Sermon Notes
Sermon: Perseverance of the Gospel by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: July 21, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: Philippians 1:12-18
Sermon Notes:
Philippians 1:12-18 (ESV):
The Advance of the Gospel
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Imprisoned Voices
Every one of us has felt “imprisoned” at some point in our lives. It could have been an actual prison, but more often than not, it is a situation in our lives. We can feel trapped by a relationship, a financial burden or debt, a job, perceived limitations placed on gender roles or race, illness or injury, or lack of education, perhaps the wrong kind of education. There are so many situations that can make us feel trapped. Another very important way is a loss of freedom of voice. When I was a teacher, I felt very restricted in what I could say and what I could not. I even remember telling parents that if they wanted to make changes in the educational system that they were the ones that had to speak up. Parents had a voice, but teachers did not in many of those circumstances.
I know what some of you might be thinking, “We live in America, and freedom of speech is the very first right we have that is listed in the Bill of Rights.” Yes, we do have freedom of speech. In the news, this last week, I have heard a lot about the freedom of speech. However, there are many times when our voices are restricted, or perhaps should be restricted. There are responsibilities that are attached to our rights and freedoms. But too often, as Christians, we do find our voices restricted. I want you right now to think of times when you very much wanted to say something but didn’t. What prevented you from speaking? Today, many Christians are finding it difficult to express their beliefs freely, because we may be perceived as intolerant, hypocritical, judgmental, bigoted, or out-of-touch with today’s society.
In Philippians 1:12-18, we find Paul has been imprisoned for things that he had been saying and preaching about Christ. During this time in prison, Paul wrote the book of Philippians. We call it a book, but it is actually a letter to the church in Philippi that Paul had helped to start. They were concerned about his situation and him. Yet, we find that prison does not stop Paul from continuing to preach the Gospel. He wrote to the Philippians with the express wish to encourage them and explain how God continues to be active in his situation. Paul encouraged the Philippians to rejoice with him in the perseverance of the Gospel despite the adversities he was facing, such as imprisonment and the false motivations of other preachers.
The Gospel still endures oppositions today. Think about our society, and what are some of the common adversities that Christianity currently faces? Just as Paul encouraged the Philippians to do, we can see that God is still active in our lives today, and He can give us the strength and confidence we need to do His will and speak the Gospel message. Our hope lies in the fact that the Gospel message is still needed and very much relevant today. Proclamation of the story of Christ is one of the most important things that we, as Christians, are called to do. In fact, proclaiming the Gospel is our entire mission.
The Gospel perseveres despite imprisonment. Philippians 1:12-13.
Let’s take a look at Philippians 1:12-13. Paul has been imprisoned for preaching about Christ. Traditionally, it is thought that Paul was under house arrest some place in Rome versus being in an actual prison. House arrest would explain his ability to receive visitors and correspondence so easily. Regardless, we do know that he was in military custody for his teachings about Christ. However, he was exhilarated that the Gospel continued to advance despite his being imprisoned. There is evidence of this in verse 13 when it says that the Gospel had “become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest”. Paul was preaching to all those he came into contact with, including his guards. Just take a moment to picture the irony of this: Paul is imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, but he is preaching the Gospel to his prison guards. Paul wanted the Philippians to feel his joy over the fact that the Gospel was still able to be shared and spread. Later in the chapter in verses 27-28, we see that Paul also desired the church in Philippi to live in a way that was worthy of the Gospel and to stand firm, bravely and united, in their faith (verses 27-28). Prison did not diminish or silence Paul’s voice.
Paul was physically imprisoned but had freedom of voice. Whereas we are physically free, but our voices are imprisoned. We may be wary of what we say because we could be rejected or attacked. We may be cautious of what we say out of fear of offending someone. There is also the old adage that religion and politics should never be discussed. This attitude has been more recently expressed as “to each their own”. However, why shouldn’t we discuss religion? Why should God-talk only occur within the walls of a church? Christians face many barriers to God-talk, even within the church itself. First, there is fear of rejection, alienation, personal attacks, and so on. Some of you may have experienced this. I know I have.
Second, in our culture, there is the extreme emphasis on political correctness. We must use language, certain word choices, and certain approaches so that we do not offend anyone. We have seen this most recently in Berkley’s decision last week to make all the language gender neutral in the city’s code. This type of thinking can even be found in the church as some want to avoid talking about sin altogether. Yet, we need to call out sin for what it is: sin, open rebellion against God.
