TEACHER AND DISCIPLE
October 15, 2000 PM
Sermon Outline
Phil 4:9
INTRO: Here is a verse which will allow us to proceed in a number of directions. It is a verse which - it seems to me - brings everything down to earth. It is not a lofty idea which is described. It is, rather, Christian living in the trenches. There is no great debate here. There is only the daily, ordinary activity of the Christian life in this verse. Yet, what can ever be ordinary about life in Christ? What can ever be anything but lofty when one thinks of the church and the life of one who is trying to emulate the example of the precious Lord? In this verse we will see Paul as Teacher And Disciple ... yet, more.
I. PAUL, THE TEACHER
A. His teaching was inspired
1. the substance of his teaching is from God!
2. miraculous process of inspiration must always be in our minds when we think of the words of the New Testament
3. 1 Cor 2:12,13 Gal 1:11,12 2 Tim 3:16 Jno 14:26
4. these were no ordinary philosophers, teachers, theologians their very words were Gods
B. The substance of his teaching?
1. crucified, risen Savior - 2 Cor 5:14,15,18
2. remission of sins through His blood - Eph 1:7
3. church in all of its aspects - Eph 4:15,16
4. holy life of a disciple - 1 Thes 4:7
5. reward at the end of it all - 2 Tim 4:8
C. And the Philippians had learned and received what had been taught
1. ignorant disciples are in grave trouble for the future
2. when we talk of Bible study, we are talking of the most important studying well ever do and the Philippians had been exposed to great learning opportunities
3. too, they had accepted that which they learned
4. they were able to discern the truth when they heard it - and they recognized the validity of it for their lives
5. the prayer of 1:9,10 is one for more of what must already have existed in good measure ... they had had good teachers!
II. PAUL, THE DISCIPLE
A. He lived by what he taught!
1. an inspired teacher, yet, his life was lived as ours
2. so, with the same resources available to him as are available to us he exemplified the faith in Christ
3. he had his problems:
a. with discipline 1 Cor 9:27
b. with pain, discomfort 2 cor 12:7,8
c. with rejection 1 Cor 2:1-4 ... 2 Cor 10:10
d. with disappointment 2 Tim 4:16
4. and he had to deal with them properly ... to rise above them ... to let them be stepping stones to glory, to character
B. He wasnt afraid for them to hear of his reputation
1. a public person is going to have an extensive reputation people in places he has never been will have heard about him
2. ones enemies, detractors may spread uncomplimentary tales but one must so live that the tales are quickly dispelled when the actual life is seen (2 Cor 3:1)
3. as prominent as he was, Philippians were bound to hear about him and his doings this didnt bother him
C. He wasnt afraid to have his life seen
1. because he was living that which he taught
2. was loving, kind, forgiving, pure, filled with convictions everyone knew who he was, what he was, why he was
3. was indeed a living letter about Christ 2 Cor 3:2,3 his example could be safely followed
III. PAUL, THE ADMONISHER, ENCOURAGER
A. He tells them to do what theyve seen and learned
1. here is the real issue for him ... and for us doing
2. unless we put into practice what weve been taught by word and example, there will be no benefits in our lives!
B. But God of peace will be with us if we commit to Him
1. from vv.8 and 9 we are seeing that our committing to Him involves a thought process and a practice process
2. if we feel the God of peace is far from us, it is very much up to us to draw near to Him ... in thought and in life
CLOSE: Perhaps Johns words will help us conclude our thoughts 3 Jno 3,4. So, it must be with any teacher - disciple. His hope and his prayer always are that his teaching and his life will be both instructive and inspirational.
Cecil A. Hutson
15 October 2000