With an intense interest in the spiritual welfare of the Christians at Philippi, Paul exhorted them to be of the same mind.  There were two women who were very influential in the church at Philippi who apparently were at odds.  He mentions them specifically in Philippians 4:2, “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” He wrote to all the Christians in Philippi that he desired to hear,
“that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).  He encouraged them to make this desire a reality, saying, “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Philippians 2:2).

Now Paul was not saying that each member of the congregation had to be a clone of the others.   There will always be differences in matters of opinion among different individuals.  If there were not these little differences, then we would cease to be individuals.  He was saying that in the important issues, in matters of faith, there should be no division.  Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).  God’s word settles the issue whatever it may be.  Paul exhorted, “let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Philippian 3:16).  Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord is the uniting truth of Christians.  It means that the Lord’s ways are to be followed rather than our own ways.  To become a Christian one confesses belief in the foundational truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Matthew 16:16; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9-10).  To have faith in this statement means that Jesus calls the shots.

A mature Christian is not about promoting self.  On the priority list, mature Christians will place self-interests below the spiritual needs of others.  They do this because they are imitating Jesus (Philippians 2:5).  Jesus is the epitome of selflessness in that He gave up the glory of heaven to come to earth and die for the sins of the world (Philippians 2:6-8).

Those who are earthly-minded are unable to be like Christ for they are only focused on the here and now.  The enemies of Christ are described this way by Paul, as those, “whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:19).  Heaven is far too great to forfeit by pursuing petty rivalries with other children of God.  If our focus is on going to heaven and helping others go there as well, then we will be united with the mind of Christ.

-Mark Day

It is interesting to notice sermons recorded in the Scriptures and go through an exercise of reading them aloud.  While the apostle Paul preached many sermons, the first recorded sermon of his, preserved for us in the Bible is the one delivered in the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia on his first missionary journey (Acts 13:13-50).

While certainly Jews were a part of the audience, a number of Gentiles who feared the true God were present as well.  Paul addressed both groups.  Notice he started his sermon with, “Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience” (Acts 13:16).  Also in Acts 13:26 he addresses them again saying, “Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.”

The word of salvation was sent to both Jews and Gentiles.  Paul’s sermon includes several points that were pertinent to understanding this message of salvation.  He detailed the history of the nation of Israel to the time of David of whose seed Jesus Christ came, fulfilling the promise of God (vv. 17-23).  He referenced the preparatory work of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ who attested to His greatness (vv. 24-25).  He demonstrated that the Jews of Jerusalem without knowing it actually fulfilled the prophecies concerning Christ in demanding His death when even the Roman procurator Pilate knew of His innocence (vv. 26-28).  He marshaled the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection from the dead by many eyewitnesses (vv. 29-31).  He showed how this resurrection was a fulfillment of Psalm 2:7, Isaiah 55:3 and Psalm 16:10 (vv. 32-37).  He declared how justification, remission of sins, is found through faith in Jesus Christ and cannot be attained through the law of Moses (vv. 38-39).  He finally (using the language of  Habbakuk 1:5) warned if they refused to believe the message then they would face the punishment of God as described in the prophets (vv. 40-41).

Paul’s sermon informed his audience accurately of history. Christianity is based in actual history.  Sermons today ought to fill in people’s knowledge of what God has done with the accompanying evidence to prove it.  His sermon included lots of scripture both summarized and quoted.  God said, “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). God’s word is what people really need, not motivational speeches, jokes, or entertaining tidbits.  His sermon made the way of salvation clear: what it is and is not. Sermons today should not be vague about what one must do to be saved.  Finally, his sermon warned of punishment. Future punishment has never been a popular teaching but it is an absolutely essential part of the message of Christ, “Whom we preach, warning every man…” (Colossians 1:28).

Paul’s preaching caused quite a stir.  Nearly the entire city assembled the next Sabbath to hear God’s word (Acts 13:44).  The Jews were filled with jealousy at this turn out and contradicted what Paul said and blasphemed (Acts 13:45).  Paul and Barnabas turned to the ones who would hear it, in this case, the Gentiles (Acts 13:46).  We pray that more preaching today would bear these characteristics and cause this kind of stir!  We pray that more would be ready to hear it!

-Mark Day