Most people do not make the connection between political correctness and postmodernism. But postmodernism is a third reason that God-talk is limited, and it bears a direct connection with political correctness. Postmodernism is founded in the use of language to construct reality. There is a constant need to redefine words in order for the definition of a word to be socially acceptable. There is this extreme requirement that everyone must be tolerant of everyone else, also known as the “tolerance movement”. However, due to the social redefinition of postmodernism, the word “tolerant” itself has been redefined. Under the old definition of “tolerant”, it meant that one had to acknowledge that other people had different beliefs than their own. Under the new definition of “tolerant”, it now means that we have to accept that other people’s beliefs, not only exist, but they are equally valid and truthful as our own. This subtle shift changes things from there are many different beliefs to all beliefs are equally true. You may have heard the saying that “all faiths lead to Heaven”. But how do we reconcile that concept with John 14:6 which says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”? We are will talk about more this as we study Paul’s letter to the Colossians, starting next week.
As Christians, we are commanded to tell all of the world the Gospel message in its entirety. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 is where this command is found. The early followers of Christ were commanded to teach all that Jesus had taught them. Jesus is our authority and promises to be with us always as we carry out His commands. In this, we can find our strength. In Acts 1:8, it states that Christians are to be Jesus’s witnesses to the entire world. Witness means that one needs to share what they have seen, heard, and experienced. It doesn’t specify only the good stuff or only the bad stuff. A full witness account includes everything that was seen or heard.
Why is it important to preach the Gospel? In Genesis, it tells the story of how man fell from grace and into sin. The whole rest of the Bible, specifically the Gospel story, shows God going to great lengths to redeem us from our sins and to reconcile us in a renewed relationship with Him. If we do not acknowledge the ugliness of sin, then we can’t understand the necessity of God’s gift of grace to us or recognize the need of the Gospel message of sacrifice and reconciliation. Many of us feel torn between what God is commanding us to do in sharing the Gospel and actually doing it in a way that is relevant to our culture today.
We know the importance of speaking the Gospel, but we do not always feel equipped to do so. How do we get that same boldness and the same sense of urgency to speak the truth of the Gospel that the Christians felt in Philippians 1:14?
The Gospel perseveres when we speak it boldly. Philippians 1:14
The early Christians were encouraged by Paul’s ministry of the Gospel continuing despite his imprisonment. His story and ministry inspired them to speak the Gospel boldly though they could have faced similar or worse punishments for preaching the Gospel as Paul did. The early Christians would have battled the same fears of rejection and alienation just as we do today. They would have also faced physical persecution, prison, or possibly death for their faith. At one point in the early church, just identifying yourself as a “Christian” could invoke persecution and punishments.
Because we do not face imminent death, there are actually American Christians who feel that we are not persecuted in any way. However, death is not the only method of persecution. In our country, there are more subtle ways of persecution and some not so subtle. Today, we need to be careful that we do not become too complacent in our comfort that we do not even recognize when we are being persecuted.
Even in spite of prison and death as possible consequences, Paul and his fellow workers were BOLD to speak the Gospel. When God is the source of our confidence and strength, then we can speak of the full story of the Gospel boldly. We can speak the truth of God directly and plainly without hiding parts of it or glossing over difficult concepts. Notice that they did not attempt to change it or water it down in order to make it “relevant” to their society or culture. The early Christians simply proclaimed the Gospel of Christ as they had been taught or experienced firsthand. Speaking the truth boldly does not mean that we forget about tactfulness however. We should still preach the truth out of love. Jesus is our example in this. He always spoke the truth, even if it was difficult for His audience to hear. However, Jesus did it in such a way as to inspire change rather than personally attack anyone.
Old Testament Example
Let’s explore some examples of those overcoming their fears and speaking God’s words boldly. First, in the Old Testament, we have the story of Moses. In Exodus 4:1-17, there is the story of Moses and the burning bush. God speaks to Moses and asks him to be His representative to Pharaoh. God was basically asking Moses to go up against his brother (by adoption). This was a man who he had grown up with and knew personally, not just some stranger. Moses was already in hiding when God came to him because of some things he had done. Moses tells God that he’s not equipped for this task and basically claims to be a bad speaker. Moses begs him to send someone else. God is not happy but does send Aaron to help Moses. God promises to give them the words to say. We are called to speak the Gospel to people in our lives.
How many people are afraid of public speaking? How many people feel they have nothing of interest or benefit to say to others? How many feel that they do not know enough to teach others? All of these stems from our fears and insecurities. However, God promises to be with us and give us the ability and the words to do His will. Now let’s look again at Moses, but this time in Exodus 32. Here, we find a much stronger Moses. He speaks boldly to God in his request for God to spare the people despite their sin and idolatry. He also displays a commanding presence when he confronts the people about their sins. There is no more of the scared Moses who was afraid to speak that we saw at the burning bush. Moses was not afraid to call people out on their sins. His confidence in the Lord has grown which has also increased his self-confidence.
