A MISSIONARY CHURCH
November 28, 1999 PM
Sermon Outline
Phil 1:5,6
INTRO: Let me read you a section of Acts 16:6-12. Though it was a man of Macedonia Paul saw in that vision, Philippi was the first city of Macedonia to hear the gospel. It appears that the church there then shared Pauls fervent zeal for spreading the gospel (Rom 1:14,15). Perhaps they felt an indebtedness which grew out of privilege. They became active participants in the work of world -wide evangelism. There are some great lessons to learn from Philippi about how to be A Missionary Church.
I. FIRST LESSON IS IN THE WORD FELLOWSHIP - PARTNERS
A. Koinonia is a rich and important word
1. it firstly speaks of a relationship
2. so, in 1 Jno 1:3,7 of relationship with God, with Christ ... with each other in Christ
3. it was/is a relationship integral to the church (Acts 2:42) and speaks of a close bond and intimacy
B. Then, it speaks of partnership growing out of relationship
1. his relationship with these people was one common in Christ
2. yet, it was a feeling, affectionate relationship as verse 7 indicates
3. these people were involved, also emotionally involved, committed partners
II. THEY WANTED THE GOSPEL PREACHEDIN OTHER PLACES
A. Theirs was a fellowship in the gospel
1. the word gospel appears eleven times in his letter
2. each use of it would make an interesting study
3. but the point for now is that they recognized the power of gospel (Rom 1:16) and necessity of its being preached (Rom 10:14-17)
B. I love the thought of Acts 8:4
1. wherever Christians went, it was with preaching
2. but need for missionaries exists, too
3. Philippi was no less involved in preaching than the man who went to speak the words - I think this is exactly the point Paul makes in our two text verses!
III. THEY WEREPRACTICAL IN THEIR INVOLVEMENT
A. They sought to supply material necessities
1. Acts 16:15 from the first day they supplied that
2. Phil 4:15,16 sent to his necessity again and again
3. could not go themselves - but they could provide for him who did go (they were not wealthy - 2 Cor 8:1-5)
B. Their involvement was supportive in every sense
1. Phil 2:25 sent one of their own to minister to Paul
2. a missionarys needs are for encouragement, advice, resources, prayers ... in a word, support
3. I often wonder if as a church we are truly supporting those whose material needs we are meeting
IV. THEY PERSEVERED IN THEIR FELLOWSHIP
A. They were not a flighty, fickle group of people
1. note 1:5,6 first day until now ... until the day of Christ
(Phil 4:16 again and again)
2. what these people began, they wanted to see through
3. they were dependable partners
B. So often we have not persevered ...
1. distance, discouragement, loss of zeal, etc. have contributed to a wasteland of broken works, broken lives, disillusionment
2. its always easy to be excited at the beginning, to enlist support and aid, to make banner headlines
3. but when the new wears off and the real slogging begins, the support evaporates
4. hard work, persistence, perseverance and dogged determination are just musts for missionary churches --- evangelistic, serving churches
5. in our local or foreign work we must develop the Philippian spirit of sticking with it
CLOSE: Verse 6 says to us that Gods work on this earth is done through human agency. If we fail to accept the challenge of Gods work, His work will go undone by the proportion of our refusal. Dear friends, God is placing a great responsibility upon us. We must accept it!
Cecil A. Hutson
28 November 1999