Date: May 31, 2020
Series: Joy No Matter, Part 10
Scripture: Phil 2:19-30
Title: “The Example"
Today’s Bottom line:
Follow the Example, Be the Example as You Worship the Example, no matter what.
Intro
Your Trial Will Become Your Triumph by Nicky Gumbel
‘Houston, we’ve had a problem,’ were the words of Jim Lovell on the evening of 13 April 1970. Nearly fifty-six hours into the mission to the moon, an explosion aboard the spacecraft plunged the crew into a fight for their survival. Within less than a minute there was a cascade of systems failures throughout the spacecraft. ‘It was all at one time – a monstrous failure,’ said NASA’s flight controller.
The spacecraft looped around the moon, using its gravity to return to earth. Millions of people followed the drama on television. Eventually, the capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near Tonga.
In an article headed ‘Apollo 13: From Disaster to Triumph’ the BBC science reporter wrote, ‘Although the mission was not a success from a conventional perspective, it was a triumph of ingenuity and determination.’
Jim Lovell said it showed the people of the world that even if there was a great catastrophe, it could be turned into a success.
The supreme example of triumph coming out of apparent catastrophe is the cross. What seemed to the world to be the ultimate defeat was in fact the ultimate triumph.
As we transition towards what’s next, knowing that God can leverage evil for good, why would we care about anyone else? Shouldn’t we just go into survival mode and get things back in order at all costs and forget everyone else?
Paul shows us in this letter that that’s not the path Jesus would take. He takes "the road less traveled” - the way of “others first.”
The Office
Kurt Cooper was a co-worker at my first job. He’d been out of school and in the workplace about 4 years and was doing a great job. He was a great example to me because he showed me how to live out my faith in the workplace. I didn’t have many examples. And I wasn’t looking for any either.
He invited me to lunch that first week.
Later he would invite us to church where we eventually would serve as volunteer youth leaders.
He and his wife would model for us our first small group experiences (besides Sunday school) and well as parenting.
They would invite us to a life-changing retreat weekend called the Emmaus Walk.
All of these hugely shaped my faith-walk in my early years of marriage. I’d never had someone pour themselves into me like that. And I really didn’t even realize it was happening until I looked back later.
Today I’m going to call you to follow The Example, be an example as you worship The Example as Lord and Savior. Paul says it this way, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
Follow the Example Paul describes.
Be the Example Jesus called you to be.
(As you) Worship the Example who empowers us to follow and be the example.
Series bottom line:
God pours out his grace and peace in and through us as we show and tell the good news no matter what.
One way we do this seen in the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus in Phil 2:19-30.
The Example leads to Examples
Truth 1: Jesus will show and tell his example to the world through his examples by their example.
Truth 2: Jesus’ true followers, by definition, follow his words, ways and works. To not follow Jesus’ example is to not be a follower of Jesus.
Outline
I. Follow the Example Paul has described already. (2:5-8) REVIEW
II. Be the example Jesus called you to be. (2:19-30) 2 Examples:
A. Timothy - An example of 2:19-24
Lives sent (19, 23) or on mission 24/7 - Jesus sends us out too
No one else like him; Paul sees him as special family like a faithful son in the Lord (20) - Jesus sees us as family; brothers and sisters
Genuinely cares about others; compassionate and merciful (20) - Jesus calls us to “love our neighbor as ourself.”
“Others first” (21) mentality c.f. 2:3 and Jesus’ example
”Proved himself” faithful son in the work “as a son with his father” (22) “served with me in the work of the gospel” - Jesus calls us to this great work 24/7 too. “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33)
B. Epaphroditus - Another example of 2:25-30
Also lives sent (25, 28)
Also lives as family (“brother”) (25)
Paul calls him a “co-worker” or partner c.f. (1:5)
Paul calls him a “fellow soldier” (25) because he went to battle with Paul
Cares for his flock back home even as he cares for Paul on their behalf;
“Love is showing compassion for other people’s reality.” - Neal McGlohon. In other words, love does for others in need. Think Good Samaritan parable.
III. (As you) Worship the Example with your lips and your lives. (2:9-11; Heb 13:15-16)
A. Jesus is exalted as worthy of our allegiance and worship. (2:9-11)
B. We worship Jesus with (Heb 13:15-16)
Our lips
Our lives
Conclusion
The Office
Kurt Cooper was a co-worker at my first job. He’d been out of school and in the workplace about 4 years and was doing a great job. He was a great example to me because he showed me how to live out my faith in the workplace. I didn’t have many examples. And I wasn’t looking for any either.
He invited me to lunch that first week.
Later he would invite us to church where we eventually would serve as volunteer youth leaders.
He and his wife would model for us our first small group experiences (besides Sunday school) and well as parenting.
They would invite us to a life-changing retreat weekend called the Emmaus Walk.
All of these hugely shaped my faith-walk in my early years of marriage. I’d never had someone pour themselves into me like that. And I really didn’t even realize it was happening until I looked back later.
The best example I’ve had has been my wife. She’s changed my life. Since high school I’ve known that I wanted live life like her.
She’s been an example to me, our four girls and so many others. She has done that by following the Example, being an example as she worships the Example, no matter what.
What about you?
Notes
{Keep in mind to share the application or calling for the day throughout the message. Share it in the intro, explain it in the message body, and call for it in the conclusion. Really, call for it throughout the whole message.}
Illustrations
Chris K - That we all learn something from the changes we’ve recently experienced; it makes him a little sad that maybe nothing has changed as some churches prepare for the “big show”; like coming home from camp on fire and then nothing changes.
“We are the sum of our actions, therefore habits make a difference.” - Aristotle
$3 worth of gospel (DA Carson’s book)
To estimate how easily a virus spreads, scientists calculate its "basic reproduction number," or R0 (pronounced R-nought). R0 predicts the number of people who can catch a given bug from a single infected person, Live Science previously reported. Currently, the R0 for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease COVID-19, is estimated at about 2.2, meaning a single infected person will infect about 2.2 others, on average. By comparison, the flu has an R0 of 1.3.
Not R0 but G0!
What if we calculated our personal, gospel R0. We could call it our G0. (G nought) Will we “infect” at least 1 person in our life? 2?
Why don’t we? For the same reasons we don’t minimize spreading the virus we have now:
We don’t want to inconvenience ourselves (appetites, comfort idol)
We don’t love people enough to sacrifice for them.
We are afraid. (See Phil 1:12-14 for enCOURAGEment to live and share the gospel boldly)
Living like you “have it"
Good news right now might be that there is a cure and vaccine for COVID-19! And that we could begin the end of the lockdown very soon.
Isn’t that what we sometimes do when we withhold the good news the Bible gives us?
Paul presents Christ to believers as: (by HL Willmington, Outline Bible)
Our life-purpose.
Our life-pattern.
Our life-prize.
Our life-power.
References/Bibliography:
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“the Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in The Book of Acts” by Tony Merida (CCE)
“Exalting Jesus in The Book of Philippians” by Tony Merida & Chan (CCE)
Let’s Study Philippians by Sinclair Ferguson
Outline Bible, D Willmington
DA Carson Basics for Believers commentary
FF Bruce NIBC Commentary on Philippians
To Live is Christ To Die is Gain by Matt Chandler
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)
J Vernon McGee Commentary