New Testament Example
In the New Testament, we see another example with Peter. In Matthew 26:69-75, after Jesus was arrested, Peter denies even knowing Christ three times. He was afraid for his safety and perhaps of being arrested himself. Peter’s first two denials were aimed towards a servant girl who would not have had any power over him. After Christ was crucified and resurrected, we see a very different Peter. One who is more assured of his faith and confident in himself. In Acts 4, this time Peter is not questioned by a mere servant but by many religious leaders, including the high priest. John is also with Peter. Here Peter speaks boldly about Christ and the work he is doing in Christ’s name. These men would have had the power to do something to him, but we see a much more assertive Peter. In Acts 4:13, it even states that the religious leaders were astonished at his boldness. The religious leaders tried to silence Peter and John, but their response in Acts 4:19-20 was “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Their faith in God and all they had seen Jesus do inspired in them a confidence that would not be shaken. They felt compelled to share all they had witnessed despite persecution and potential punishments.
Bold God-Talk
God will equip us with all that we need to accomplish His will for us. He is continuously and always actively working in each of our lives. The more that Moses and Peter knew about God, the more confident they were. The stronger our beliefs are and the more that we study God and His Word, the more it will become more natural of us to speak about God with others. We never know who may be watching us. We could be an inspiration to others. The early Christians were more confident to speak because of Paul’s ministry in prison, and they saw what God was doing through Paul. Who could we be inspiring that same type of confidence in without even knowing it? We should not be afraid of talking about religion or sharing the Gospel. God is our source of strength, confidence, and can give us the words we say, just as he did with Moses. I know there are times that I have spoken with others, and those words had to have come from God. They were not my words, but they just came pouring out of me. And they were perfect for the situation. It is possible to overcome our fears and be free to share what God has done in our lives. The Gospel inspires change, and when we accept Christ in our hearts, change occurs in our lives, relationships, daily interactions, choices, etc.
There are many ways for us to feel equipped to speak about God. First, we have to trust God and overcome our fears. We can grow in our relationship with Him and communicate with Him through prayer. Second, we can depend on each other as we walk together in our faith in God. Church fellowship and involvement allow for safe opportunities of God-talk. We can practice and get into the habits of freely talking about God and exploring His Word. Third, we can get to know God better by studying the Bible. Again, we can feel more comfortable talking about God if we know God. People will talk about what they know and what they’re passionate about. When people see that we are passionately talking about something that we know well, they will engage us out of curiosity. This provides so many opportunities for more God-talk. Our knowledge does not immediately have to be extensive, because we are always learning.
Where do you hear people talk about God? Even in the church setting, God-talk doesn’t always happen. Yet, God will provide us opportunities for God-talk. As we learn to overcome our fears and speak God’s Word boldly, we will find that we will experience spiritual growth and knowledge. The more that we know about God and His Word, the more we realize that not all who proclaim God know what they are talking about, or they do not speak from pure motives. We may find that the Gospel message is being distorted in some fashion.
The Gospel perseveres despite alternative or false teachings of it. Philippians 1:15-17
As we look again at Philippians 1:15-17, we see that Paul pointed out that while some preachers were preaching out of love and sincerity, others were preaching from false motives, such as envy, rivalry (with Paul), and selfish ambition. Some showed such personal disdain for Paul that they were preaching in a way that was not only different from Paul but in such a way as to afflict harm on Paul. Paul does not specify what these personal attacks were, but he does know that it was directly aimed at him. Today, we have a mix of preachers as well, and quite often we can immediately figure out who is sincere and who is preaching out of selfish ambition.
Human failings are much the same now as they were in Paul’s day. These false motivations can also lead to false, alternative, or distorted teachings as well. The more that we study the Bible, the more that we are able to pick up on such falsifications. Christians should not ignore certain parts of the God’s Word, especially just because it might be uncomfortable or because it fits their narrative. The church is losing biblical literacy, and it is allowing these alternative or false teachings to occur. That is why it is so important for us to study the Bible for ourselves and within the context of church fellowship, so that we can discern correct teachings and motivations from false ones.
Christians must know the Gospel in order to teach it or to correct false teachings. The deeper our knowledge and belief is of Christ, the more genuine our faith can be. Also, God-talk will come more naturally to us, and we will be more equipped and more confident to teach about Christ. There is no substitution for sincere, authentic faith. Our desire to teach and spread the Gospel should be about glorifying God and invoking positive change in others to bring them closer to God. If we are passionate about God, then nothing can prevent us from sharing the Gospel. False motivations, alternative or false teachings, fear, lack of confidence, feelings of inadequacy…none of these things will stand in our way.
Feelings of Fear or Inadequacy
Of course, there will still be times when we will feel fear or inadequate. But in those times, we can remember and trust that God is the source of our strength and that His message, His Truth, has endured and continues to endure throughout the ages amidst all sorts of adversity. If the Gospel message can persevere through Paul’s imprisonment, then it can certainly endure despite our fears or any shortcomings that we feel. God intends for us to spread the Truth of the Gospel out of our love for others. Therefore, it is important that we remain faithful to the genuine, truthful teachings of the Gospel. We must study the Gospel thoroughly and daily in order to know it well enough to share it. We can be and are life-long learners of God. When we overcome our fears and speak the Gospel boldly and authentically, we become examples for others. Our courage and sincerity can inspire others. We can rejoice that the truth of the Gospel has not only persevered through us but also serves as the source of our perseverance.
