Real Christian Service
Outline:
I. The service-driven life is marked by Christian devotion (1:21-22).
A. A devotion in life or death (1:21)
B. A dilemma about life or death (1:22)
II. The service-driven life is marked by Christian desire (1:23).
In verse 23, Paul makes three points about death from a Christian perspective:
A. To die is to depart.
B. To die is to be with Christ.
C. To die is far better.
III. The service-driven life is marked by Christian duty (1:24-26).
A. Our responsibility to serve others (1:24)
B. Our reasons for serving others (1:25-26)
1. The immediate reason (v. 25)
2. The ultimate reason (v. 26)