Teaching Series - Philippians
Gospel Mission, Gospel Community
Paul’s Vision for the Church in Philippians
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SUMMARY
Paul’s letter to the Philippians is perhaps best known for its emphasis on joy. “Complete my joy by being of the same mind…” (2:2). “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord” (3:1). “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (4:4). Variations on the word joy occur some 14 times in the book. But the reason Philippians is so full of joy, is because it’s so full of Jesus.
With breathtaking vision, Philippians compels us to revel in the beauty, satisfaction, and transforming power of Jesus and his gospel—the good news of what God has done to accomplish his purposes and deal with our sin through the life, death, and resurrection of his eternal Son, Jesus Christ. The gospel is in fact the book’s pivotal theme—more specifically, what it will take for the people of God to participate joyfully and unwaveringly in this gospel.
In other words, Philippians is about gospel mission and gospel community. This is the note on which Paul opens the book in 1:3-5: “I thank my God every time I remember you. . . . because of your partnership in the gospel.” And this is the note he closes on in 4:15: “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.” And in between Paul again and again strikes this note of gospel partnership—partnership in the gospel and for the gospel. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that . . . I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (1:27). Gospel mission and gospel community.
Paul’s vision provides a challenging and yet thrilling call to the church today. Our Sunday morning series this fall and winter will give us occasion to explore all kinds of pressing questions about who we are and what we do as a church: Are we wasting our time with the gospel—can it really supply all it promises for life and relationship with God and others? Are we being distracted from our gospel mission by good but peripheral matters? Is it worth it when someone personally rejects me, mocks me, or takes advantage of me because of my efforts to advance the gospel? What happens to our community and mission when self gets in the way of the gospel’s centrality? Does the gospel really have the power to change us? Was it really necessary for God to send his Son to earth to rescue us? Are we really that bad? Is Jesus really that valuable? Is participating in the community and mission of the gospel worth it when life gets hard? Is the advance of the gospel a worthy investment of our time and money?
So if you live in or near Boston’s MetroWest, please join us on Sunday mornings at Westgate Church in Weston, where we will endeavor not only to behold Paul’s vision for the church in Philippians, but by God’s grace, to participate in that vision of gospel mission and gospel community.
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September 18, 2011
Gospel Mission, Gospel Community
Bible passage: Acts 16:11-40, Philippians 1:1-2
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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September 25, 2011
The Beauty of Gospel Partnership
Bible passage: Philippians 1:3-8
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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October 2, 2011
Only One Thing Can Be The Main Thing
Bible passage: Philippians 1:9-11
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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October 9, 2011
Is our striving losing?
Bible passage: Philippians 1:12-18a
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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October 16, 2011
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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November 6, 2011
A Gospel Centered Church
Bible Passage: Philippians 1:27-2:4
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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November 13, 2011
Jesus is Everything
Bible Passage: Philippians 1:18b-26
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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November 20, 2011
Surprising Pattern of the Cross
Bible Passage: Philippians 2:5-11
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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November 27, 2011
The Fruit of Obedience
Bible Passage: Philippians 2:12-18
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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January 8, 2012
Counterfeit Christianities
Bible passage: Philippians 3:1-3
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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January 15, 2012
When Loss is Gain
Bible passage: Philippians 3:4-9
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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January 22, 2012
Fellowship with Christ
Bible passage: Philippians 3:10-11
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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January 29, 2012
Passion and Perseverance
Bible passage: Philippians 3:12-16
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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February 5, 2012
An Example Worth Following
Bible passage: Philippians 3:17 - 4:1
Sermon by Pastor Levering
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February 12, 2012
A Gospel-Shaped Peace
Bible passage: Philippians 4:2-7
Sermon by Pastor Levering