The Gospel perseveres and allows us to rejoice amidst opposition of it. Philippians 1:18
In Philippians 1:18, Paul was rejoicing over the perseverance of the Gospel. Notice that he was not a masochist or anything by rejoicing over his sufferings for Christ. Rather, Paul rejoiced because the Gospel continued to advance in spite of his sufferings. Paul’s focus was not on his personal afflictions. Those were cast aside as he focused solely on the Gospel and what was occurring with his ministry. The Gospel continued to be proclaimed, even to his captors, and people were coming to follow Christ. His fellow workers in ministry were inspired to be more confident in their preaching and teachings of the Gospel. A lot of good things were happening despite Paul’s personal circumstances, and it was in all of this that Paul was able to rejoice.
Many people struggle with how to be happy with all of the evil in the world. Just as God is the source of our strength and confidence, God is also the source of our joy. Our joys and hopes should be based on God, not our circumstances.
Does Motivation Matter?
This can also affect our motivations. In Philippians 1:15-17, Paul explores the variety of motivations of his fellow preachers. Then, in Philippians 1:18, Paul says that those motivations don’t matter, because the Gospel is being proclaimed, which is all that does matter. This begs the question, does the motivation of a preacher/teacher matter? Ultimately, Paul is right. Christ being proclaimed is all that matters.
However, personally, I think, motivations do matter. If the person has false motivations when they are teaching, then their souls and relationship with Christ are at stake. Proclaiming the Gospel is just one thing we are called to do. The Bible has many passages about how we should correct false/alternative teachings as we encounter them. In order to do that, we need to firmly know what we believe and why we believe it. These false teachers need to be corrected for their own sakes, not the sake of the Gospel. At times, even Christians need Christ to be shared with them again and again. This is another time when we need to speak boldly.
In Philippians 1:12-18, Paul sets the example of how the Gospel can persevere through authentic motives and authentic teachings. God is always active in our lives. He is not just active in the lives of Christians, but He is active in the life of every living person on this planet whether or not they acknowledge it. As we saw with Moses, Moses was hesitant and not even willing to follow God’s will, but God did wondrous things through Him. As God worked through Moses to free His people and care for them in the wilderness, Moses became stronger and more confident in his faith and following of God.
The Gospel message is a story of hope. Yes, there is evil and adversity in this world, but God can overcome it all. He is the source of all good and joy in this world. He can work through us to overcome our fears and empower us to do His will. Paul rejoices because despite any possible false motivations, people are talking about and accepting Christ. Paul recognizes that God is active in all people. And as long as people are talking about God, such discussion opens the door for people to talk about God in a sincere and truthful way.
When we acknowledge that God is active and personally involved in our lives, we can be stronger, more confident, more resilient, and more optimistic. The Gospel is just as relevant today as it was in Paul’s day. Our confidence in God allows us to recognize the Gospel’s value and relevance. God will give us the words and opportunities to demonstrate that relevance to others. We need to seek out and take advantage of those opportunities for God-talk. We can rejoice in God’s goodness, the hope of the Gospel, and chances to advance the Gospel.
Paul sat in prison. Those that opposed him sought to further afflict him with their teachings. They did not just have alternative teachings or false motives. They took it a step further and intentionally tried to hurt or personally attack Paul. Despite his circumstances, Paul found opportunities to continue to preach the Gospel and proclaim Christ. He allowed God to work through him, and Paul inspired people well beyond his prison walls. Paul put his personal concerns aside and instead focused on the significance of the Gospel and his work in confirming, defending, and advancing the Gospel. He sought to encourage others, even when he probably needed encouragement himself.
Paul is an example that we are not alone in our faith of God. We need to speak boldly and look for opportunities to advance the Gospel, authentically and in its entirety. We should rejoice over any God-talk and use those times as chances for right and sound teaching of the Gospel. Continuous study of God’s Word and ceaseless prayer are ways that can build our relationship with God and our confidence in both God and ourselves.
Paul also demonstrates that the Gospel will not bend or break. It remains firm, unchanging, in spite of the motivations of preachers and teachers and in spite of whatever twisted thinking culture tries to throw at it. Many of the arguments and challenges Christians face today are the same as what Paul faced, and the Gospel has persevered for hundreds of years.
We can and should be consciously aware of how what we say or do can confirm, advance, and defend the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel remains relevant to all people, and we can share that with others by speaking the truth boldly out of our knowledge and love of Christ and others. I encourage you to look for opportunities of God-talk as you go throughout the week. The world needs to hear the Word of God. The world needs Christ. So, speak boldly, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to all.
