THEME: Know Christ & Make Him KnownTHEME: Know Christ & Make Him KnownSERIES: A Contagious Family of FaithSERIES: A Contagious Family of Faith

“Worthy of “Worthy of Christ”Christ”Philippians 1:27-30Philippians 1:27-30

► 27 - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a 27 - Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then whether I manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel,

► 28 - without being frightened in any way by those who 28 - without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God. destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God.

► 29 - For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ 29 - For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him,

► 30 - since you are going through the same struggle 30 - since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

verse 27 verse 27 “whatever happens, “whatever happens,

conduct yourselves in a mannerconduct yourselves in a mannerWORTHY of the gospel of Christ!"WORTHY of the gospel of Christ!"

Ephesians 2:8,9Ephesians 2:8,9“For it is by grace “For it is by grace

you have been saved, you have been saved, through faith – through faith –

and this is not from yourselves – and this is not from yourselves – it is the gift of God... it is the gift of God...

not by works, not by works, so that no one can boast.”so that no one can boast.”

22ndnd Corinthians 5:15 Corinthians 5:15“...those who live should no longer “...those who live should no longer

live for themselves live for themselves but for Him Who died for them but for Him Who died for them

and was raised again.”and was raised again.”

verse 28 verse 28 “...is a sign that we are “...is a sign that we are

indeed saved - and that by God.”indeed saved - and that by God.”

verse 30 verse 30 “...for it has been granted to you “...for it has been granted to you

on behalf of Christ on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him, but also to suffer for Him,

since you are going through since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had the same struggle you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”and now hear that I still have.”

22ndnd Timothy 3:12 Timothy 3:12 “...EVERYONE who wants “...EVERYONE who wants

to live a godly life in Christ Jesus to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...”will be persecuted...”

ROGER STAUBACH ROGER STAUBACH (Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys): (Quarterback, Dallas Cowboys):

“If you're not playing hurt, “If you're not playing hurt, you're not playing football.”you're not playing football.”

JOE STOWELL JOE STOWELL (President, Moody Bible Institute): (President, Moody Bible Institute):

“Jesus' rejection, alienation, “Jesus' rejection, alienation, and ultimately His crucifixion and ultimately His crucifixion

were the direct result of the fact were the direct result of the fact that Christ came to do His work that Christ came to do His work

in alien territory that was dead set in alien territory that was dead set against His success.” against His success.”

John 15:18,19 John 15:18,19 “If the world hates you, “If the world hates you,

keep in mind that it hated Me first. keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. it would love you as its own.

As it is, you do not belong to the world, As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. but I have chosen you out of the world.

If they persecuted me, If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” they will persecute you also.”

1.1. REMAIN FAITHFULREMAIN FAITHFUL

(vv. 27, 28) (vv. 27, 28) “One way I will know “One way I will know

you are living worthily you are living worthily is when you STAND FIRM...is when you STAND FIRM...

without being frightened in any way without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”by those who oppose you.”

stand firm = stand firm = “persevere”“persevere”

U.S. MARINE CORPSU.S. MARINE CORPS: :

“Semper Fidelis” “Semper Fidelis” (always faithful)(always faithful)

Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 12:1 “...let us run with PERSEVERANCE “...let us run with PERSEVERANCE

the race marked out for us, the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus fixing our eyes on Jesus

the Author and Perfecter the Author and Perfecter of our faith.”of our faith.”

"...be prepared "...be prepared in season and out of season... in season and out of season...

watch your life and doctrine closely. watch your life and doctrine closely. PERSEVERE in them, PERSEVERE in them,

because if you do, because if you do, you will save both yourself you will save both yourself

and your hearers.”and your hearers.”

(I Timothy 4:16; II Timothy 4:2) (I Timothy 4:16; II Timothy 4:2)

Hal Sherbeck: Hal Sherbeck: “Press on. Nothing in the world “Press on. Nothing in the world

can take the place of persistence. can take the place of persistence. TALENT will not; TALENT will not;

Nothing is more common Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. than unsuccessful men with talent.

GENIUS will not. GENIUS will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. EDUCATION Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. EDUCATION

will not. will not. The world is full of educated derelicts. PERSISTENCE The world is full of educated derelicts. PERSISTENCE

and DETERMINATION and DETERMINATION alone are important.”alone are important.”

2. STRIVE TO CONNECT2. STRIVE TO CONNECT(verse 27) (verse 27)

“stand firm IN ONE SPIRIT, “stand firm IN ONE SPIRIT, contending as ONE man contending as ONE man

for the faith of the gospel.” for the faith of the gospel.”

John 17:20-23John 17:20-23“My prayer is not for them alone...“My prayer is not for them alone...

I pray also for those I pray also for those who will believe in Me who will believe in Me through their message. through their message.

That all of them may be ONE, Father, That all of them may be ONE, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. just as You are in Me and I am in You.

May they also be in Us May they also be in Us so that the world may believe so that the world may believe

that You have sent Me.”that You have sent Me.”

PAUL BILLHEIMER: PAUL BILLHEIMER:

“The continuous and widespread “The continuous and widespread fragmentation of the Church fragmentation of the Church

has been the scandal of the ages. has been the scandal of the ages. It has been Satan's master strategy. It has been Satan's master strategy.

The sin of disunity probably The sin of disunity probably has caused more souls to be lost has caused more souls to be lost

than all other sins combined.”than all other sins combined.”

Ephesians 4:3Ephesians 4:3“Make every effort “Make every effort

to keep the unity of the Spirit to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”through the bond of peace.”

STRIVING TOGETHERSTRIVING TOGETHER

* “to wrestle together” * “to wrestle together” * “to wrestle in harmony”* “to wrestle in harmony”