Sermon: Perseverance of the Gospel by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: July 21, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: Philippians 1:12-18
Sermon Notes:
Philippians 1:12-18 (ESV):
The Advance of the Gospel
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Imprisoned Voices
Every one of us has felt “imprisoned” at some point in our lives. It could have been an actual prison, but more often than not, it is a situation in our lives. We can feel trapped by a relationship, a financial burden or debt, a job, perceived limitations placed on gender roles or race, illness or injury, or lack of education, perhaps the wrong kind of education. There are so many situations that can make us feel trapped. Another very important way is a loss of freedom of voice. When I was a teacher, I felt very restricted in what I could say and what I could not. I even remember telling parents that if they wanted to make changes in the educational system that they were the ones that had to speak up. Parents had a voice, but teachers did not in many of those circumstances.
I know what some of you might be thinking, “We live in America, and freedom of speech is the very first right we have that is listed in the Bill of Rights.” Yes, we do have freedom of speech. In the news, this last week, I have heard a lot about the freedom of speech. However, there are many times when our voices are restricted, or perhaps should be restricted. There are responsibilities that are attached to our rights and freedoms. But too often, as Christians, we do find our voices restricted. I want you right now to think of times when you very much wanted to say something but didn’t. What prevented you from speaking? Today, many Christians are finding it difficult to express their beliefs freely, because we may be perceived as intolerant, hypocritical, judgmental, bigoted, or out-of-touch with today’s society.
In Philippians 1:12-18, we find Paul has been imprisoned for things that he had been saying and preaching about Christ. During this time in prison, Paul wrote the book of Philippians. We call it a book, but it is actually a letter to the church in Philippi that Paul had helped to start. They were concerned about his situation and him. Yet, we find that prison does not stop Paul from continuing to preach the Gospel. He wrote to the Philippians with the express wish to encourage them and explain how God continues to be active in his situation. Paul encouraged the Philippians to rejoice with him in the perseverance of the Gospel despite the adversities he was facing, such as imprisonment and the false motivations of other preachers.
The Gospel still endures oppositions today. Think about our society, and what are some of the common adversities that Christianity currently faces? Just as Paul encouraged the Philippians to do, we can see that God is still active in our lives today, and He can give us the strength and confidence we need to do His will and speak the Gospel message. Our hope lies in the fact that the Gospel message is still needed and very much relevant today. Proclamation of the story of Christ is one of the most important things that we, as Christians, are called to do. In fact, proclaiming the Gospel is our entire mission.
The Gospel perseveres despite imprisonment. Philippians 1:12-13.
Let’s take a look at Philippians 1:12-13. Paul has been imprisoned for preaching about Christ. Traditionally, it is thought that Paul was under house arrest some place in Rome versus being in an actual prison. House arrest would explain his ability to receive visitors and correspondence so easily. Regardless, we do know that he was in military custody for his teachings about Christ. However, he was exhilarated that the Gospel continued to advance despite his being imprisoned. There is evidence of this in verse 13 when it says that the Gospel had “become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest”. Paul was preaching to all those he came into contact with, including his guards. Just take a moment to picture the irony of this: Paul is imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, but he is preaching the Gospel to his prison guards. Paul wanted the Philippians to feel his joy over the fact that the Gospel was still able to be shared and spread. Later in the chapter in verses 27-28, we see that Paul also desired the church in Philippi to live in a way that was worthy of the Gospel and to stand firm, bravely and united, in their faith (verses 27-28). Prison did not diminish or silence Paul’s voice.
Paul was physically imprisoned but had freedom of voice. Whereas we are physically free, but our voices are imprisoned. We may be wary of what we say because we could be rejected or attacked. We may be cautious of what we say out of fear of offending someone. There is also the old adage that religion and politics should never be discussed. This attitude has been more recently expressed as “to each their own”. However, why shouldn’t we discuss religion? Why should God-talk only occur within the walls of a church? Christians face many barriers to God-talk, even within the church itself. First, there is fear of rejection, alienation, personal attacks, and so on. Some of you may have experienced this. I know I have.
Second, in our culture, there is the extreme emphasis on political correctness. We must use language, certain word choices, and certain approaches so that we do not offend anyone. We have seen this most recently in Berkley’s decision last week to make all the language gender neutral in the city’s code. This type of thinking can even be found in the church as some want to avoid talking about sin altogether. Yet, we need to call out sin for what it is: sin, open rebellion against God.
Most people do not make the connection between political correctness and postmodernism. But postmodernism is a third reason that God-talk is limited, and it bears a direct connection with political correctness. Postmodernism is founded in the use of language to construct reality. There is a constant need to redefine words in order for the definition of a word to be socially acceptable. There is this extreme requirement that everyone must be tolerant of everyone else, also known as the “tolerance movement”. However, due to the social redefinition of postmodernism, the word “tolerant” itself has been redefined. Under the old definition of “tolerant”, it meant that one had to acknowledge that other people had different beliefs than their own. Under the new definition of “tolerant”, it now means that we have to accept that other people’s beliefs, not only exist, but they are equally valid and truthful as our own. This subtle shift changes things from there are many different beliefs to all beliefs are equally true. You may have heard the saying that “all faiths lead to Heaven”. But how do we reconcile that concept with John 14:6 which says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”? We are will talk about more this as we study Paul’s letter to the Colossians, starting next week.
As Christians, we are commanded to tell all of the world the Gospel message in its entirety. The Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 is where this command is found. The early followers of Christ were commanded to teach all that Jesus had taught them. Jesus is our authority and promises to be with us always as we carry out His commands. In this, we can find our strength. In Acts 1:8, it states that Christians are to be Jesus’s witnesses to the entire world. Witness means that one needs to share what they have seen, heard, and experienced. It doesn’t specify only the good stuff or only the bad stuff. A full witness account includes everything that was seen or heard.
Why is it important to preach the Gospel? In Genesis, it tells the story of how man fell from grace and into sin. The whole rest of the Bible, specifically the Gospel story, shows God going to great lengths to redeem us from our sins and to reconcile us in a renewed relationship with Him. If we do not acknowledge the ugliness of sin, then we can’t understand the necessity of God’s gift of grace to us or recognize the need of the Gospel message of sacrifice and reconciliation. Many of us feel torn between what God is commanding us to do in sharing the Gospel and actually doing it in a way that is relevant to our culture today.
We know the importance of speaking the Gospel, but we do not always feel equipped to do so. How do we get that same boldness and the same sense of urgency to speak the truth of the Gospel that the Christians felt in Philippians 1:14?
The Gospel perseveres when we speak it boldly. Philippians 1:14
The early Christians were encouraged by Paul’s ministry of the Gospel continuing despite his imprisonment. His story and ministry inspired them to speak the Gospel boldly though they could have faced similar or worse punishments for preaching the Gospel as Paul did. The early Christians would have battled the same fears of rejection and alienation just as we do today. They would have also faced physical persecution, prison, or possibly death for their faith. At one point in the early church, just identifying yourself as a “Christian” could invoke persecution and punishments.
Because we do not face imminent death, there are actually American Christians who feel that we are not persecuted in any way. However, death is not the only method of persecution. In our country, there are more subtle ways of persecution and some not so subtle. Today, we need to be careful that we do not become too complacent in our comfort that we do not even recognize when we are being persecuted.
Even in spite of prison and death as possible consequences, Paul and his fellow workers were BOLD to speak the Gospel. When God is the source of our confidence and strength, then we can speak of the full story of the Gospel boldly. We can speak the truth of God directly and plainly without hiding parts of it or glossing over difficult concepts. Notice that they did not attempt to change it or water it down in order to make it “relevant” to their society or culture. The early Christians simply proclaimed the Gospel of Christ as they had been taught or experienced firsthand. Speaking the truth boldly does not mean that we forget about tactfulness however. We should still preach the truth out of love. Jesus is our example in this. He always spoke the truth, even if it was difficult for His audience to hear. However, Jesus did it in such a way as to inspire change rather than personally attack anyone.
Old Testament Example
Let’s explore some examples of those overcoming their fears and speaking God’s words boldly. First, in the Old Testament, we have the story of Moses. In Exodus 4:1-17, there is the story of Moses and the burning bush. God speaks to Moses and asks him to be His representative to Pharaoh. God was basically asking Moses to go up against his brother (by adoption). This was a man who he had grown up with and knew personally, not just some stranger. Moses was already in hiding when God came to him because of some things he had done. Moses tells God that he’s not equipped for this task and basically claims to be a bad speaker. Moses begs him to send someone else. God is not happy but does send Aaron to help Moses. God promises to give them the words to say. We are called to speak the Gospel to people in our lives.
How many people are afraid of public speaking? How many people feel they have nothing of interest or benefit to say to others? How many feel that they do not know enough to teach others? All of these stems from our fears and insecurities. However, God promises to be with us and give us the ability and the words to do His will. Now let’s look again at Moses, but this time in Exodus 32. Here, we find a much stronger Moses. He speaks boldly to God in his request for God to spare the people despite their sin and idolatry. He also displays a commanding presence when he confronts the people about their sins. There is no more of the scared Moses who was afraid to speak that we saw at the burning bush. Moses was not afraid to call people out on their sins. His confidence in the Lord has grown which has also increased his self-confidence.
New Testament Example
In the New Testament, we see another example with Peter. In Matthew 26:69-75, after Jesus was arrested, Peter denies even knowing Christ three times. He was afraid for his safety and perhaps of being arrested himself. Peter’s first two denials were aimed towards a servant girl who would not have had any power over him. After Christ was crucified and resurrected, we see a very different Peter. One who is more assured of his faith and confident in himself. In Acts 4, this time Peter is not questioned by a mere servant but by many religious leaders, including the high priest. John is also with Peter. Here Peter speaks boldly about Christ and the work he is doing in Christ’s name. These men would have had the power to do something to him, but we see a much more assertive Peter. In Acts 4:13, it even states that the religious leaders were astonished at his boldness. The religious leaders tried to silence Peter and John, but their response in Acts 4:19-20 was “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” Their faith in God and all they had seen Jesus do inspired in them a confidence that would not be shaken. They felt compelled to share all they had witnessed despite persecution and potential punishments.
Bold God-Talk
God will equip us with all that we need to accomplish His will for us. He is continuously and always actively working in each of our lives. The more that Moses and Peter knew about God, the more confident they were. The stronger our beliefs are and the more that we study God and His Word, the more it will become more natural of us to speak about God with others. We never know who may be watching us. We could be an inspiration to others. The early Christians were more confident to speak because of Paul’s ministry in prison, and they saw what God was doing through Paul. Who could we be inspiring that same type of confidence in without even knowing it? We should not be afraid of talking about religion or sharing the Gospel. God is our source of strength, confidence, and can give us the words we say, just as he did with Moses. I know there are times that I have spoken with others, and those words had to have come from God. They were not my words, but they just came pouring out of me. And they were perfect for the situation. It is possible to overcome our fears and be free to share what God has done in our lives. The Gospel inspires change, and when we accept Christ in our hearts, change occurs in our lives, relationships, daily interactions, choices, etc.
There are many ways for us to feel equipped to speak about God. First, we have to trust God and overcome our fears. We can grow in our relationship with Him and communicate with Him through prayer. Second, we can depend on each other as we walk together in our faith in God. Church fellowship and involvement allow for safe opportunities of God-talk. We can practice and get into the habits of freely talking about God and exploring His Word. Third, we can get to know God better by studying the Bible. Again, we can feel more comfortable talking about God if we know God. People will talk about what they know and what they’re passionate about. When people see that we are passionately talking about something that we know well, they will engage us out of curiosity. This provides so many opportunities for more God-talk. Our knowledge does not immediately have to be extensive, because we are always learning.
Where do you hear people talk about God? Even in the church setting, God-talk doesn’t always happen. Yet, God will provide us opportunities for God-talk. As we learn to overcome our fears and speak God’s Word boldly, we will find that we will experience spiritual growth and knowledge. The more that we know about God and His Word, the more we realize that not all who proclaim God know what they are talking about, or they do not speak from pure motives. We may find that the Gospel message is being distorted in some fashion.
The Gospel perseveres despite alternative or false teachings of it. Philippians 1:15-17
As we look again at Philippians 1:15-17, we see that Paul pointed out that while some preachers were preaching out of love and sincerity, others were preaching from false motives, such as envy, rivalry (with Paul), and selfish ambition. Some showed such personal disdain for Paul that they were preaching in a way that was not only different from Paul but in such a way as to afflict harm on Paul. Paul does not specify what these personal attacks were, but he does know that it was directly aimed at him. Today, we have a mix of preachers as well, and quite often we can immediately figure out who is sincere and who is preaching out of selfish ambition.
Human failings are much the same now as they were in Paul’s day. These false motivations can also lead to false, alternative, or distorted teachings as well. The more that we study the Bible, the more that we are able to pick up on such falsifications. Christians should not ignore certain parts of the God’s Word, especially just because it might be uncomfortable or because it fits their narrative. The church is losing biblical literacy, and it is allowing these alternative or false teachings to occur. That is why it is so important for us to study the Bible for ourselves and within the context of church fellowship, so that we can discern correct teachings and motivations from false ones.
Christians must know the Gospel in order to teach it or to correct false teachings. The deeper our knowledge and belief is of Christ, the more genuine our faith can be. Also, God-talk will come more naturally to us, and we will be more equipped and more confident to teach about Christ. There is no substitution for sincere, authentic faith. Our desire to teach and spread the Gospel should be about glorifying God and invoking positive change in others to bring them closer to God. If we are passionate about God, then nothing can prevent us from sharing the Gospel. False motivations, alternative or false teachings, fear, lack of confidence, feelings of inadequacy…none of these things will stand in our way.
Feelings of Fear or Inadequacy
Of course, there will still be times when we will feel fear or inadequate. But in those times, we can remember and trust that God is the source of our strength and that His message, His Truth, has endured and continues to endure throughout the ages amidst all sorts of adversity. If the Gospel message can persevere through Paul’s imprisonment, then it can certainly endure despite our fears or any shortcomings that we feel. God intends for us to spread the Truth of the Gospel out of our love for others. Therefore, it is important that we remain faithful to the genuine, truthful teachings of the Gospel. We must study the Gospel thoroughly and daily in order to know it well enough to share it. We can be and are life-long learners of God. When we overcome our fears and speak the Gospel boldly and authentically, we become examples for others. Our courage and sincerity can inspire others. We can rejoice that the truth of the Gospel has not only persevered through us but also serves as the source of our perseverance.
The Gospel perseveres and allows us to rejoice amidst opposition of it. Philippians 1:18
In Philippians 1:18, Paul was rejoicing over the perseverance of the Gospel. Notice that he was not a masochist or anything by rejoicing over his sufferings for Christ. Rather, Paul rejoiced because the Gospel continued to advance in spite of his sufferings. Paul’s focus was not on his personal afflictions. Those were cast aside as he focused solely on the Gospel and what was occurring with his ministry. The Gospel continued to be proclaimed, even to his captors, and people were coming to follow Christ. His fellow workers in ministry were inspired to be more confident in their preaching and teachings of the Gospel. A lot of good things were happening despite Paul’s personal circumstances, and it was in all of this that Paul was able to rejoice.
Many people struggle with how to be happy with all of the evil in the world. Just as God is the source of our strength and confidence, God is also the source of our joy. Our joys and hopes should be based on God, not our circumstances.
Does Motivation Matter?
This can also affect our motivations. In Philippians 1:15-17, Paul explores the variety of motivations of his fellow preachers. Then, in Philippians 1:18, Paul says that those motivations don’t matter, because the Gospel is being proclaimed, which is all that does matter. This begs the question, does the motivation of a preacher/teacher matter? Ultimately, Paul is right. Christ being proclaimed is all that matters.
However, personally, I think, motivations do matter. If the person has false motivations when they are teaching, then their souls and relationship with Christ are at stake. Proclaiming the Gospel is just one thing we are called to do. The Bible has many passages about how we should correct false/alternative teachings as we encounter them. In order to do that, we need to firmly know what we believe and why we believe it. These false teachers need to be corrected for their own sakes, not the sake of the Gospel. At times, even Christians need Christ to be shared with them again and again. This is another time when we need to speak boldly.
In Philippians 1:12-18, Paul sets the example of how the Gospel can persevere through authentic motives and authentic teachings. God is always active in our lives. He is not just active in the lives of Christians, but He is active in the life of every living person on this planet whether or not they acknowledge it. As we saw with Moses, Moses was hesitant and not even willing to follow God’s will, but God did wondrous things through Him. As God worked through Moses to free His people and care for them in the wilderness, Moses became stronger and more confident in his faith and following of God.
The Gospel message is a story of hope. Yes, there is evil and adversity in this world, but God can overcome it all. He is the source of all good and joy in this world. He can work through us to overcome our fears and empower us to do His will. Paul rejoices because despite any possible false motivations, people are talking about and accepting Christ. Paul recognizes that God is active in all people. And as long as people are talking about God, such discussion opens the door for people to talk about God in a sincere and truthful way.
When we acknowledge that God is active and personally involved in our lives, we can be stronger, more confident, more resilient, and more optimistic. The Gospel is just as relevant today as it was in Paul’s day. Our confidence in God allows us to recognize the Gospel’s value and relevance. God will give us the words and opportunities to demonstrate that relevance to others. We need to seek out and take advantage of those opportunities for God-talk. We can rejoice in God’s goodness, the hope of the Gospel, and chances to advance the Gospel.
Paul sat in prison. Those that opposed him sought to further afflict him with their teachings. They did not just have alternative teachings or false motives. They took it a step further and intentionally tried to hurt or personally attack Paul. Despite his circumstances, Paul found opportunities to continue to preach the Gospel and proclaim Christ. He allowed God to work through him, and Paul inspired people well beyond his prison walls. Paul put his personal concerns aside and instead focused on the significance of the Gospel and his work in confirming, defending, and advancing the Gospel. He sought to encourage others, even when he probably needed encouragement himself.
Paul is an example that we are not alone in our faith of God. We need to speak boldly and look for opportunities to advance the Gospel, authentically and in its entirety. We should rejoice over any God-talk and use those times as chances for right and sound teaching of the Gospel. Continuous study of God’s Word and ceaseless prayer are ways that can build our relationship with God and our confidence in both God and ourselves.
Paul also demonstrates that the Gospel will not bend or break. It remains firm, unchanging, in spite of the motivations of preachers and teachers and in spite of whatever twisted thinking culture tries to throw at it. Many of the arguments and challenges Christians face today are the same as what Paul faced, and the Gospel has persevered for hundreds of years.
We can and should be consciously aware of how what we say or do can confirm, advance, and defend the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel remains relevant to all people, and we can share that with others by speaking the truth boldly out of our knowledge and love of Christ and others. I encourage you to look for opportunities of God-talk as you go throughout the week. The world needs to hear the Word of God. The world needs Christ. So, speak boldly, proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to all.
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